Supporters say that borrowing money directly from private investors rather than the traditional method of using municipal bonds is “efficient” and “innovative.” It offers “improved service” and “superior design.” It gives “customers”—note: not citizens— “superior service” and “more choice.” Such language is floating around the State Capitol building these days, as Gov. Ned Lamont is once again proposing to loosen existing state rules governing the signing of infrastructure public-private partnerships.
Connecticut should continue protecting itself from bad infrastructure deals
Posted inSteady Habits
PODCAST: Journals tell story of a pandemic year filled with sadness, loss and joy
As we mark the one year anniversary of the pandemic impacting Connecticut, we’ve been asking what we’ve learned and what we’ve lost.
Posted inEconomic Development
There’s a new plan for realigning Hartford’s highways. Is the third time the charm?
The plan would remove the I-84/I-91 interchange downtown and cap I-91 with a new road, expanding river access.
Posted inPolitics
Steve Obsitnik fined $90,000 over Super PAC coordination in 2018
The case involves a publicly financed candidate for governor, Steve Obsitnik, and his relationship to a PAC.
Posted inMoney
Restaurants were the hardest hit industry by COVID closures. But they had a plan.
Connecticut’s restaurant owners opted to engage the Lamont administration over COVID, not fight it. They think they were right.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Deep concern about the harmful nature of the Board of Regents’ contract proposal
We, undersigned professors from Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western Connecticut State universities, believe that it is our responsibility and moral obligation to speak up on behalf and in support of our faculty colleagues and our students, and to express our deepest concerns about the harmful consequences that the contract proposals by the Board of Regents […]
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Support HB-5067 to stop non-consensual pelvic/prostate exams under anesthesia
Imagine you are a patient who is undergoing abdominal surgery, perhaps you have a gynecological or prostate issue. Naturally you gravitate to the best hospital in your network or you follow your physician. Many physicians wear two hats —they’re both caretakers and teachers. For you, this means that medical students may be there, observing. But many will do far more. As the Yale University School of Medicine explains, this “involves hands-on teaching of invasive clinical skills, such as the pelvic exam.”
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Expunge the criminal records of marijuana offenders
Connecticut’s state legislature is once again debating the merits of decriminalizing the recreational use of marijuana. Yet the most heated arguments have focused largely on the commercialization of marijuana sales. In the meantime, thousands of citizens prosecuted for cannabis possession continue to experience the negative impact of their prior convictions. It makes sense for the legislature to permit the expunging of their criminal records.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Quakers and solitary confinement: We thought it was a good idea. Now we don’t!
If ever there was an institution exemplifying the adage “the road to hell is paved with good intentions,” solitary confinement in our prisons would be it.
Posted inMoney
House unanimously adopts measure to ensure lawmakers have a say in spending COVID relief funds
The bill directs the administration to give a detailed accounting of how federal coronavirus aid has been allotted to date.
Posted inJustice
House endorses Clark nomination to Appellate Court
Robert Clark was briefly a Superior Court judge before joining the Lamont administration as the governor’s general counsel.
Posted inPolitics
House approves bill delaying changes to police deadly force rules
Under the bill, the changes governing police officers’ use of deadly force would go into effect Jan. 1, 2022.
Posted inPolitics
Lamont names Balletto, McKinney to liquor control
The governor had to name one Democrat and one Republican to the part-time post.
Posted inMoney
CT tax fairness debate heats up with new pandemic relief on the way
Connecticut’s tax fairness debate shifted into high gear as state officials eye $2.6 billion in new pandemic relief from Washington.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Covering all the biases
There has been a lot of loose talk lately about bias in the media. I’m a proud member of the fourth estate — have been for nearly half a century. And I have plenty of biases, great and small. I like puppies. Cats not so much. I prefer ice hockey to field hockey, asparagus to […]