WASHINGTON — Reaction in Congress to the historic Iran deal ranged from condemnation to hope it will curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Most Connecticut lawmakers praised President Obama for negotiating with Iran and other world powers, although former Sen. Joe Lieberman helped rally opposition to the deal.
Joe Courtney
Joe Courtney, a Democrat, has served as the U.S. representative for Connecticut’s second congressional district since 2007.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT supporters of ACA laud Supreme Court decision
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the legality of federal subsidies that help millions of Americans purchase health insurance was lauded by the Connecticut lawmakers who supported the Affordable Care Act, but it doesn’t end the political fight over the health care law.
Posted inPolitics
Disclosures show wealth for some, but not all, CT lawmakers
WASHINGTON– Rep. Rosa DeLauro is a member or a board member of 21 organizations, a Republican group helped pay for Rep. John Larson’s trip to Italy and Sen. Chris Murphy and his wife still owe up to $50,000 each on student loans, Congress’ latest personal financial reports show.
Posted inNews
CT lawmakers help deal Obama a blow on trade
Washington – Connecticut Reps. Rosa DeLauro, Joe Courtney and Elizabeth Esty, all Democrats, helped hand President Obama an embarrassing defeat Friday on his trade agenda.
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Courtney wins on sub fund in huge defense bill
WASHINGTON – Rep. Joe Courtney beat back a challenge to a special fund that would pay for a new class of nuclear submarines as the House finished work on a massive defense spending bill with billions of dollars for Connecticut defense contractors.
Posted inPolitics
Courtney faces fight over special fund for nuclear subs
WASHINGTON – The National Sea-Based Deterrence Fund, an innovative way to pay for an expensive new class of nuclear subs likely to be built in Connecticut, was established a year ago without much fanfare, but now faces a looming political fight. Its critics call it budgetary gimmickry the nation cannot afford.
Posted inPolitics
3 CT lawmakers buck tide, vote ‘no’ on short-term federal highway bill
WASHINGTON – Reps. Rosa DeLauro, Joe Courtney and John Larson were among the minority of House members to vote against a bill Tuesday that would allow federal highway money to continue to flow to the states – but only for another two months.
Posted inMoney, Politics
CT says it has six months of transportation funds if Congress fails to act
Washington — The law that authorizes federal transportation spending in Connecticut and across the nation runs out at the end of the month, and the fund that pays for that spending is expected to go broke two months later, but Connecticut says it has funding in place for at least six months’ worth of projects if Congress fails to act in time to avert the looming crisis.
Posted inMoney, Politics
CT Lawmakers split on defense bill Obama dislikes
WASHINGTON – Connecticut lawmakers were split Friday over a massive defense bill that would authorize billions of dollars for the state’s defense industry but has provoked a veto threat from President Obama for boosting military spending in an account that’s out of the reach of a spending cap.
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House panel advances defense bill with billions for Connecticut weapons
WASHINGTON – With the backing of Rep. Joe Courtney, the House Armed Services Committee this week authorized billions of dollars for weapons systems built in Connecticut, including $1.4 billion for a new fund to pay for a new class of nuclear submarines likely to be built by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Courtney aiming to end Obamacare’s ‘Cadillac tax’
WASHINGTON – Rep. Joe Courtney has plunged into the latest fight over the Affordable Care Act, attacking the so-called “Cadillac tax” that will eventually be implemented on high-cost health care policies.
Posted inNews
DeLauro hosts salon to help Clinton drum up endorsements
WASHINGTON — Although she’s considered her party’s front-runner in the race for the White House, Hillary Clinton has not locked up the endorsements of even half of the Democrats in Congress. So Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who endorsed Clinton last week, offered to help boost those numbers this week.
Posted inNews
BIA takes heat from CT lawmakers, others on Indian recognition
Updated at 8:48 p.m.
WASHINGTON – Kevin Washburn, the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, hinted Wednesday he may have eliminated a provision in new tribal recognition rules that would stymie efforts by several Connecticut tribes to seek federal status.
Posted inPolitics
Esty raised most campaign cash this year, but Himes has biggest war chest
WASHINGTON — While it seems they ended their last campaigns just a short while ago, the members of Connecticut’s House delegation have begun raising money for their re-election efforts. Rep. Elizabeth Esty brought in the most money during the first quarter of 2015, but Rep. Jim Himes had the most cash on hand.
Posted inPolitics
Courtney leads Democratic push to cut student debt
Washington – Backed by key Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, returned to an old theme on Wednesday — how to cut the college student debt — by introducing a bill that would do just that.
