Outgunned and out-flanked during the 2011 legislation session, the Republican minority hopes to best Gov. Dannel P. Malloy outside the Capitol, convincing voters that the governor’s legislative victories weaken the state economy. Republican leaders acknowledged Thursday that Malloy, the first Democratic governor in 20 years, steamrolled them during the five-month session, imposing his budget, his […]

WASHINGTON–If Connecticut’s Congressional delegation was a boat club, Reps. Chris Murphy and Joe Courtney would be in dinghies. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Sen. Joseph Lieberman would be on yachts. None of the members would be sitting on an inflatable raft, let alone worrying about where the life vests are. The most recent financial disclosure forms […]

With the dust barely settled on the 2011 legislative session and $1.5 billion in tax hikes just over three weeks away, majority Democratic lawmakers predicted Thursday that voters would appreciate the fiscal stability–both in state and local government–and forgive a modest imposition on their wallets. But Republicans, who spent their first session dealing with a […]

He is the first Connecticut governor in 40 years without legislative experience, but Gov. Dannel P. Malloy dominated a productive first session that ended at midnight Wednesday, defying expectations that a fiscal crisis would mean gridlock stretching into summer. Malloy struck a mildly celebratory tone early today in marking the end of a legislative session […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]