WASHINGTON — Democrats in Congress, including those from Connecticut, ratcheted up the pressure on Republicans Wednesday to take up gun safety measures. The Democrats spent the day calling for gun control measures.
Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut’s senior U.S. senator, was first elected in 2011. Sen. Blumenthal has supported stricter gun legislation and support for veterans.
Posted inPolitics
Day after mass shooting, Senate rejects gun control measures
WASHINGTON — The day after California’s mass shooting, Richard Blumenthal Chris Murphy and other Senate Democrats pressed for largely symbolic votes on a couple of gun control measures. As most expected, they lost.
Posted inPolitics, Transportation
New federal transportation bill would boost funding to CT
WASHINGTON – In a long-awaited compromise, Congress unveiled a final, five-year transportation bill on Tuesday that would boost money to the states and change the way Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor routes are funded.
Posted inPolitics
With Congress deadlocked, CT senators press Obama on gun checks
WASHINGTON – Sens. Richard Blumenthal, Chris Murphy and other gun control advocates have switched their focus from Congress to the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue to try to close what they call loopholes in the FBI background checks of gun buyers.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy, federal lawmakers stand firm on helping Syrian refugees
WASHINGTON — A growing number of GOP governors are citing the Paris attacks as a reason not to accept Syrian refugees, but Connecticut politicians are rejecting that notion.
Posted inPolitics
Short week for Congress yields defense funding, railroad revival
The U.S. House of Representatives was out and the Senate had a shortened work week because of the Veterans Day holiday, but there was still plenty of activity in Congress. The Senate approved a final defense bill that authorizes billions of dollars in spending on weapon systems developed in Connecticut. The Federal Railroad Administration took a big step forward on an ambitious overhaul of the rail system in the Northeast Corridor.
Posted inPolitics
State Dept. official with West Hartford ties tasked to develop, sell Syria plan
WASHINGTON — Former West Hartford resident Brett McGurk is considered a leading expert at the State Department on the threats posed by the Islamic State and what the Obama administration is trying to do about them. But fighting international terrorism isn’t his only challenge. Now he’s been tasked to persuade skeptical lawmakers, including members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation, to back President Obama’s campaign against ISIS in Syria.
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Final defense bill OKs 63 F-35s, other major CT weapons
WASHNGTON — The Senate on Tuesday sent on to President Obama a final defense authorization bill that paves the way for an increase in defense spending in Connecticut and the nation.
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal seeks last-minute safety measures in highway bill
WASHINGTON — Senate and House negotiators are working on a long-awaited, long-term transportation bill, but Sen. Richard Blumenthal and safety advocates are concerned the legislation will be seriously flawed.
Posted inPolitics
Parsing what it meant to be ‘there’ at Sandy Hook
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., was not necessarily wrong when he told a television interviewer Monday night he “was there” when relatives of Sandy Hook shooting victims were informed of their deaths. But was he misleading?
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal, McCain press ‘paid patriotism’ ban at sports games
WASHINGTON — Tributes to U.S. troops at New England Patriot games and other professional sporting events are wasteful “paid patriotism” costing taxpayers millions of dollars, say several U.S. senators, including Richard Blumenthal, who have pressure the Pentagon to stop the practice.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Herbicide finding intensifies battle over GMO labeling
More than two years after passing the nation’s first law requiring labels on most foods containing genetically engineered components, there are still no labels for Genetically Modified Organisms – GMOs – in Connecticut or anywhere else in the U.S. But GMO labeling advocates now have some new ammunition for a counter-offensive.
Posted inNews
In the news: Pacific trade pact, Sikorsky sale, billions for CT defense firms
Congress approved billions for Connecticut defense projects; Sen. Richard Blumenthal stepped up his campaign fundraising with attacks on CNBC commentator Larry Kudlow; Lockheed Martin got the last approval it needed to finalize its purchase of Sikorsky; and the White House released the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal campaign targets potential rival Kudlow over actual candidate Wolf
WASHINGTON — Sen. Richard Blumenthal‘s campaign has more sharply set its sights on a Larry Kudlow, a Republican who isn’t in the Connecticut Senate race — at least not yet — instead of August Wolf, a Republican who has declared his candidacy.
Posted inNews
With China’s OK, Lockheed Martin to close on Sikorsky purchase
WASHINGTON – Lockheed Martin said on Tuesday that it has received a final regulatory approval from China, allowing it to close on its $9 billion acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft from United Technologies. Lockheed Martin said it anticipated closing on Friday.