Clem Roy, one of most delightfully idiosyncratic characters ever to grace the halls of the state Capitol, died today at Hartford Hospital, just weeks after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Roy, 65, was a successful lobbyist with a largely business clientele, but a much, much broader portfolio of interests and causes. He managed 1981 […]

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy recommended Friday that lawmakers significantly reduce the surplus already built into the next two fiscal years rather than impose deeper cuts in the $40.11 billion biennial budget adopted earlier this month. To close a $300 million in gap in next year’s budget left by the tentative union concession package, Malloy proposed […]

Majority Democratic lawmakers tried unsuccessfully Friday to avert a partisan battle in the Senate over a new policy designed to shrink the prison population by allowing inmates to earn credits for early release. The Senate adopted the policy–included in a budget implementation bill–following a 6½ hour debate during which GOP lawmakers criticized a Democratic amendment […]

A compromise bill on the controversial SustiNet state-run health plan passed the House Friday, and it drew praise from both supporters and opponents of the original proposal–albeit for different reasons. SustiNet supporters say the bill represents concrete steps toward their ultimate goal, offering a state-run insurance plan to the public. Opponents of the original proposal, […]

Legislators said Friday that Attorney General George Jepsen, a staunch ally of labor, effectively has killed a legislative priority of the Connecticut AFL-CIO by advising them that federal labor law appears to pre-empt the state from passing a “captive audience” bill. The House of Representatives passed the controversial bill two weeks ago, 78 to 65, […]

Scientific researchers recently released data from a high-profile study showing that people infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, were significantly less likely to transmit the virus to their partners if they were put on antiretroviral drugs immediately, when their immune systems were still relatively strong, instead of waiting for the disease to progress. […]

When Gov. Dannel Malloy first proposed slashing the state’s contribution to a program that helps AIDS patients get antiretroviral drugs, Shawn Lang was panicked. Lang, director of public policy for the Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition, feared the loss of that funding–about $600,000 annually–would leave many low-income HIV-positive patients without access to life-saving medications. But after […]

It almost sounds too good to be true: State budget officials, who already saw revenues surge by nearly $400 million over the past month, now say anticipated savings in retired worker health care costs have grown by some $100 million in the same period. And though Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo said his office was somewhat […]

Remember the Pentagon Papers? First published in 1971 after being leaked by anti-war activist Daniel Ellsberg, the once top-secret history of U.S. involvement in Vietnam have been the subject of innumerable news articles, several books and are even available online. And next month, the documents will be officially released by the U.S. government. The fact […]

Sen. Joseph Lieberman was the only Connecticut lawmaker to vote “yes” on a four-year extension of the Patriot Act yesterday. The anti-terrorism measure gives broad and controversial powers to law enforce officials. One provision, for example, gives the FBI the authority to continue using roving wiretaps on surveillance targets, while another allows law enforcement officials […]

After putting it off for two years, the General Assembly has agreed to fully fund the state’s share of a health plan that covers 33,000 retired teachers and their spouses, easing fears that the plan would run out of money. The new state budget for the next two years includes $51.5 million to cover the […]

Ed Reilly of the Iron Workers Union interrupts hearing. Hearings on the near-perennial proposals to revamp the UConn Health Center tend to draw doctors, university officials and hospital administrators, with testimony about the university and area hospitals. This year, as lawmakers considered Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s $864 million renovation and expansion plan, a good portion […]

With less than two weeks remaining in the 2011 General Assembly session, key lawmakers and officials in Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration are optimistic about the prospects for creating a new quasi-public authority to operate Bradley International and the state’s five smaller airports. A bill pending on the Senate calendar would create a new nine-member Connecticut Airport […]