Personal income rose nearly 5 percent in the first quarter of 2011, but state officials need to beware that revenue from a just-increased income tax relies more than ever on volatile earnings tied to an uncertain stock market, according to the latest quarterly report from the University of Connecticut. The warning about tax volatility was […]
Volatile personal income jumps, but economy slows
Posted inNews
Himes calls for Weiner resignation after more photos surface over the weekend
WASHINGTON — Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, called today for Rep. Anthony Weiner’s resignation, making him the first in Connecticut’s congressional delegation to urge the New York congressman’s ouster over inappropriate photographs Weiner sent to women via Twitter. Weiner has so far resisted calls from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and others to give up […]
Posted inNews
For many with disabilities, life is a waiting list
“New normal” for Kevin Martin is listening to his 7-year-old daughter’s bedtime stories by telephone. It’s family dinners of takeout food at his nursing home. And it’s waiting. A lot of waiting. “I’m kind of in limbo,” he said during a recent visit with his wife and daughter. Martin and his wife, Lisa Hodes, are […]
Posted inEducation
How educated are Connecticut legislators?
One in five Connecticut legislators does not have a college degree, according to a report released Sunday by The Chronicle of Higher Education. New Hampshire has the least formally educated statehouse, with 43 percent of their 424 legislators having no college degree. Connecticut falls in line with the national average in the percent of legislators […]
Posted inMoney, Politics
Woody Allen, the debt ceiling, and the congressional schedule
When discussing this year’s odd congressional schedule recently, Rep. Joe Courtney quoted Woody Allen’s famous phrase: “80 percent of success is showing up.” “At some point,” Courtney said, “in trying to get things done you have to have people here.” Hard to argue with that. By Courtney’s measure (or Woody Allen’s) it’s not clear how […]
Posted inPolitics
Murphy camp touts UAW nod, says more labor support to come
Chris Murphy’s bid for the U.S. Senate got a boost Monday with the endorsement from the United Auto Workers. Murphy’s campaign announced that the UAW Region 9A would back his campaign to succeed retiring Sen. Joseph Lieberman. “They become the first statewide organized labor union to endorse in the 2012 CT-SEN race,” Kenny Curran, Murphy’s […]
Posted inHealth, Money
As states cut Medicaid, Connecticut takes a modest approach
Yet another topic for Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and his New Jersey counterpart, Chris Christie, to disagree about: Medicaid. Christie has been getting national attention for his plan to cut $540 million from the state’s nearly $5 billion Medicaid program. Josh Lederman of the Associated Press reports that New Jersey is expected to seek federal […]
Posted inNews
One-party state governments move in opposite directions
One party held complete control of government in 30 states after last year’s elections, John Gramlich reports at Stateline.org, and they moved in markedly different directions during the 2011 legislative sessions. Most of the shift in power went to Republicans, who control the governorship and both legislative chambers in 19 states plus Nebraska, with its […]
Posted inNews
Malloy, unions clarify concession deal as ratification votes start
The Malloy Administration and the state employees unions have signed a joint statement in hopes of dispelling rumors about how health coverage would change under a tentative concession deal being considered by 45,000 unionized workers. The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition is posting the document on its web site to clarify provisions in the deal […]
Posted inNews
DCF head gets the authority she sought to fix troubled agency
With little fanfare, the General Assembly in the session that ended this week gave Children and Families Commissioner Joette Katz significant authority to turn the troubled agency around. Now they’re looking for results. “We gave her the tools, let’s see her do the work,” said Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan. “It’s been a department […]
Posted inNews
If union deal fails, lawmakers could face hard decisions on town aid
One of the few things Gov. Dannel P. Malloy didn’t get from his fellow Democrats in the legislature’s majority is the power to cut municipal aid mid-year in the face of a fiscal emergency. But if the state employee unions rejects a tentative concession deal later this month–punching a $700 million hole into next fiscal year’s state […]
Posted inHealth, Money
CEOs promote wellness programs, target cancer
About 300 CEOs from 14 states are part of an effort, led by the American Cancer Society, to get employers to embrace wellness programs and fight cancer, Jackie Crosby reports in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “CEOs Against Cancer” is aimed at getting business leaders involved in promoting healthy workplace cultures, preventing cancer and reducing health […]
Posted inNews
Murphy teeing up UAW endorsement?
***MEDIA ADVISORY*** Chris Murphy and UAW Region 9A members to make significant CT Senateannouncement on Monday.
Posted inPolitics
Brian Hill for Senate, again
Brian K. Hill of Windsor, a lawyer and former JAG officer, announced his candidacy today as a Republican for U.S. Senate in 2012. He announced a previous effort as an independent in 2010 that promised to be a “history making Write-In campaign for real change in Connecticut!” If history was made, it was done very, […]
Posted inNews
Well, at least one public land deal is getting a review
Attorney General George Jepsen is demanding information from New Britain officials about the proposed sale of a portion of Stanley Park to Costco. “The time for us to get involved is now, before the project moves too far ahead,” Jepsen said in an emailed statement. Under state law, his office says, the AG is responsible […]