Race to the Top: Connecticut gets a C competing for federal education funds

Connecticut’s school reform plans got a mediocre grade in the federal Race to the Top competition, the Obama administration reported Monday, putting new pressure on state lawmakers to pass legislation to revamp the state’s public school system. Out of 40 states and the District of Columbia, Connecticut ranked 25th, well out of the running in […]

The battle to pass health-care reform is over. The campaign to explain, defend and sell reform to voters in the run-up to the 2010 election is under way. Home for the spring recess, members of Connecticut’s Democratic congressional delegation are on the road, led by a senior member who has given up on his own […]

The Judiciary Committee approved a bill Monday that will remove the statute of limitations for those accusing state employees of child sexual assault — a move several committee members worry could put the state’s finances at-risk. “Without question, this increases the state’s exposure to suit,” said Sen. John A. Kissel,R-Enfield, the Senate ranking Republican on the […]

Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams Jr. spent much of Monday trying to extricate himself from between a fiscal rock and a hard place–better known as Gov. M. Jodi Rell and House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan of Meriden. The vacationing Republican governor’s staunch defense of a $70 million annual tax break for residents inheriting […]

The appeals process that slows down putting someone to death in Connecticut will not be sped up this legislative session, as the bill failed to make it out of the Judiciary Committee today. Rep. Michael P. Lawlor, D-East Haven, said he did not bring the bill before the committee for a vote because “it wasn’t on […]

Judge Alexandra D. DiPentima is the new chief judge of the Appellate Court, effective immediately, Supreme Court Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers announced today. DiPentima will succeed Judge Joseph P. Flynn, who took senior status effective March 26, 2010. The appointment was announced in this statement released by the court: “Judge DiPentima is an excellent […]

Tom Marsh oversees a workforce of 20, not counting teachers, and a budget of a little more than $12 million as first selectman of Chester, population 3,842. He is looking to move up, take on a workforce of 55,000, a budget of $18.6 billion and a constituency of 3.5 million. Marsh wants to be your […]

While leaders of the General Assembly struggle–so far unsuccessfully-to close a half-billion dollar gap in this year’s state budget, a small group composed mainly of legislators has come up with a series of more modest proposals that could mean long-term savings for the state. Now the question is whether the legislature will take the time […]

As businessman Steven Simmons tries to fix what’s wrong with Connecticut’s public schools, he hopes to win the help of skeptics such as parent activist Gwen Samuel. Simmons has built an impressive résumé as a college professor, children’s book author and cable TV entrepreneur, but his recent appointment by Gov. M. Jodi Rell to head a […]

Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s promised veto has prompted House Democrats to cancel today’s vote on the deficit mitigation plan approved early today by the Senate. Doug Whiting, a spokesman for House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, said that House leaders decided around 9 a.m. there was no point to bring the plan to a vote, […]

The state Senate adopted a deficit reduction plan shortly before 5:20 a.m. Saturday that aims to close a $518 million gap in the current year budget, despite the promise of a veto by Gov. M. Jodi Rell. Although Democratic leaders of the Senate said they would not be deterred by Rell’s threat, it was enough to […]

The Democrat-controlled state House of Representatives, which caved Friday to Senate pressure to back a new deficit-mitigation plan, likely will cancel its Saturday session to vote on the package now the Gov. M. Jodi Rell has pledged to veto it, House sources said. As the Senate entered session just before midnight to vote on the […]

Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced late tonight she would veto a new Democratic compromise plan to eliminate this fiscal year’s $518 million deficit and also wipe out about 10 percent of the red ink projected for 2010-11. The Republican governor said the plan, which boosts taxes on hospitals and cancels a recent tax break for […]

Democratic state lawmakers’ new deficit-mitigation plan would eliminate 21 deputy commissioners in Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration, saving $3.1 million annually, according to documents and other sources. The plan also would cancel seniority bonuses and require another furlough day for non-union workers, cut back health care, social service and education programs and make other reductions […]

The Democratic majorities in the state House and Senate reached a compromise this afternoon on a plan to eliminate most of this fiscal year’s $518.4 million deficit, relying chiefly on restoring a gross revenues tax on hospitals and reversing a January reduction in the levy on wealthy estates, sources said. The Senate is scheduled to […]