For the second time since the Citizens’ Election Program was launched in 2008, participation in General Assembly primaries is higher than in previous years, and advocates say that’s proof that public campaign financing invigorates the system. But while the number of primary candidates has increased slightly from two years ago, the number seeking public financing […]

By one key measure, Rob Simmons has returned as an active, if unconventional, candidate for U.S. Senate, announcing he will resume advertising on television in coming days. But, of course, there is a twist to the new ad: Simmons reminds voters he is on the ballot for the Aug. 10 Republican primary, yet he never […]

The State Elections Enforcement Commission today unanimously approved a supplemental grant of $312,500 for Republican gubernatorial candidate Michael C. Fedele. A federal appeals court has ruled that the supplemental grants, which are triggered by an opponent’s spending, are unconstitutional, but the court has not directed the SEEC to stop the grants. The delay allows parties […]

WFSB and Connecticut Public Broadcasting are going ahead with plans for a Democratic gubernatorial debate on Aug. 3 – with or without Ned Lamont. All three Republican candidates have accepted an invitation to debate Aug. 4 at WFSB’s studios in Rocky Hill, but Dan Malloy is the only Democrat willing to appear on the 3rd. […]

The State Elections Enforcement Commission is expected today to grant Republican gubernatorial candidate Michael C. Fedele $312,500 in supplemental public financing to offset spending by GOP front runner Tom Foley. With the refusal Tuesday by the state Supreme Court to intervene, the commission appears obligated to approve the funds contested by Foley. UPDATE: Funds approved […]

The state got some welcome economic news Tuesday–an estimate that the surplus for the fiscal year that ended June 30 has jumped to $393.3 million, up nearly $150 million over the past month–but hardly enough to offset the massive deficit bearing down on the state 12 months from now. The increased surplus reported by Gov. […]

The academic standards used in Connecticut’s public schools for the last two decades are “among the worst in the country,” according to a report being issued today. The good news is, new national standards being adopted by the state are far superior, the report says. The state standards–essentially guidelines for curriculum development in public schools–received […]

WASHINGTON–Rep. John Larson, D-1st, was at the center of a political firestorm last week, although you might not have known it from reading the headlines or tuning into latest cable TV news flash. Larson, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, started the week collecting a torrent of complaints from his fellow House Democrats about a […]

State government is on pace to close the books on the last fiscal year $393.3 million in the black – $260 million higher than the surplus projected when the new budget was adopted in early May – Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration reported today. The latest surplus projection, which also stands about $150 million above […]

The state Supreme Court today refused to block Republican gubernatorial candidate Michael C. Fedele from seeking an additional $312,500 in public financing for his campaign. The State Elections Enforcement Commission is free at its meeting tomorrow to approve the supplemental funds, which are triggered by the spending of the GOP front runner, Tom Foley. Chief Justice […]

Another poll today shows Democrat Richard Blumenthal with a strong but narrowing lead over Republican Linda McMahon in the U.S. Senate race. The latest Rasmussen Reports poll give Blumenthal a 13-point lead over McMahon, 53 percent to 40 percent. Last month, Rasmussen showed Blumenthal ahead of McMahon by 56 percent to 33 percent. McMahon is […]

Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced Monday that the state will move forward to set up its own insurance plan for people with serious health problems, instead of letting the federal government run the program. The new insurance option, called the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, is part of the federal health care reform overhaul. It is […]

Republican gubernatorial contender Michael Fedele could be cleared by mid-day Wednesday to pick up an additional $312,500 in public funds for his campaign–provided he wins his argument today before the state Supreme Court. UPDATE: state Supreme Court refuses to block funds. The State Elections Enforcement Commission is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday to […]

For most of this year’s gubernatorial contenders, discussion of state government spending is focused on ways Connecticut can tighten its belt–and Democrat Dan Malloy is no exception. But in one vital area, tourism promotion, Malloy announced Monday that Connecticut needs to start spending more right away. The former Stamford mayor unveiled a tourism platform that […]

WASHINGTON-Many of Connecticut’s Republican congressional candidates will have relatively thin pocketbooks heading into the Aug. 10 primary, according to the latest campaign finance reports. And even as Democrats nationally are wringing their hands over a toxic election climate and struggling to keep up with their GOP counterparts, Connecticut’s Democratic incumbents don’t seem to be feeling […]