Top lawmakers outlined a marijuana legalization blueprint Thursday that includes erasure of certain criminal records, a tax of roughly 20 percent, and “equity” incentives for communities where large numbers of pot-related arrests have occurred.
2019 legislative session
Posted inPolitics
Rob Sampson, the dissenting state senator
The Republican state senator from Wolcott isn’t uncomfortable taking a stand on issues, even if he stands alone.
Posted inEducation
School regionalization bills sow confusion, spread fear
One of the bills calls for remaking school districts in the image of the state’s probate court map, but its author says that was never his intent.
Posted inMoney
Lamont: Private investors could fund toll start-up costs
Gov. Ned Lamont wants to explore tapping private investors to finance at least some of the hundreds of millions of dollars needed to install electronic tolling on its highways.
Posted inMoney
Lamont’s ‘debt diet’ hits an already lean nonprofit safety net
Gov. Ned Lamont’s proposed “debt diet” would suspend a key grant program that helps nonprofit agencies make building repairs, upgrade information technology, purchase new equipment and meet other capital needs.
Posted inEducation
Opponents of school regionalization to descend on Capitol
Thousands of Connecticut residents are alarmed by what they see as a threat to their childrens’ education – an attempt by lawmakers to take away local control of their schools.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Plastic bag ban proposals now include new wrinkle: taxes
Gov. Lamont has zeroed in on the elimination of plastic grocery bags as a possible revenue source. But the 19 other pieces of legislation that also seek their banishment are focused on the environmental benefits.
Posted inHealth
Bill seeks to reduce the cost of prescription drugs
Under the proposal, anyone would be able to obtain a drug discount card through a program run by the comptroller, while employers would be able to contract with the state’s pharmacy benefits manager to reduce drug costs.
Posted inMoney
GOP, McCaw spar over tolls, tax hikes in Lamont budget
Gov. Ned Lamont’s budget director, Melissa McCaw ran the gantlet Wednesday as she discussed tolls and taxes with the legislature’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.
Posted inPolitics
Looney hedges on confirming David Lehman to DECD
The leader of the Connecticut Senate cast a chill Tuesday over the nomination of Goldman Sachs partner David Lehman as commissioner of economic and community development.
Posted inMoney
Can tax break promises be kept?
Seniors, teachers, hospitals, corporations and other groups are pressing lawmakers to deliver the tax relief they pledged in 2017 — even though Gov. Ned Lamont says Connecticut no longer can afford it.
Posted inMoney
Lamont wants to take a big-table approach to state budget
Gov. Lamont is using his first budget to start a conversation, rather than drive specific solutions, about a host of key issues ranging from tolls and sports betting to recreational marijuana and labor cost-savings.
Posted inPolitics
It may be bumpy, but Lamont sees ‘a path forward’
Gov. Ned Lamont offered lawmakers Wednesday what he says is a map for a wealthy state struggling to wriggle free of a crushing pension debt amassed over decades, end crippling cycles of deficits and spark economic growth.
Posted inEducation
See how your town fares in the governor’s proposed budget
Poor communities would gain the most through a redistribution of the Education Cost Sharing ESC) grant, while wealthy towns would lose the most.
Posted inMoney
Lamont budget takes the first step toward tolls
Gov. Ned Lamont used his first budget Wednesday to lay the groundwork for the restoration of tolls to Connecticut highways.