WASHINGTON–Lygeia Ricciardi sits at the intersection of federal health care reform and the digital revolution. Her job, in a nutshell, is to transform lofty and complex public health goals into easy-to-use, Internet-ready “patient empowerment” tools. Ricciardi’s universe is a place where an elderly woman can use a wireless scale to weigh herself each day, with […]
Melding technology and health reform for ‘patient empowerment’
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Obama gets mediocre marks on energy and the environment
More than 2 1/2 years into his presidency, Barack Obama gets a lukewarm assessment from a group of environmentalists and energy experts, Yale Environment 360 reports. Most of the respondents to Environment 360’s inquiry faulted the president for failing to push climate legislation through Congress and for not taking a stronger stand against global warming. […]
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No surprise: No veto overrides attempted
The House and Senate held perfunctory trailer sessions today in case there was an attempt to override any vetoes of the state’s first-year governor, Dannel P. Malloy. As expected, the Democratic legislature made no attempt to overturn any veto by the Democratic governor. In fact, the leadership gaveled open the sessions and then closed them […]
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No word yet on ratification timeline
The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition issued a brief update today saying they do not have an answer on the biggest question arising from the new tentative concession agreement: How will it be ratified? “As with the ratification process on the previous agreement, individual unions and bargaining units will be determining their own ratification or […]
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Concession talks end with new tentative deal
The administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced a new tentative concession agreement at 10:04 p.m. Friday, setting the stage for another attempt by a coalition of state employee unions to ratify a deal that could stave off mass layoffs and deep budget cuts. “I am pleased that an agreement has been reached,” Malloy said […]
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On debt crisis, it’s Himes vs. Bachmann
WASHINGTON — Last week, a small band of House Republicans, including presidential contender and Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann, introduced legislation to prioritize federal payments in case Congress does not raise the debt ceiling before the looming Aug. 2 deadline. It’s a contingency plan if the U.S. defaults on its financial obligations, which Bachmann says […]
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Malloy, legislature, make a big dent in inherited debt
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the legislature may be struggling to balance the budget in the face of uncertain union concessions, but they’ve made considerable headway in attacking $1.8 billion in debts their predecessors authorized to keep operations afloat in their last year in office. According to the Office of Policy and Management, the projected […]
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Williams searching for his niche in crowded 5th CD
Mike Williams lacks the financial resources of his youngest competitor and the political experience of two others, but an open seat in the 5th Congressional District has drawn the political newcomer and foreign policy expert into a four-way race for the Democratic nomination. “A lot of people say ‘you’ve got a snowball’s chance in hell,’ […]
Posted inMoney
Malloy says debt ceiling impasse would hit CT hard
Gov. Dannel Malloy said Friday that if Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling, it would have a severe impact on the state. “For Connecticut, such a failure would result in a serious disruption to our cash flow, negatively affect our access to the capital markets, and harm our economy,” Malloy wrote in a letter […]
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Vernon mayor to explore run for GOP senate nomination
Jason McCoy, the Republican mayor of Vernon, announced today he will pass up a re-election try this fall to focus on an exploratory campaign for U.S. Senate in 2012. McCoy is a two-term mayor of Vernon, an east-of-the-river suburb of Hartford. On the Democratic side, candidates are jumping into the race for the seat left […]
Posted inEducation
Report: most student teaching programs are weak, including at SCSU
The student teaching programs at two state schools received mixed reviews in a national report card Thursday. Southern Connecticut State University’s program was rated “weak”, while Eastern Connecticut State University’s program was rated “good.” Only a small amount of the colleges that were analyzed (18 percent) received a passing grade from the National Council on […]
Posted inHealth
Hospitals take lessons from the “happiest place on earth”
With plans to tie hospitals’ Medicare payments to patient satisfaction beginning next year, some hospitals are seeking advice from The Walt Disney Co., Phil Galewitz reports for Kasier Health News. At least 25 hospitals have signed multi-year consulting agreements with the entertainment giant, and some are sending employees to Disney World for a firsthand look […]
Posted inHealth, Money
Disability insurance program a target in debt talks
Health care spending is a target in every debt-reduction package that’s being talked about in Washington these days. One program that’s currently in the bulls-eye: the so-called CLASS Act, or Community Living Assistance Services and Supports. It was created under federal health reform to increase health care options for people with disabilities, seen as a […]
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Social media in the statehouse
It wasn’t that long ago that state officials were leery of using social media to connect with the public, Mary Mahling reports at Stateline.org, but those days are over, at least in governors’ offices. A survey of gubernatorial websites indicates that all 50 state chief executives–or, to be precise, their staffs–use at least one social […]
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Once derided as ‘scalpers,’ ticket broker now backed by state
A business that once operated on the edges of legality has arrived: Not only did Gov. Dannel P. Malloy welcome the opening Thursday of a ticket broker’s new headquarters in South Windsor, he came with about $8 million in state aid to help create or retain at least 500 jobs. TicketNetwork, an online brokerage whose […]