The House and Senate will be out next week for Independence Day break. Connecticut’s lawmakers have therefore ramped up events in the state. The Supreme Court will issue two important rulings this week and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet will visit the White House.
Chris Murphy
Chris Murphy, Connecticut’s junior U.S. senator, was first elected in 2012. Sen. Murphy has supported stricter gun legislation and affordable health care.
Posted inNews
Connecticut restaurants, tourist attractions on display on Capitol Hill
Washington – The Connecticut State Society, a club that allows people from Connecticut, especially those working on Capitol Hill and for federal agencies, to socialize together is hosting an event Tuesday to showcase the state’s food producers, restaurants, breweries, tourist attractions, and other businesses .
Posted inNews
Number of deficient CT bridges on the rise
WASHINGTON – The Walk Bridge in Norwalk is not the only bridge in Connecticut that has problems by a long shot. There are hundreds, and the number in poor condition has been climbing since 2006.
Posted inNews
Murphy, Esty win first legislative victories
Washington – Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Rep. Elizabeth Esty,D-5th District, won their first legislative victories on Monday as the House overwhelmingly approved a bill that would allow the town of Canton to reopen two very old dams to produce electricity.
Posted inNews
CT lawmakers lean on Harry Reid to schedule Schwartz VA vote
WASHINGTON – Members of the state’s congressional delegation on Thursday told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid they are tired of tapping their feet waiting for a confirmation vote for Linda Schwartz, the head of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, who has been nominated by President Obama for a top VA job in Washington.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy joins Biden, McCain in trip to Eastern Europe
Sen. Chris Murphy has just returned from a weekend trip to Eastern Europe, where he attended the inauguration of new Ukrainian President Petro O. Poroshenko in Kiev as part of an eight-member U.S. delegation that included Vice President Joe Biden and Arizona Sen. John McCain.
Posted inNews
Washington Watch, Week of June 8
This week Congress will fight over the Bowe Bergdahl prisoner swap, and over how to find money to avert at a summertime highway-project funding “cliff” that could slow and even halt road projects in the state.
Posted inNews
Federal money for Connecticut road projects may dry up
WASHINGTON — Connecticut and most other states rely on the federal government for the lion’s share of their transportation funding. But because Congress can’t agree on how to fund federal road projects, money for the highway trust fund –financed by largely by gasoline taxes — will run out in a few weeks.
Posted inNews
Murphy asks French president to stop selling warships to Russia
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and five other U.S. senators are trying to tell French President François Hollande what to do.
More specifically, Murphy has sent a letter to Hollande asking he halt the delivery of two French-made warships to the Russian Navy that cost about $1.6 billion each.
Posted inPolitics
Himes says VA chief Shinseki must go
Washington – Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, on Thursday became the first member of Connecticut’s congressional delegation to call for the resignation of Eric Shinseki, the embattled secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Posted inPolitics
Pelletier helps Dems on women’s issues
WASHINGTON — Lori Pelletier, the head of Connecticut AFL-CIO, was a main witness Tuesday at a Senate hearing on a wide range of women economic issues that Democrats hope will give them an edge with female voters this year, including equal pay and family leave.
Posted inNews
Washington Watch, Week of May 18
In the week before Congress’ Memorial Day Break, the House will tackle a bill that would boost accountability at the scandal-plagued Department of Veterans Affairs. Legislation that would provide billions of dollars for Connecticut’s defense contractors will also move forward this week with a House vote on the National Defense Authorization bill and action in the House Appropriations Committee on a defense spending bill that would fund all projects in the authorization bill.
Posted inPolitics
Rich senator, poor senator
WASHINGTON — According to the latest financial disclosures filed in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., continues to be one of the poorest members in that chamber — although he has a lot of cash in the bank.
Financial disclosure reports for 71 senators were released on Friday.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy backs Obama plan on Russia -– and urges caution
WASHINGTON – Citing Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, Sen. Chris Murphy took to the Senate floor Wednesday to defend President Obama’s policy toward Russia from GOP sniping — and to suggest changes.
Posted inNews
Washington Watch, Week of May 11
The House of Representatives is in recess this week, so look for stepped up activities in the state for members of Connecticut’s House delegation.