Pauline Bouffard says her son used to hold his arms out every time she visited him at the state-run residential facility for the developmentally disabled in Meriden, signaling his desire to go home. Now he lives in a private, community-based group home, and she says he’s not in such a rush to leave. “They were […]
For the developmentally disabled, it’s public vs. private care
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Congressional map to be the drawn by the Supreme Court
With the GOP pressing for advantage and Democrats defending a favorable status quo, a deadlocked redistricting commission missed its court-imposed deadline of noon Wednesday, forcing the Connecticut Supreme Court to take on the job of drawing five new U.S. House districts. Republicans on the bipartisan panel gave up on a radical plan to create a […]
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Lawmakers fear state budget cuts forced UConn tuition hike
Defending a plan to collect an extra $50 million per year from students by 2016, University of Connecticut officials said Monday that represents the cost of adding nearly 300 faculty. But another way of describing the extra student costs is that they also match a hole punched into UConn finances in recent months by Gov. […]
Posted inHealth, Money
Working group on collective bargaining for home care workers draws critics, supporters
The fight over unionizing home care attendants continued Wednesday as the working group charged with recommending ways to structure collective bargaining rights for the workers heard testimony from the public. People who work as personal care attendants spoke of the challenges of doing their jobs with low pay, no benefits and no paid sick time. […]
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Bridgeport tabs national figure to head school reform effort
A nationally known educator who led school reform efforts in Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans will try to turn around one of Connecticut’s most troubled public school systems. The Bridgeport Board of Education was expected late Tuesday to name Paul Vallas as acting superintendent while the school district prepares to find a permanent successor to […]
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Post-recession, there’s even more money at the top
The recession — and its aftermath — haven’t kept Connecticut’s top wage earners from earning more. Those doing well before the recession saw strong wage growth in the past five years, while those at the bottom lost jobs and made minimal wage gains. In salary terms, according to a new report by the policy group […]
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Higher Ed savings expected, regents president says
The state’s newly merged higher education system expects to meet a target of $4.3 million in administrative savings over the next two years — money that could be used to hire more full-time faculty, the system’s top official said Tuesday. The projected savings from a reduction of bureaucracy was a central element in the argument […]
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Malloy outlines broad principles for education reform
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy today outlined six broad principles that he says will guide the debate on education reform next year, including “intensive interventions” by the state in troubled school systems and a lighter bureaucratic touch at successful ones. In a letter to legislators and stakeholders, Malloy hinted at a willingness to take up the […]
Posted inEducation, Health, Money
After controversial executive order, child care workers vote to unionize
Child care workers paid through a state program voted by a wide margin to form a union, electing CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 to represent them in non-binding discussions with the state Department of Social Services. Family child care workers who provide services as part of the state’s Care 4 Kids program voted 1603 to 88 to […]
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Not entirely in the Christmas spirit
Soft and cuddly is not his strong suit, but Gov. Dannel P. Malloy stopped by an event to publicize a program that gathers holiday gifts for residents of the state Veterans Home. “It’s a great honor to be with the elves,” Malloy said, glancing at three children who are helping with the drive. “Any day […]
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GOP chief calls for return of non-existent surplus
Everyone feels so generous this time of the year. The new Republican state chairman, Jerry Labriola, called on Gov. Dannel P. Malloy today to suspend the sales tax for a week, because the state is projecting a surplus of $101 million. The projected surplus is one-half of one percent of the $20 billion budget, basically […]
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No surprise as WFP endorses Donovan in 5th
They all but endorsed him when he was the keynote speaker at their annual meeting in August. Its leadership was his campaign kickoff. Today, the Working Families Party makes it official by formally endorsing House Speaker Christopher Donovan’s candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 5th Congressional District. With its brand of fusion politics — […]
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Of drugs and hard times
There’s a powerful piece in the New York Times today in a series called, “Lives Restored.” This, “After Drugs and Dark Times, Helping Others to Stand Back Up,” http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/health/20lives.html?_r=1&hp about a 41-year-old Delaware man’s struggles with addiction and mental illness. Yes, yes, you’ve read (or pointedly not read) dozens of these types of stories before. […]
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Draft report renews fears about watchdogs’ autonomy
The battle over consolidating state government’s watchdog agencies could be headed for a second round in 2012, and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s choice to guide the merger offered a preview this week. David L. Guay, acting executive administrator for the new Office of Governmental Accountability, wrote in a draft report to legislators that he faces […]
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Unemployment drops to 8.4 percent, but that’s not the whole story
The state announced today that the unemployment rate dropped three-tenths of a point to 8.4 percent in November, the lowest it’s been since June 2009. But behind that simple, oft-quoted statistic is a complicated calculation, based on surveys. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s office issued a cautiously optimistic statement that pronounced the number “encouraging,” yet acknowledged […]