Connecticut’s defense industry will be watching as the House Armed Services Committee (Rep. Joe Courtney) releases the National Defense Authorization Act — and funding for all weapons systems for the year.
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 inPolitics
CT senators take new aim at gun control
Washington — A year after a modest proposal to change gun laws failed in the Senate, Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy have switched tactics.
They plan to introduce a bill that would forbid anyone under a temporary restraining order from owning a gun.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Connecticut insurers have eyes on Washington
Washington – Connecticut insurance powerhouses Aetna, The Hartford and Travelers have different lobbying agendas in Washington, but when it comes to their clout and the handing out of political cash, the companies are very similar.
Posted inMoney
Despite CT lawmakers’ support, minimum wage bill falters in Senate
Washington — Senate Democrats Wednesday failed to move forward on a bill that would boost the federal minimum wage, likely killing the effort in Congress.
The bill failed on a 54-44 vote. Sixty votes were needed.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT lawmakers join war on heroin, painkillers
Washington – Washington has turned its attention to the epidemic of heroin addiction and overdose deaths – including more than 250 in Connecticut last year, but there’s a limit to what the federal government and Congress can do, especially in times of tight budget constraints.
Posted inMoney, Politics
CT lawmakers take fight over Russian ‘copters to Kerry
Having had a poor response from the Pentagon, Connecticut lawmakers and others who are trying to protect local defense interests have taken their fight to end Russian military contracts to Secretary of State John Kerry.
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Murphy’s new chief of staff has GOP ties
Allison Herwitt has worked for Republican politicians, but now she’ll take the top position in the office of Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy. On Friday, Murphy announced the hire of Herwitt as his chief of staff, replacing Francis Creighton, who left the senator’s office in February.
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CT defense giants increasingly political as Pentagon budget shrinks
WASHINGTON – Connecticut’s largest defense contractors are stepping up political donations to key lawmakers as competition increases for shrinking defense dollars.
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Following time-honored tradition, CT politicians bet on game
Politicians like to link themselves with winning local sports teams and those from Connecticut are no different. Sens. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both Democrats, say they have a “friendly wager” with Kentucky Republican Sens. Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell over the outcome of tonight’s NCAA championship game between UConn’s Huskies and the University of Kentucky Wildcats.
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Revolving door spins for Connecticut delegation
WASHINGTON — Many Connecticut lawmakers who have retired recently have become lobbyists. An analysis by The Connecticut Mirror shows that dozens of staffers for the state’s lawmakers have also swung through the revolving door, the term used for an ingrained, and growing, Washington phenomenon for when lawmakers and their staff leave Capitol Hill for more lucrative lobbying jobs.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Murphy leads Democratic celebration of ACA
“I’m sure that [the GOP] hoped it was an April Fool’s joke,” Murphy said of the high Obamacare enrollment numbers.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Blumenthal, Murphy declare war on heroin
Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy have declared war on heroin, insisting the federal government do more to combat what has become a particularly lethal drug that claims, on the average, one life in the state every day.
Posted inPolitics
Newtown cyclists say gun control campaign now a movement
WASHINGTON — Riding 400 miles from Newtown, 26 bicyclists hoping to change the nation’s gun laws faced some strong headwinds on their way to Washington, D.C. When they reached the U.S. Capitol Tuesday, they faced even more — of the political kind.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy addresses Ukraine in New Haven
New Haven — Last weekend during a visit to New Haven, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy predicted that Russia would never send its military into Ukraine. Murphy was back in New Haven Saturday, addressing Ukraine at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Church on George Street, after Russia had in face marched in to seize control of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy asks FBI to crack down on ‘kidnapper’s’ phone scam
Washington – There are countless phone scams claiming victims in Connecticut every day, but Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., has asked the FBI to crack down on an especially bold one that involves a caller claiming to hold a family victim hostage and asking for ransom. “Several Connecticut residents have fallen victim to this fraud, even […]