School choice: ‘The most efficient way’ to desegregate

As Connecticut spends millions of dollars a year to meet a court desegregation order by building and running racially-integrated magnet schools, parents like Iraida Sanchez of Hartford would be happy with a far less expensive alternative. Year after year, Sanchez has put her son Nathaniel’s name in a lottery. She is not aiming for one […]

Senate Democrats Monday proposed a package of measures to help small businesses, funded by a tax on employee bonuses over $1 million paid by companies that received federal bailout money last year. Among the proposals for small businesses: Eliminate the $250 business entity tax for small businesses, create a small business loan fund and hold […]

State Comptroller Nancy S. Wyman said today that the estimated budget deficit for 2010 rose by $1.7 mllion last month to $515 million. “While revenues are showing some signs of stabilizing, virtually every tax category is still down from where it was last year at this time,” Wyman said. Sales tax revenue was off 7.3 […]

Sen. Gary D. LeBeau, D-East Hartford, ended his gubernatorial explorations today. “With deep regret and strong sense of achievement, I am ending my bid for the Democratic nomination for Governor,” he said in an email. “I thank you and my many supporters who have given me encouragement, advice, time and donations over the past 12 […]

NEW HAVEN — In public education circles in Connecticut, Alex Johnston has not always been a welcome guest. As head of the New Haven-based school reform group Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN), Johnston often rankled the public school establishment with his blunt criticism of schools he believes are failing to educate the state’s poorest […]

Gov. M. Jodi Rell will deliver her budget proposal on Wednesday, re-igniting a debate over what the state can afford as it looks ahead to several more years of difficult times. But the debate begins with Connecticut tightly constrained by the commitments of previous governors and legislatures. If the state fired every employee, closed every […]

The retirement incentive program offered state employees last year may have cut payroll costs, but it put even more pressure on the strained pension system. One hundred and ten state employees retired with pensions of at least $100,000 last year, boosting by one-third the number retirees with six-figure state pensions. They were led by 66-year-old […]

Text messaging while driving may soon be illegal if Gov. M. Jodi Rell has her way. Rell said Saturday she plans to submit legislation that will expand current law that forbids drivers from talking on their cell phones without a hands-free device to include prohibiting sending text messages as well. “Over and over again we […]

Lobbyists and legislators debate if a ban on campaign contributions has lessened the influence of lobbyists at the Capitol. One thing is undisputed: It hasn’t hurt their bottom line. The top-ten lobbying firms grossed $17.5 million in 2008, up $3.7 million since the ban passed in 2005. Gaffney Bennett & Associates, the perennial top earner, […]

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, said Thursday night he would vote for the Senate health reform bill, even though it lacks key provisions sought by him and other members of the House Democratic majority. “I am willing to vote for the Senate bill, even though I’ve got real problems with it, if the alternative […]

Just as business leader Oz Griebel launched his campaign for governor Thursday, the man he is chasing for the Republican nomination hit the accelerator, an effort to get some distance on a growing field of candidates. Tom Foley, a former ambassador and an independently wealthy businessman, unveiled two biographical commercials that will air throughout February, […]

State employee union officials said Thursday they have agreed to a plan by Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration to delay $100 million in contributions to their pension fund–a move that shrinks the budget deficit projected for this year, but adds to the state’s $15.8 billion in long-term, unfunded pension obligations. “It’s better than cutting spending,” […]

Funding for a high-speed train project in Connecticut received a $40 million boost today from the federal government. “This is great news for one of the most important and ambitious public transportation projects we have undertaken in years,” Gov. M. Jodi Rell said. The money will be used to help build a second track through […]

Connecticut has received a commitment of $40 million in federal stimulus funding to add double tracking to part of the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail line – the first step toward providing high-speed commuter rail service in the corridor. The award, to be annonced in Philadelphia today, is part of $8 billion in federal funds designatd for […]

Oz Griebel launched his campaign for governor today, but the buzz belonged to former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays. After a charity roast Wednesday night in Greenwich, Shays  sounded like he was ready to become a candidate: “I feel that I have a voice that can make a contribution, win or lose,” Shays told the Greenwich Time. […]