WASHINGTON – Connecticut on Wednesday joined five other states in suing to block the Justice Department for its efforts to punish so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions by putting immigration-related conditions on federal policing grants. Connecticut would lose more than $1.7 million in Byrnes crime-fighting grants if it does not comply with the conditions.
lawsuit
Posted inPolitics
Two immigrant children in Connecticut sue over family separations
With the help of Connecticut attorneys, two children who were taken from their parents at the U.S.- Mexico border and sent to a Connecticut facility are suing the federal government for the “psychological and mental harm” caused by the separations.
Posted inHealth
Connecticut fighting Texas in legal battle over Obamacare
WASHINGTON – Connecticut supporters of the Affordable Care Act and the nation’s health insurers on Friday condemned the Trump administration’s decision against defending the health law from a lawsuit filed by Texas and a coalition of Republican states. Connecticut is part of a rival coalition of states fighting to keep the ACA in place.
Posted inJustice
Blumenthal v Trump to get its day in court
Washington – A federal court will hear a case this week spearheaded by Sen. Richard Blumenthal and joined by dozens of congressional Democrats that says President Donald Trump has violated the U.S. Constitution by failing to seek and obtain the consent of Congress before accepting benefits from foreign states. “The argument on Thursday will put to the test the argument that no one is above the law,” Blumenthal said.
Posted inHealth
CT opioid lawsuits advancing in face of settlement effort
WASHINGTON — Nearly two dozen Connecticut cities and towns are scheduled to soon confront Purdue Phama and other opioid makers in court over what they say are the pharmaceuticals’ deceptive practices. Meanwhile, there is an effort by a federal judge in Ohio to negotiate a massive settlement for the hundreds of federal lawsuits across the nation targeting the opioid makers for their marketing practices.
Posted inJustice
CT joins lawsuit to block Trump from ending DACA
WASHINGTON — Connecticut on Wednesday joined 14 other states and the District in Columbia in a lawsuit that would invalidate President Donald Trump’s move to end protections from immigrant youths.
Posted inNews
As Blumenthal ups Trump emoluments battle, Grassley asks ‘What about Clinton?’
WASHINGTON — Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who is leading a group of Democratic lawmakers in a lawsuit accusing President Donald Trump of violating the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, has been chided by Sen. Charles Grassley for not taking possible violations of that clause by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton into consideration.
Posted inEducation
CT joins suit against DeVos’ delay of rule protecting student borrowers
WASHINGTON — Connecticut joined 17 other states and the District of Columbia Thursday to sue the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary Betsy DeVos for delaying implementation of a new regulation aimed at protecting student borrowers. It was to become effective on July 1.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Blumenthal, Democrats sue to force Trump to disclose foreign deals
WASHINGTON — Sen. Richard Blumenthal wants a federal court in Washington, D.C., to compel President Donald Trump to ask Congress for permission when he benefits from business dealings with foreign governments. The lawsuit is based on the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which requires the nation’s presidents to clear any gift or payment from a foreign leader with Congress.
Posted inHealth, Politics
AMA ‘alarmed’ political influence could sway DOJ on Anthem-Cigna merger
Updated at 6:25 p.m.
WASHINGTON — The American Medical Association, says it is “alarmed” Anthem may be taking advantage of changes in leadership in the Justice Department that would “bend antitrust laws” and result in a settlement of the federal case that has blocked its merger with Cigna.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Anthem’s pursuit of Cigna still in play, but faces huge hurdles
WASHINGTON — Anthem’s effort to merge with Cigna, which seemed to end with a huge thud when a federal court ruled the $54 billion deal is anti-competitive, may have been given new life – but the odds are long and Connecticut could stand in the way.
Posted inHealth
In legal soap opera, Cigna and Anthem trade charges of sabotage
WASHINGTON – In a vicious legal battle laid out in court papers unsealed Friday, Cigna accuses Anthem of undermining its business by stealing confidential information and soliciting its customers. Anthem counters in a rival filing that Cigna worked to sabotage the companies’ proposed merger after its executives were not promised the positions they wanted in the merged company.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Cigna sues to end merger deal, seeks $15 billion from Anthem
WASHINGTON — The tumultuous relationship between proposed merger partners Anthem and Cigna continued Tuesday as Cigna called for an end to the deal and demanded about $15 billion from Anthem – which said it is “committed to closing the transaction.”
Posted inHealth, Justice
Anthem will appeal judge’s decision to block merger with Cigna
WASHINGTON — Anthem said Thursday it will appeal a federal court’s decision to block the health insurer’s planned merger with Cigna. The decision to appeal came quickly on the heels of U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson’s ruling late Wednesday that the $54 billion merger would reduce competition in dozens of insurance markets across the nation.
Posted inHealth, Justice
DOJ says Aetna left ACA marketplaces in reaction to merger suit
Updated at 6:35 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Justice Department attorneys on Monday continued to try to undercut arguments by Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini that his company’s Medicare Advantage program competes with government-run Medicare.