Whether motivated by altruism, opportunism or both, a proposed shortcut to a cannabis cultivation license did not go well.
Tensions between private money and public interest in CT marijuana debate
Posted inPolitics
Criminal justice reform in the 2021 legislative session: Here are the bills that passed and those that didn’t
Clean Slate, prison gerrymandering, prison phone calls, drug-free school zones: why this session was important for criminal justice reform.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
The Capitol rioters and the 140-pound defense
Some of the 465 people charged so far (many more to come) in connection with the January 6 riot in and about the U.S. Capitol have come up with a clever defense. The mob made them do it.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Early voting: Here’s why voters should approve it
The right to vote is a Constitutionally guaranteed right, yet in many states, it fails to be properly protected. One such state is Connecticut. Connecticut’s state Constitution prevents early voting and no-excuse absentee voting, severely reducing the ability of many eligible voters to cast a ballot. However, this can be changed.
Posted inHealth
Health care reform in the 2021 legislative session: Here are the bills that passed and those that didn’t
Proposals on everything from cameras in nursing homes to government-sponsored insurance for small businesses and nonprofits were floated this session.
Posted inPolitics
Photo essay: The Capitol comes to life on the last day of the session
The scene at the Capitol on Wednesday was closer to normal than anyone might have predicted on Jan. 6.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Preventing cyberattacks can no longer be a laissez-faire mission
There is the potential in the 21st century for the use of cyberattacks and sanctions much like when nuclear submarines and ballistic missiles were used in the 20th century. Like our past success, America must be far superior to others in the world in defeating cyberattacks.
Posted inNews
CT set to give $3,200 bonds to every child born into poverty
The “Baby bonds” bill is an effort to tackle CT’s yawning wealth gap; Lamont expected to sign into law
Posted inEducation
Bill changing campus safety reporting gets final passage in House
House Majority Leader Jason Rojas received a forcible reminder Wednesday morning the bill hadn’t been called yet.
Posted inMoney
See how your town fares in the new CT budget
An 8% increase in state aid to cities and towns is augmented by $3.2 billion in federal pandemic aid.
Posted inHealth
Proposal opening HUSKY to undocumented children in CT wins final approval
The Senate passed the bill on a vote of 26 to 10.
Posted inMoney
CT Senate gives final approval to $46.4 billion state budget
The Senate adopted the two-year state budget Wednesday, sending the package to Gov. Ned Lamont with bipartisan support.
Posted inPolitics
Democratic lawmaker calls CT budget ‘a knee on the neck of the Black community’
Sen. Fonfara said the decision not to tap revenue to reverse inequities is a moral failure.
Posted inEducation
State budget opts to ‘hold harmless’ every town’s education funding
The proposed state budget avoids taking education dollars away from well-off communities, as the school funding formula had called for.
Posted inJustice
Ritter pledges passage of marijuana legalization bill in special session
The House speaker pledged passage of a bill legalizing recreational marijuana in the next 7 to 14 days.