Republican congressional candidate Dan Debicella’s campaign Tuesday asked members of Republican town committees asking them to help them reach a goal of $2.5 million to defeat Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District.
Congress
Posted inPolitics
Partisan battles keeping Schwartz from VA job
WASHINGTON – As deep problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs come to light, Congress continues to stall on key VA administrative nominees, including that of Linda Schwartz of Connecticut, named to be the agency’s assistant secretary of policy and planning.
Posted inNews
CT lawmakers vote to keep feds from enforcing marijuana laws
WASHINGTON – Connecticut’s House delegation on Friday voted unanimously for a measure– sponsored by a California Republican — that would stop federal agencies from enforcing marijuana laws against state-approved medical marijuana programs.
Posted inNews
Esty, other gun control proponents, shift focus to mentally ill
WASHINGTON – After a shooting and stabbing rampage by a troubled California college student that left six dead last week, Rep. Elizabeth Esty and other gun control supporters are focusing on legislation that would strengthen a ban on gun sales to the mentally ill.
Posted inNews
CT Lawmakers demand info on state VA facilities
Washington – The entire Connecticut delegation sent a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki on Friday requesting information from a nationwide audit of VA facilities that pertain to hospitals and clinics in Connecticut.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers hope to harness anger at Russia to help Sikorsky
Washington – Ignored by the Pentagon and State Department, Connecticut lawmakers hope increasing congressional anger towards Moscow will finally force the end of U.S. purchases of helicopters made by Russian state arms dealer Rosoboronexport destined for the Afghan armed forces.
Posted inPolitics
Modest pay, long hours for most who work for CT Congressional delegation
Connecticut lawmakers differ on who they hire to run their offices and how much they pay their staffers. But an analysis by the Connecticut Mirror shows that, except for the top staffers, those who work for Connecticut members of Congress are paid less than their counterparts in the private sector or the civil service.
Posted inPolitics
Dodd to nominate Larson
Washington – Former Sen. Chris Dodd will nominate Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, at the Democratic First Congressional District Nominating Convention Wednesday at Goodwin College.
Posted inPolitics
Miles Rapoport brings political skills honed in CT to DC
Washington – Miles Rapoport has been at the center of many brutal political fights, but is he hard-nosed enough for Washington?
Posted inMoney, Politics
House approves military construction bill, but no money for Groton sub base
The U.S. House approved a $71 billion military construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill Wednesday that has money for Connecticut’s Air National Guard but would fund no new projects at Naval Submarine Base New London.
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 inPolitics
Metro-North slammed for fines, new schedule
Washington – Metro-North was slammed by Connecticut politicians Friday as Gov. Dannel P. Malloy criticized the passenger railroad’s new schedule, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal unveiled a study that showed the rail company paid more than $500,000 in safety-related fines in the last decade.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Blumenthal asks Justice Dept. to investigate GM
WASHINGTON — In an escalating fight with General Motors, Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined other Democratic senators Friday in asking the Justice Department to investigate the automobile maker for allegedly delaying a recall of millions of cars that had faulty ignition switches, a defect that has been linked to 13 deaths.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy challenges Boehner, Part II
Washington – Gov. Dannel Malloy is tussling with House Speaker John Boehner again, this time over long-term unemployment benefits.
