Psychologists have been intrigued for years by the question of what determines a person’s political identity, Lena Groeger writes in New York University’s ScienceLine. Numerous studies suggest that liberals and conservatives differ not only in their political and social views but also in their behavior and personality. But are the studies skewed by the largely […]
Is there a liberal bias in studies of political psychology?
Posted inNews
Waterbury keeps it simple: Cut spending and don’t raise taxes
WATERBURY– Residents of Connecticut’s fourth-largest city had no trouble defining their priorities Tuesday night as they enjoyed their turn grilling Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on his plan to close the state budget deficit. Sure there were a few advocates for universal health care. A few state employees complained about top-heavy administration. And a contingent from […]
Posted inNews
Doctors reconsider SustiNet support after liability protection withdrawn
Physician groups on Tuesday blasted a decision by lawmakers to remove a medical liability protection provision from the proposed SustiNet bill, and some doctors suggested that it could undermine the effort to create a state-run health insurance plan. “It wouldn’t shock me if we come out actually in opposition to the bill,” said Dr. David […]
Posted inNews
Lawmakers, advocates blast DSS failure to spend daycare funds
Lawmakers and childcare advocates this week questioned a decision by the state Department of Social Services to tighten eligibility rules for a daycare program for children from low-income families–with the result that the department is spending millions less than the legislature allocated last year. “We appropriated this money for children to go to daycare,” said […]
Posted inNews
Fairfield County is biggest winner under Malloy town aid plan
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s municipal aid plan has hit a snag after an analysis showed 15 percent of all communities–including more than a dozen of Connecticut’s poorest–lose funding, while Fairfield County towns are the biggest winners. The administration conceded this week that this was an unintended consequence of the Democratic governor’s bid to protect municipalities […]
Posted inNews
Malloy’s pick for DSS emphasizes a personal credential
Roderick L. Bremby, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s pick to run the state Department of Social Services, has worked for more than 20 years in government, implemented new technology systems and served on the board of the authority that runs the Kansas Medicaid program. On Tuesday, as Malloy introduced him, Bremby emphasized another credential not listed […]
Posted inNews
In middle of flood, Malloy reappoints chief of emergency management
What better time to reappoint Peter Boynton as commissioner of Emergency Management and Homeland Security? Gov. Dannel P. Malloy chose today, as the state is coping with flooding and gearing for more rain, to announce that he is retaining Boynton, a career Coastie hired by Gov. M. Jodi Rell in 2009. Boynton’s had plenty of […]
Posted inNews
Next, we ask OLR to research its oddest research request
Interested in hookah lounges? Some legislator is, so the Office of Legislative Research has prepared this report.
Posted inNews
Battles over voting rules continue, with a new target
The decade-long battle over voting rules, such as ID requirements and registration procedures, continues again this year, Peter Wallsten report in the Washington Post. But this year, some states are focusing on college students. The toughest proposed restriction on student voting is being debated in New Hampshire, where Republicans–back in charge of the legislature after […]
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Paid sick day mandate threatens struggling economy
(Kia Murrell is associate counsel for the Connecticut Business & Industry Association) Most Connecticut lawmakers ran for office on the promise of creating and growing jobs in the state. But the legislature’s Labor Committee has approved a proposal that actually would increase business costs, prevent job growth and could result in the loss of jobs. […]
Posted inHealth
Paid sick day mandate threatens struggling economy
(Kia Murrell is associate counsel for the Connecticut Business & Industry Association) Most Connecticut lawmakers ran for office on the promise of creating and growing jobs in the state. But the legislature’s Labor Committee has approved a proposal that actually would increase business costs, prevent job growth and could result in the loss of jobs. […]
Posted inPolitics
Death penalty repeal poses key decision for freshman
Theresa Gerratana sat unnoticed Monday night at the end of a bank of desks in a hearing room, a freshman senator overlooked by witnesses for or against the death penalty. Whether Connecticut keeps capital punishment is largely up to her. Elected three weeks ago in a special election, Gerratana would be the 18th senator to […]
Posted inNews
Legislators considering pushing back education reforms
The extensive education reforms passed last year in hopes of winning a federal Race to the Top grant may be delayed because the state didn’t win the grant and doesn’t have the money itself to implement them. “If we find the money then we are happy to push forward with these reforms… but money is […]
Posted inNews
Malloy tax plan sparks, fears, complaints and threats
Departure was the theme of the day as legislators heard testimony on Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s new tax plan: dire predictions of the customers, airplanes, boats, businesses, residents and jobs that would flee the state to avoid the plan’s myriad proposed tax increases. “To state the obvious, airplanes fly,” Eric Zipkin, owner of Trade Winds […]
Posted inNews
Wyman could be crucial on death penalty, paid sick days
If Connecticut is to abolish the death penalty this year, the deciding vote in the Senate most likely will belong to the presiding officer, Lt. Gov. Nancy S. Wyman. The same is true of a bill mandating private employers to provide paid sick days. The best that proponents of either controversial measure can manage this […]