WASHINGTON — It’s not every day a senator gets to quiz Supreme Court justices. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina asked about the corrosive effects of partisanship on judicial confirmations. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut pushed for the high court’s oral arguments to be televised. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois asked about tougher judicial ethics rules. The […]
Tables turned, Breyer and Scalia quizzed as witnesses
Posted inNews
Administration tells towns that job-growth projects come first
A quartet of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s top staffers offered municipal leaders simple advice Wednesday for obtaining state aid in this economy: Projects that employ people, or stand to create new jobs are good. Those ready to begin right away are better. Commissioners Daniel Esty, James P. Redeker and Catherine Smith, along with Office of […]
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A ‘change agent’ seeks consensus on school reform
When Gov. Dannel P. Malloy tabbed Stefan Pryor, a charter school founder, as the state’s next education commissioner, the appointment raised eyebrows among some in public education circles. Would Pryor, whose career has been shaped both inside and outside the education arena, be able to win over a public school establishment that viewed some charter […]
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State spells out its bid for Race to Top money
With two weeks to spare, state education officials today said they have finalized what will be included in Connecticut’s latest bid for federal Race to the Top funds: They propose to create a new office for early childhood education and better assess entering kindergarten students and the quality of preschool programs. Stefan Pryor, the state’s […]
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Malloy promises to maintain state aid next year
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy had good news today for what might be his most loyal constituency, telling municipal officials that he is confident of protecting local aid no matter what fiscal challenges confront him in the next fiscal year. “It is our full expectation that we will honor our commitments already made to you, no […]
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‘Occupy Wall Street’ comes to Hartford
“Occupy Wall Street” arrived in Hartford on Wednesday morning, albeit on a smaller scale than mass protests of New York. Their demonstration came on the same day as another meeting about social justice, where Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said, “Dying wealthy is greatly overrated.” Malloy, who resisted tax-the-rich calls earlier this year, was not among […]
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Skepticism in DC could derail high-speed trains for state
WASHINGTON–The Obama Administration’s ambitious plan for a $53 billion national high-speed rail network appears to be veering off track, with tepid support from congressional leaders and skepticism expressed by outside experts. As lawmakers draft a 2012 budget agreement in the coming weeks, high-speed rail will almost certainly get shortchanged–if the program gets any money at […]
Posted inHealth, Money
Cafero willing to back Asian panel staffing if personnel questions get answered
The House of Representatives’ top Republican said Wednesday’s he’s willing to drop his opposition to filling two posts in the fledgling advocacy agency for Connecticut’s growing Asian community — if he can get answers to questions that have been brewing for 12 months. House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero of Norwalk said he still doesn’t […]
Posted inEducation
State Board launches investigation into Winchester’s education budget
The State Department of Education informed 11 school districts and towns last month that they needed to appropriate more money this school year to comply with minimum budget requirements — and Winchester is the only town that has not complied. Because of this non-compliance, the State Board of Education unanimously voted to launch an investigation […]
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Larson cheers Occupy Wall Street protestors
Rep. John Larson, a 1st District Democrat and chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, gave a shout-out Wednesday to the Occupy Wall Street protestors. The still-evolving protest movement now in its third week, with demonstrators camped out in New York’s Financial District and addressing issues from the sour economy to the Afghanistan war. Larson applauded […]
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Malloy backs Esty again
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy today defended his energy and environmental commissioner, Daniel C. Esty, saying that Esty’s acceptance of a $7,500 speaking fee from United Illuminating in 2009 does not disqualify him to over see state energy policy. “I don’t believe there is any conflict of any kind,’ Malloy said of the fee Esty collected […]
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With commission job done, Shays steps into Senate race
WASHINGTON–With his duties on a wartime contracting commission ended, Republican Chris Shays said Tuesday he has hired a campaign manager, signed a lease for his headquarters in Stratford, and even loaned his nascent Senate bid $70,000 to kick things off. In an interview Tuesday, Shays said he was not “intimidated” by his Republican rival Linda […]
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New poll: Shays OK in general, weak in GOP primary
A new poll starkly outlines the strength and weakness of former U.S. Rep. Chris Shays, R-4th District, as a U.S. Senate candidate in 2012: He is the Republican with strongest support among independents and Democrats, but GOP primary voters prefer Linda McMahon by at least a 2-1 margin. Public Polling Institute said Tuesday that its […]
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Asian commission gets funding boost, but can’t hire staff
After more than a decade of efforts to launch a full-blown advocacy agency for Connecticut’s growing Asian community, organizers finally won a budget allocation this year that would allow them to hire an executive director–only to find themselves barred from spending it. Republican state legislative leaders not only blocked the Asian Pacific American Commission’s request […]
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Connecticut helps feed the lobbying machine in Washington
WASHINGTON–Whether despite the political dysfunction in Washington or because of it, Connecticut businesses, universities and non-profits are spending big to aggressively press their legislative priorities in the nation’s capital this year. More than 100 Connecticut companies and other organizations currently have lobbyists in Washington, pushing Congress and the Executive Branch for a wide range of […]