In a General Assembly session that will be remembered for some major legislation–starting with a budget package that closed a $3.67 billion deficit–a lack of action in one area left advocates disappointed: Major education reforms were put off for another time despite widespread acknowledgment that the state’s education system is broken. “At about 10 o’clock […]
Major education changes will have to wait until next year
Posted inMoney, Politics
Delegation plans “Weekend Retreat” (i.e. fundraiser) at Foxwoods
Connecticut’s congressional delegation is planning a big get-together. The impetus? Raising campaign cash. All 5 of the state’s U.S. House members will be heading to the Foxwoods Resort Casino July 8th to 10th for a “Weekend Retreat.” The beneficiary of the event is Rep. Joe Courtney, according to the invitation, but there are ten “special […]
Posted inNews
Can non-profit news sites survive?
Across the country, non-profit news sites are springing up to fill the void left by struggling newspapers and other traditional media, Rob Gurwitt reports at Stateline.org. They’re as different as the places they cover, but all face the same question: Can they figure out a way to sustain themselves financially in the long term? Gurwitt […]
Posted inHealth
Senate sinks bill easing malpractice rules
A controversial proposal to ease the requirements for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit died in the Senate Wednesday after a lengthy debate. Lawmakers stopped discussion of the bill without voting and did not take action before the session’s midnight deadline. The bill, which passed the House last month, was intended to correct what supporters said […]
Posted inNews
Municipal revenue sharing plan draws mixed reviews
While a new revenue-sharing plan ensures municipalities get some of the revenues from sales and real estate tax increases, Republicans charged Wednesday that majority Democrats rigged the system to leave nearly half of all communities — particularly those with GOP representation — on the losing end of the split. But Democrats and the state’s chief […]
Posted inEnergy & Environment, Politics
Last-day legislative drama centers on Haddam land swap
With no major legislation remaining, the General Assembly was free today to mull and eventually approve the contentious Haddam land swap, one of the intensely personal issues, favors and grievances that add drama to the frenetic last day of every annual session. Bills are held to the last day for myriad reasons, often having nothing […]
Posted inNews
Blumenthal’s veteran’s bill faces competition in Senate committee
WASHINGTON–Sen. Richard Blumenthal testified in favor of his sweeping veterans’ assistance legislation Wednesday, putting it on the radar of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. And the measure got a nod of support from key outside players, including top lobbyists for the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars who testified at Wednesday’s hearing. But […]
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Malloy’s UConn Health Center gets final approval on the fast track
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s plan to revamp the UConn Health Center is the fourth attempt in five years to revitalize the financially-troubled Farmington medical campus. And after receiving final legislative approval early Wednesday, it might actually happen. Past plans have failed because they were too costly, inspired opposition from competing hospitals or relied on federal […]
Posted inNews
Surgery centers hoping Larson bill increases Medicare revenue
WASHINGTON–Need a colonoscopy? Or cataract surgery? How about an operation on your finger or foot? Three decades ago, you probably would have had to go to a hospital, even for a minor surgical procedure. But more and more, such cases are being handled at free-standing facilities called ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). ASCs have the same […]
Posted inMoney
Truckers win fight to keep Willington rest stations open
Score one for the state’s largest trucking association. The General Assembly reversed itself in its final hours Wednesday, restoring just under $460,000 to keep two rest stops open on Interstate 84 in Willington – at least for one more year. The Senate voted 29-7 and the House 141-6 to adopt a measure keeping the facilities […]
Posted inEducation
Senate sends bill to Malloy delaying education reforms
State legislators have sent a bill to the governor’s desk that delays the package of school reforms passed last year in the state’s bid to capture federal Race to the Top money. The legislature’s budget office estimates the increased graduation requirements alone would cost up to $29 million to hire the additional teachers needed for the additional required courses […]
Posted inHealth, Money
Insurance rate review bill passes, but will Malloy sign it?
A proposal to give the attorney general and healthcare advocate authority to order public “symposiums” on requests to raise health and long-term care insurance rates won final legislative approval Wednesday, but it’s not clear whether Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will sign it. Malloy’s insurance commissioner, Thomas B. Leonardi, considers the bill an unnecessary mandate. Asked […]
Posted inNews
High school graduation rates on the rise
A new analysis of high school completion finds that the national graduation rate has reached its highest point in two decades: 71.7 percent for the class of 2008, the most recent year for which data are available, Christopher B. Swanson reports at Education Week. Although completion rates increased markedly across all groups in recent years, […]
Posted inHealth
Insurance department: Revised rate review bill unnecessary
A controversial bill requiring public hearings when insurers seek to raise health insurance premiums by more than 10 percent passed the Senate unanimously Monday after being revised significantly. But Insurance Commissioner Thomas B. Leonardi still sees it as an “unnecessary mandate,” his spokeswoman said. “We just don’t think the legislation is necessary,” Connecticut Insurance Department […]
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U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear challenge to California’s immigrant tuition law
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to a California law similar to a bill passed in Connecticut granting in-state tuition to some undocumented immigrants. The California law and the Connecticut measure both grant in-state tuition to such students if they complete a minimum amount of their high school educations in state–three years in […]