Connecticut lawmakers are preparing for President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address by inviting a diverse group of guests from the state to attend what is expected to be a highly politicized event.
infrastructure
Posted inTransportation
Northeast rail plan stymied by lack of funding, concerns in Fairfield County
WASHINGTON — An ambitious — and to some in Connecticut controversial — plan to overhaul the railroad in the Northeast Corridor has come to a full stop, a victim to lack of funding. There also has been pushback to the plan from Fairfield County residents who fear the impact of laying down new high-speed-ready tracks and other development near their neighborhoods.
Posted inMoney, Transportation
A new push to tackle an old problem: transportation neglect
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Thursday a day of reckoning has arrived for Connecticut’s depleted special transportation fund and the services and projects it finances, outlining what is likely to be an election-year challenge for the General Assembly and, perhaps, the last major initiative of a lame-duck governor.
Posted inTransportation
Larson pitches carbon tax to fund $1.8 trillion infrastructure bill
EAST HARTFORD — Although the prospect of a major infrastructure bill is waning in Congress, Rep. John Larson remains optimistic and is seeking nearly $2 trillion to overhaul the nation’s infrastructure, funded by a tax on carbon emissions.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Himes: Trump ‘is not acting like an innocent party’
WASHINGTON – Rep. Jim Himes’ job as a minority member of the House Intelligence Committee usually wasn’t a path to the political spotlight – but all that changed with the election of Donald Trump and allegations his campaign may have colluded with the Russians to influence U.S. elections.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy: The GOP health plan is a ‘dumpster fire’
WASHINGTON – It’s surprising Chris Murphy is only in his first term in the Senate because he’s had a an amazing amount of visibility for a freshman on a number of hot-button issues that have ranged from gun control to diplomatic flash points. The Connecticut Mirror spoke to him about the prospects of the Republican “American Health Care Act” and a few other things.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy leaves D.C. feeling bad about ACA, better about infrastructure
WASHINGTON — Like other Democratic governors, Dannel Malloy ended his long weekend here at the National Governors Association winter meeting pessimistic about President Donald Trump’s plan for the Affordable Care but hopeful the new administration will be receptive to other state needs – especially when it comes to infrastructure.
Posted inPolitics
Himes’ New Dems and moderate Republicans explore coalition
WASHINGTON — With Donald Trump’s presidency fueling partisan fires in Congress, a group of centrist Democrats led by Rep. Jim Himes is trying to find common ground with GOP counterparts. The goal is to determine whether they could come together on infrastructure, budget, tax and other issues.
Posted inMoney
Price of first step on Malloy’s 30-year journey is $2.8 billion
The administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy asked a legislative committee Monday to approve $2.8 billion in additional transportation borrowing over five years, a down payment on what Malloy hopes will be a $100 billion infrastructure investment over three decades.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Transportation a second-term priority for Malloy
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy outlined a major second-term policy goal Wednesday for the first time since his re-election, saying he will engage the public and political establishment in a broad discussion of how Connecticut must invest in transportation to compete economically in the 21st Century.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Feds provide $161 million toward replacing balky Norwalk rail bridge
The federal government Wednesday awarded Connecticut a competitive grant of $161 million toward replacement of the 118-year-old Walk Bridge in Norwalk, a movable bridge whose failure in the open position halted Metro-North and Amtrak traffic twice this year on one of the busiest rail corridors in the U.S.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Metro-North ‘crisis’ slow to build — with no quick fix
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy held a “crisis summit” Monday at Metro-North, but the surest time for preventing the latest service interruption on nation’s busiest commuter railroad most likely passed a decade ago during the waning days of the administration of Gov. John G. Rowland.
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 inEnergy & Environment, Politics
Esty has win in windstorm act
WASHINGTON — Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, scored a legislative win Friday as the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee approved her proposed amendment to the “Windstorm Impact Reduction Act.”