“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 […]
‘Occupy Wall Street’ comes to Hartford
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inMoney
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
U.S. might actually meet climate goals, thanks in part to the recession
No sooner had the U.S. agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 than conventional wisdom held that the goal was unattainable, Brad Plumer writes at the Washington Posts’s Wonkblog. But a new analysis–by a climate change adviser for Shell, no less–says the nation might actually meet that target, helped […]
Posted inHealth, Money
Doctors’ groups ask super committee to consider medical liability reform
In case the super committee doesn’t already have enough on its plate, the Connecticut State Medical Society and other physician groups are asking the congressional deficit-reduction panel to tackle medical liability reform. The so-called super committee is charged with finding at least $1.2 trillion in budgetary savings before Thanksgiving. The 12-member panel is looking at […]
Posted inHealth
Grant will fund training for unemployed nurses, medical coders, health IT workers
A Hartford-based workforce board is getting $4.98 million in federal funds to train unemployed registered nurses, medical coders and information technology professionals to work in fields with available jobs. The New England Knowledge Corridor Health Careers Project will develop a curriculum for people to work in medical coding–a field that is becoming more complex–and will […]
Posted inNews
DCF may extend benefits to more young adults
The state has been Mufasa Abdulbasil’s guardian for nearly 10 years, seeing to his needs for everything from food and shelter to clothes for school. But unless he goes to college when he turns 18–something he’s not sure about now–he’ll be on his own. “It’s really scary to think about,” said the 16-year old foster […]
Posted inNews
Recall of all 56 laid off troopers eases acrimony
The recall today of 56 state troopers laid off during the summer’s bitter fight over wage-and-benefit concessions suddenly has their union and the administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy singing the same happy tune. “Today is a very happy day,” Reuben F. Bradford, the commissioner the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, said as […]