The two-year state budget lays the groundwork for tolls, shifts more pension debt onto future taxpayers, deals another blow to hospitals, but closes a multi-billion dollar shortfall without raising the income tax.
2019 legislative session
Posted inPolitics
Lamont administration struggles, admits ‘room for improvement’
With no strategy to defend his tolls proposal, Gov. Ned Lamont ceded three days of news cycles to a rapidly mobilized opposition of Republicans, the trucking industry and small businesses.
Posted inEducation
Higher education proponents hope study makes the case to invest in CSCU
The day before Gov. Lamont releases his first budget, CSCU officials told lawmakers an economic analysis shows the system pumped $11.1 billion in income into the state’s economy in 2017.
Posted inMoney
Lamont seeks giveback from future state retirees
Gov. Lamont will seek concessions that could potentially reduce benefits to retired workers by more than $300 million per year.
Posted inMoney
Will Lamont keep transportation system afloat until toll receipts arrive?
Timing is everything. The governor wants to use tolls to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild Connecticut’s transportation infrastructure in a few years at the same time he plans to cut borrowing now.
Posted inMoney
CT’s window to rake in big bucks from pot could be closing
Connecticut could take in as much as $160 million a year by legalizing pot, but if it beats neighboring states to the finish line it might be able to double that revenue.
Posted inMoney
A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
At least that’s what Gov. Lamont hopes as he prepares to offset tolls and sin taxes with lower property taxes on cars and other budget sweeteners.
Posted inMoney
Tax on sugary drinks tops Lamont’s list of new ‘sin taxes’
Gov. Ned Lamont’s first budget will include a series of new “sin tax” proposals, including levies on sugary drinks, electronic cigarettes and plastic bags, and deposits on alcoholic beverages.
Posted inJustice
Lawmakers take up bills to strengthen felons’ voting rights, change inmate count practice
Connecticut is one of 22 states where felons lose their voting rights during incarceration.
Posted inMoney
Pension debt stands between Lamont and fiscal stability for CT
For Gov. Ned Lamont, who insists he will end Connecticut’s cycle of budget deficits — there is no route to long-term stability that doesn’t go through the teachers’ pension.
Posted inGovernment
Paid family and medical leave a point of contention at Capitol
Lawmakers heard hours of testimony from supporters and opponents of paid family and medical leave Thursday.
Posted inMoney
Lamont offers business tax relief, enhanced digital services
Gov. Ned Lamont unveiled his long-anticipated proposal Thursday to eliminate the business entity tax, a $250 fee nearly all Connecticut businesses pay once every two years, and to digitize access to all state services.
Posted inMoney
Lamont hopes spending cap will protect CT’s piggy bank
Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont has an ally in his fight to protect Connecticut’s growing budget reserves — a new Republican-crafted spending cap.
Posted inPolitics
Lamont backs liberals on minimum wage, not taxes
Gov. Ned Lamont is frustrating liberals on taxes, but he underscored Wednesday he is with them on the minimum wage and paid family and medical leave.
Posted inPolitics
Senate GOP calls for public-private partnerships, new tax incentives
Republican lawmakers aim to lower government costs by implementing public-private partnerships with state human services agencies.