Connecticut leads the nation in the percentage of kids covered by Medicaid who go to the dentist – a dramatic change from a decade earlier, when the state ranked near the bottom, according to a national report. But dentists and advocates who have studied the changes say that progress could be set back under a proposal by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to cut the Medicaid payment rates for children’s dental care by 10 percent.
2016 State Budget
Posted inMoney, Politics
Key budget players still aren’t talking as clock ticks on session
With just two and a half weeks left in the 2016 General Assembly session, the chief players in the state budget drama still haven’t begun talking — at a time negotiations normally would be in full swing. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is frustrated with his fellow Democrats in the legislature’s majority — whose only plan for the new fiscal year was $340 million out of balance — and with a Republican minority that won’t issue a new plan.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy’s stance: Negotiations must start with balanced budget
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Friday the starting point in next week’s negotiations over how to deliver a balanced budget should be his administration’s new plan, not the unbalanced proposal adopted by the Appropriations Committee.
Posted inEducation, Money
As criticism mounts, Malloy defends education cuts to affluent towns
As sharp criticism built Thursday of its proposal to end state education aid to 28 of the state’s wealthiest towns, the administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy released data to show that most of the towns affected have among the lowest mill rates in the state and rely relatively little on state aid.
Posted inJustice, Money, Politics
CT Judicial Branch will lay off 126, plans courthouse closures
Connecticut’s Judicial Branch announced this week that 126 workers would be laid off in response to anticipated budget cuts for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Bye urges colleagues, Malloy to scale back town aid cuts
The Senate chair of the General Assembly’s budget-writing panel challenged her colleagues and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Thursday to ease the municipal aid cuts they are seeking — or watch one budget be rejected after another. Sen. Beth Bye also fears many cities and towns already are making plans to increase property tax rates based on the state budgets proposed over the past week.
Posted inEducation, Energy & Environment, Health, Money, Politics, Transportation
Track the 2016-17 budget as it unfolds
As the state budget process unfolds for the 2016-2017 fiscal year, this tool is designed to help you track how specific programs, places and issues fare in each proposal – and in the final budget.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy: Legislature’s budget would dramatically drive up layoffs
The state budget approved by the Appropriations Committee this week would force Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration to lay off 1,300 to 1,400 workers more than he was planning to serve with pink slips this month, the governor said Friday.
Posted inMoney
Finance panel adopts new tax on fantasy sports, other increases
A state legislative panel voted Thursday to endorse a new tax on fantasy sports games, delay an income tax cut for retired teachers, impose a new fee on retail businesses and raid $20 million in ratepayer funds from a program to control greenhouse gases.
Posted inMoney, Politics, Transportation
A displeased Malloy to push back with a new budget of his own
After watching his fellow Democrats in the legislature unveil a budget that undermined — or even rejected — some of his biggest objectives, including the need to avoid tax hikes, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will take an unconventional step next week to refocus his party. The governor, who traditionally begins the annual fiscal debate in early February with his own spending and revenue plan, will submit a second budget next week.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics, Transportation
Budget plan offers painful cuts but remains out of balance
Updated at 5:18 p.m.
The legislature’s Appropriations Committee adopted a new $19.9 billion budget plan Wednesday, that Democratic leaders insisted restores fairness to a fiscal system that has cut too heavily from social services, health care and education – even though the overall plan is out of balance. Republicans pronounced it a failure.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
Deep cuts expected in budget plan today, but deficit may remain
The legislature’s Appropriations Committee is expected to approve a plan for the upcoming fiscal year that imposes some of the deepest cuts in recent history — but still could be more than $300 million out of balance.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy: State workers to get layoff notices in about two weeks
The major round of state employee layoffs that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration has been hinting at since February is about two weeks away, the governor said Wednesday.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
Legislature adopts bipartisan plan to close this year’s modest deficit
The General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a bipartisan plan Tuesday afternoon to close most or all of the current budget deficit, immediately shifting the legislature’s focus to a far larger projected shortfall for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Posted inJustice, Money, Politics
Hundreds of state employees demand no layoffs or concessions
Hundreds of unionized state employees rallied Tuesday morning on the north steps of the Capitol, demanding that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and legislators abandon plans for layoffs and calls for wage and benefit concessions.