Connecticut was far from the only state whose fiscal reserves weren’t enough to withstand The Great Recession, according to a new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts. The new study recommends several steps to help states better prepare for economic downturns – including proposals Connecticut’s legislature has resisted in the past.
Kevin Lembo
Kevin Lembo previously served as Connecticut comptroller from 2010 to 2021. Before his time in office, Lembo served as Connecticut’s first state healthcare advocate.
Posted inPolitics
On third try, Foley wins public financing for campaign
It took three tries and another round of fundraising, but Republican Tom Foley’s application for the public financing of his campaign for governor was approved Wednesday by the State Elections Enforcement Commission.
Posted inPolitics
A primer on public financing of campaigns in Connecticut
Tom Foley makes his third try today to qualify for public financing, suddenly a make or break step for candidates in the race for governor. Here’s how the program works.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy re-nominated, won’t let GOP ‘short-change Connecticut’
Connecticut Democrats poured into their state convention Friday, pledging that whatever it lacked in drama it would make up for in passion. The more than 1,800 delegates at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford re-nominated Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who vowed to battle energetically for a second term.
Posted inMoney
New site allows viewers to track CT finances day-by-day
State Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo announced the re-launch Tuesday of a site that will provide updated details daily on the money coming into – and going out of – the state’s coffers.
Posted inMoney, Politics
New CT budget missing $52M to cover union retirement benefits
If Connecticut’s chief fiscal watchdog is correct, there’s a $52 million hole in the new state budget Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and majority Democratic legislators hope to enact Saturday.
Posted inMoney, Politics
For Malloy, much rides on April 15
While procrastinators hope for big refunds and scramble to beat Tuesday’s tax-filing deadline, the person with the most riding on those returns is Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
Posted inPolitics
Lembo qualifies for public funds in CT comptroller’s race
State Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo has qualified for public financing for his re-election effort this year, the Guilford Democrat’s campaign announced Tuesday.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
Analysts: Malloy’s budget for Connecticut never was balanced
Just one month from adopting the next state budget, legislators have learned the $19 billion plan they got from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has a $70 million hole in it, according to a new report from nonpartisan analysts. Republican legislative leaders say the shortfall happened because the administration dismissed a warning about rising health care costs five months ago.
Posted inHealth, Politics
‘Aid in dying’ bill offers hope, generates fear
More than 500 witnesses submitted public-hearing testimony about H.B. 5326, An Act Concerning Compassionate Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients. But the essence of arguments pro and con could be distilled Monday in the opposing testimonies of two women.
Posted inGovernment
Connecticut moves openly toward more data transparency
Some state employees will soon have to move to another building — but there’s one thing they won’t be allowed to bring with them: paper.
Posted inGovernment, Politics
Q&A: Open data portal
Connecticut plans to launch its open data portal in about a month. Several residents, from data scientists to elected representatives, have different perspectives on what the portal means. So we reached out to a few of them.
Posted inMoney, Politics
More than $500 million available for election-year state budget
There could be more than $500 million available to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the legislature this spring as they prepare the final state budget before the 2014 elections. According to the regular monthly report filed by Malloy’s budget staff with Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo’s office, this fiscal year’s budget is on pace to run $273 million in the black.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy defends economic record, touts transparency initiative
Bloomfield – Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed an executive order Tuesday authorizing a searchable website detailing who has benefited from $475 million in direct economic aid granted during his tenure, a concept opposed by a top administration official when proposed by Comptroller Kevin Lembo.
Posted inPolitics
Lembo files for re-election
Comptroller Kevin Lembo is filing papers Tuesday to create a candidate committee, a legal step that makes him a candidate for re-election in 2014 and allows him to begin raising $100 in qualifying contributions for public financing.