House performs minor fix on campaign financing system

House members voted Tuesday to give themselves 30 days to fix the state campaign finance program if a federal appeals court upholds a trial judge’s decision concluding that the program is unconstitutional. Before the 137-12 vote, several lawmakers said the present 7-day window was insufficient, calling it “a ticking time bomb.” “This bill simply gives the General […]

The state House of Representatives stood poised this afternoon to adopt a plan to eliminate most of the $371 million deficit projected for this fiscal year. Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, and House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero, R-Norwalk, both said most of their respective caucus’ are expected to vote in favor of the plan, […]

The state filed a motion today asking a federal judge to end court oversight of the Department of Children and Families, citing dramatic progress protecting children since the case was filed 20 years ago. The move comes one day after a child-advocacy group notified the state that DCF is so badly managed that it is […]

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont reported Monday that he raised $342,000 in the quarter ending March 31, matching the Republican front-runner, Tom Foley. The two Greenwich businessmen have opted out of the state’s public financing system and are raising money privately. Each can afford to also use their own money in the race. Neither candidate’s […]

Rob Simmons demanded Monday that Linda McMahon, his rival for the Republican nomination to the U.S. Senate, explain why she appeared to direct an employee to tip off the target of a steroids investigation in 1989. In a press conference on the north steps of the State Capitol, Simmons delivered his harshest criticism to date […]

He first attended the dinner as a child, tagging along with his father to see the likes of Jack Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey. On Monday night, U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd stood before a Jefferson-Jackson-Bailey Dinner for the last time as an elected official. “This evening obviously is bittersweet,” Dodd told a crowd of more […]

A statewide council of educators, business leaders and civic officials pledged Monday to build stronger ties among education systems from preschool to graduate school, but their task will be daunting, a survey of other states suggests. In a ceremony in Hartford, members of the state’s P-20 Council signed a pledge of cooperation to turn around […]

Backers of a bill to require insurers to pay for items related to medical conditions, such as prosthetics, wigs and colostomy supplies, hope to win a veto-proof majority for the measure now that they have a price tag for it. “It’s 72 cents,” said Sen. Edith Prague, D-Columbia, referring to the monthly cost per policyholder. […]

Lawmakers decided not to approve a bill that would have required seat belts on every school bus by 2024 and instead voted to study the costs. Rep. John Geragosian, D-New Britain, co-chairman of the Appropriations Committee, said a study needs to be completed first because there are too many discrepancies for what the requirement would […]

A national advocacy group notified Connecticut on Monday that it once again is in contempt of federal court orders dictating the state’s treatment of vulnerable children. Children’s Rights, which represents children in a class-action suit filed against the state in 1989, suggested that the only remedy might be new management at the Department of Children […]

Among the top three Republican candidates, former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons matches up strongest against Democratic Attorney General Richard Blumenthal in the race for U.S. Senate, a new poll found. A Rasmussen Reports poll conducted April 7 and released today shows Blumenthal leading Simmons, 52 percent to 38 percent. A month ago, the same poll […]

A deal has been struck between House and Senate Democratic leaders and Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell to help close the $371 million deficit projected for this fiscal year, House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan and Rell said today. “We agreed that pretty much, I mean 99.9 percent, we had a basis for an agreement. It’s […]

Republican Mark Zydanowicz, a businessman and National Guard veteran of Iraq, announced his candidacy today for the 1st Congressional District seat held by Democrat John B. Larson. With his first run for elective office, Zydanowicz is taking on a six-term incumbent in an overwhelmingly Democratic district that covers Hartford and 26 other communities. “I know […]

The statewide energy assistance program will run out of money at the end of the month if legislators fail to restore the nearly $2 million in funding that was cut, the head of the program says. “If we don’t get something soon then we won’t have money. It’s sad,” said Patricia Wrice, executive director of […]

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley issued a statement today that he raised $338,810 in the first quarter and has $1.5 million on hand, but his report wasn’t yet available on the state web site. Oz Griebel, another Republican, said last week he had raised $300,000 and had $250,000 on hand. All candidates must file their […]