WASHINGTON — Connecticut’s defense industry is a big winner in a new budget deal that will keep the federal government running through September. It allows the Pentagon to increase the number of F-35 fighters and nearly double the number of Sikorsky Black Hawks it purchases this year. The bipartisan bill also funds a number of domestic programs important to the state, including the National Coast Guard Museum.
Donald Trump
Posted inNews
Trump is finally almost done resigning from his businesses
Before he took office, then-President-elect Donald Trump said he had signed paperwork “turning over complete and total control” of his business empire to his sons; and his lawyer said the more than 400 businesses would be placed in a trust by Inauguration Day. Now, more than 100 days later, he’s nearly fulfilled this promise.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy tweets photos of gun violence victims as Trump speaks to NRA
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s appearance at the National Rifle Association’s national convention provoked Sen. Chris Murphy to launch a tweetstorm Friday urging people to turn off the president’s speech and reflect on the victims of gun violence instead.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Insurers: Trump hasn’t committed to payments that would keep them in ACA exchanges
WASHINGTON — Despite reports to the contrary, President Donald Trump has not committed to making payments that insurers like Anthem say are needed for them to consider staying in Access Health CT and other state health insurance exchanges.
Posted inNews
Blumenthal, Murphy say White House briefing on North Korea revealed little
WASHINGTON — Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy on Wednesday joined all of their Senate colleagues on a bus to the White House for a classified briefing on North Korea, but they and other senators from both parties said they left without learning much new.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Trump tax overhaul would affect most CT taxpayers
WASHINGTON — The new tax plan released by the Trump administration Wednesday, would slash taxes for corporations and eliminate the estate tax, double the standard deduction and reduce the number of tax brackets from seven to three. If ever implemented, it would affect most Connecticut taxpayers.
Posted inEnergy & Environment, Politics
Trump review of national monuments includes New England Coral Canyons
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s latest executive order threatens newly won protections for an underwater national monument located 150 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. The president ordered a review of “national monuments,” including the New England Coral Canyons and Seamounts area, an ecosystem in the deep waters for the Atlantic Ocean.
Posted inPolitics
Navy plan to build more subs could strain capacity at EB
WASHINGTON — The Navy’s plans to boost the number of ships and submarines would cost more than $100 billion a year and pose a challenge to the capacity of the nation’s shipbuilders, especially those building subs like Electric Boat, a new government report said.
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Blumenthal votes against Justice nominee over Russia probe
WASHINGTON —Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Tuesday was in a small minority of senators to vote against the confirmation of Rod Rosenstein to the No. 2 job at the Justice Department. He said Rosenstein’s failure to commit to appointing a special prosecutor to investigate ties between the Trump administration and Russia forced him to vote against the nomination.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Access Health CEO worried remaining insurers will quit exchange
“Over the last five years Connecticut has been seen as a leader in the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, and I’m worried that we could be seen as the first marketplace not to have carriers in 2018,” Wadleigh said.
Posted inPolitics
Up for re-election, Murphy says he’s focused on activism, not campaigning
WASHINGTON — Despite the advantage President Donald Trump’s political gaffes may give them, many Senate Democrats face tough re-elections next year, but Chris Murphy isn’t one of them. The senator, who is defending what is considered a safe seat, says he won’t begin running for re-election in earnest until next year and for now prefers to invest in grassroots activism instead.
Posted inEnergy & Environment, Politics
CT fires its first shots in battle with Trump over environment
The state could turn out to be one of the most uniquely qualified to challenge the Trump administration on environmental policy. “Connecticut fights way above its weight in a number of the areas on the national scene,” Attorney General George Jepsen said. “Environmental issues is one of those areas.”
Posted inPolitics
Trump to give commencement address at Coast Guard Academy
WASHINGTON — The last time a president gave a commencement speech at the academy was in 2015, when former President Obama used the occasion to address the need for action on climate change.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
Congress faces choice of budget deal or federal shutdown
WASHINGTON — When Congress returns from its two-week recess next week it will have just days to approve a bill that would fund the federal budget and prevent a government shutdown that would affect a broad swath of Connecticut residents – from Head Start students to workers in the state’s defense industry.
Posted inPolitics
Trump, Murphy agree federal agencies should ‘buy American’
WASHINGTON — There’s at least one thing Sen. Chris Murphy, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, sees eye to eye on with the president – the need to close loopholes in laws that requires government agencies to “buy American.” Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order that encourages government agencies to give priority to American companies when awarding contracts.