Federal health officials are preparing to dole out $40 million to states for comprehensive initiatives that combat chronic diseases. Part of the health care reform law, the new money is focused on reducing the nation’s five leading chronic disease-related causes of death and disability: heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis. To win the money, […]
New federal money available to battle chronic diseases
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More consolidation, investment needed for job growth
Governor Malloy will be focusing on development of economic policies which will hopefully promote the kind of job growth that has eluded Connecticut for decades. The Connecticut economy has created zero jobs in the last 20 years. We are an extremely expensive place to do business; state government is perceived, correctly or not, as anti […]
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Energy bill sought by Malloy wins final passage
In a bipartisan vote, the House of Representatives gave final approval Tuesday night to a complex bill sought by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and negotiated by his environmental commissioner to remake how Connecticut procures and regulates the generation, purchase and delivery of electricity. The legislation approved 138 to 9 both refines and expands a sweeping […]
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After 8½-hour debate, Senate closes the book on the next budget
The Senate closed the book Tuesday on the next state budget, approving a final package of adjustments that plugged a $400 million hole, canceled a controversial utility bill surcharge, and effectively granted advance approval to a $1.6 billion union concession deal. The budget policy bill, which now heads to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, also would […]
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Legislators send marijuana decrim bill to the governor
Connecticut legislators have voted to join eight other states in making possession of small amounts of marijuana a low-level offense that will no longer saddle violators with a lifelong criminal record. “Many of us do struggle with this issue as we try to do the right thing. … But there’s a difference between a few […]
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Malloy, Esty refuse to examine controversial Haddam land swap
What to do when a land deal sought by a political ally becomes a hot potato? If you are Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and his environmental commissioner, Daniel C. Esty, the answer is lay low while the legislative session winds down. The Malloy Administration on Monday ignored the latest challenge to review a proposal by […]
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Esty refuses to say if legislators should approve Haddam land swap
Legislators trying to judge the propriety conveying open space in Haddam for a development project overlooking the Connecticut River will have to make do without the opinion of Daniel C. Esty, the commissioner of environmental protection. Esty today declined to respond to a request yesterday from three legislators on the Environment Committee for his opinion […]
Posted inEducation
Legislature sends bills to governor aimed at landing RttT money
The House has voted to send two bills aimed at helping the state land new federal Race to the Top money for early childhood education to the governor’s desk. The bills provide funding for preschool teachers to earn degrees, begin testing kindergarten students on their reading and education development and require principals to report to the […]
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Northeastern states leading economic recovery
The New England and Mideast regions are leading the nation in growth in their gross domestic products, according to new statistics by the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis. The 2010 GDP region-wide grew by 3.4 percent and 3.8 percent respectively, compared with 2.6 percent nationally. The growth was not uniform, however. In New England fort […]
Posted inEducation
Educators seek to bridge early school years
A relatively new reform movement known as PreK-3 is aiming to help children sustain educational gains made in pre-kindergarten as they enter their elementary school years, Sarah Garland writes at The Hechinger Report. Although the movement is only about 5 years old, it is rooted in research going back to the 60s showing that while […]
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EMILY’s List backs Esty
In the crowded contest to represent Connecticut’s 5th congressional district, Elizabeth Esty got a little boost today that could help fuel her fundraising efforts. EMILY’s List, the fundraising group that recruits and supports Democratic pro-choice female candidates, put Esty “On the List,” a tally of promising candidates for the 2012 cycle. It’s short of an […]
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House should pass bill on emergency planning in child care facilities
From the unprecedented and deadly tornadoes that devastated the Southeast and Heartland, to the flooding of the Mississippi River, these horrible events should serve as reminders that no place is safe from major disaster-including Connecticut. Indeed, we know from the tornado that landed in Massachusetts just last week and last winter’s storm damage to daycare […]
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Legislative analysts lack details to confirm full concession savings
Nonpartisan legislative analysts say they can vouch for less than 40 percent of the $1.6 billion in labor savings figured into the next biennial budget, and are unable to assess the rest–more than $1 billion–because of unanswered questions or insufficient data, according to a memo submitted late Monday to the General Assembly. The Office of […]
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Senate unanimously passes sweeping energy bill
The Senate today unanimously passed and sent to the House a complex, bipartisan energy bill that creates a new energy department and changes how the state regulates and procures electricity in the hopes of lowering the highest electric rates in the continental United States. An initiative of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, the new Department of […]
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Lawmakers to end utility surcharge, but keep $40M collected so far
State legislators were expected to vote today on a bill that would cancel a controversial surcharge on residential and business utility bills without returning about $40 million already collected from Connecticut Light & Power Co. customers since January. The provision in an omnibus policy bill designed to help implement the $40.11 billion biennial budget adopted […]