WASHINGTON — Pressed by the conservative wing of their party, House GOP leaders discussed options this week to punish Rep. John Larson and other Democrats who staged a sit-in on the House floor to protest the lack of action on gun control measures, but they’ve yet to unveil a strategy.
John Larson
John Larson, a Democrat, has served as the U.S. representative for Connecticut’s first congressional district since 1999.
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Corey hopes third try is charm in ousting Larson
WASHINGTON — Since he was first elected to represent a Hartford-based congressional district in 1998, Rep. John Larson has not had a serious challenge from a GOP opponent and – if fundraising and history are any measures – it looks like his winning record will continue this year. Yet Matthew Corey, a business owner from Manchester, says Larson has failed in a key mission – stopping the bleeding of jobs in the 1st District. He hopes his third try at unseating Larson is a charm.
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CT lawmakers raise millions in political cash, challengers not so much
Washington – Connecticut’s incumbents continued to outpace their challengers in campaign fundraising by wide margins, according to the latest reports with the Federal Elections Commission.
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After Dallas shooting, Murphy knocks Congress for inaction on gun control
WASHINGTON — Connecticut’s members of Congress called for calm, prayers, healing and justice in the wake of the shooting of five police officers in Dallas and the slaying by police of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. But Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., also slammed Congress for inaction on gun control.
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Larson, Lewis meet with Speaker Ryan, but no deal on gun bills vote
WASHINGTON – Democratic U.S. Reps. John Larson and John Lewis met with House Speaker Paul Ryan late Tuesday, and receiving no assurances that votes would be held on gun control legislation, said they will continue their campaign to pressure House GOP leaders.
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New gun laws virtually dead this year, CT lawmakers concede
After a 15-hour filibuster in the U.S. Senate and a 26-hour sit-in on the floor of the U.S. House in the past week and a half, members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation conceded Friday that new gun legislation is probably dead in 2016.
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Larson plotted House revolt clandestinely with Lewis
WASHINGTON – Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis was the face of the unprecedented uprising by House Democrats seeking votes on gun control measures, but it was Rep. John Larson who was the behind-the-scenes planner of the insurrection and who kept it on course for more than 16 hours.
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GOP cuts off Dems’ revolt, CT lawmakers say they won’t quit
Updated at 2 p.m.
WASHINGTON — House Republicans pulled the plug on a revolt by Democrats led by Connecticut Rep. John Larson and civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis by adjourning in the middle of the night for the long July 4th break. Larson and other Democrats vowed to continue fighting for votes on gun control measures.
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CT lawmakers, advocates open to new Puerto Rico bill
WASHINGTON — A rare compromise between the White House and House Republicans on how to help Puerto Rico has received cautious acceptance from Connecticut lawmakers and advocates who had rejected previous congressional efforts to help an island mired in a severe financial crisis.
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As Congress balks, Puerto Rico on brink of financial meltdown
WASHINGTON – As the hours tick down toward Puerto Rico’s default on a massive debt payment Sunday, Congress has so far rejected solutions offered by Connecticut lawmakers and some Republican leaders to save the commonwealth from economic ruin.
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Senate votes to protect lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook
Washington – The Senate on Tuesday voted to give National Park Service protection to the lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook, Connecticut waterways that would be given a “wild and scenic river” protective designation.
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Connecticut lawmakers trouncing challengers in political fundraising
WASHINGTON – Connecticut lawmakers have raised and spent millions of dollars in political cash, even if they have no challenger or the ones they have are woefully underfunded. It’s the system, analysts say. And they say it’s not likely to change.
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CT lawmakers seek more funds for gun background check system
WASHINGTON — All five members of Connecticut’s U.S. House delegation joined dozens of other lawmakers – many of them but not all fellow Democrats – to ask for more money for the federal gun purchaser background check system.
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U.S. House approves Coltsville National Park fix
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to provide a fix to the legislation establishing the Coltsville National Historical Park in Hartford.
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Even without challengers, CT lawmakers spend lots of campaign cash
WASHINGTON — They may not have well-funded challengers, or any political rivals at all, but the members of Connecticut’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives continued to raise campaign money and spend a lot of it, on everything from consultants to tickets for sporting events.