WASHINGTON – President Obama is expected to roll out an ambitious agenda in his State of the Union speech that could increase the distance between the White House and Republicans in Congress. Connecticut’s lawmakers, however, will use the occasion to show support for that agenda – and promote their own.
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 inMoney, Politics
Senate approves terrorism insurance bill that aids CT insurers, businesses
WASHINGTON – The Senate on Thursday gave final legislative approval to a bill that would help Connecticut’s property and casualty insurers by re-establishing a federal backstop in the event a terrorist attack results in massive claims.
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal big on introducing legislation, bigger on consumer advocacy
WASHINGTON – Only one other senator co-sponsored more legislation than Sen. Richard Blumenthal in the outgoing Congress — just one indication of the Connecticut Democrat’s energy and broad reach on Capitol Hill. He’s used his position as a member of the majority party in the Senate and his role on key committees to make the most of his political clout. (This is the sixth in a series of stories about the roles each member of the Connecticut congressional delegation played in the 113th Congress.)
Posted inHealth, Politics
Lawmakers urge feds to buy CT-made flu vaccine
WASHINGTON – Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, and Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, released a letter Monday that urges the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to consider a local company when the agency awards contracts for next year’s flu shots
Posted inPolitics
Sandy Hook remembered with prayer, politics and litigation
The second anniversary of the Dec. 14, 2012 massacre of 26 women and children at Sandy Hook Elementary School was marked in Connecticut by litigation, prayer and politics.
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal, Murphy split on budget bill that averts shutdown
Washington – Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy split over a massive omnibus spending bill the Senate approved late Saturday little more than an hour before the government would have shut down due to a lack of funding. Murphy voted for the$1.1 trillion bill, Blumenthal did not.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy wins seat on Senate Appropriations Committee
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chris Murphy, who is still in his freshman term in the Senate, has been given a seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee in the next Congress, a powerful panel that decides all spending issues and is responsible for the budget that funds all federal departments and programs.
Posted inPolitics
227 CT gun deaths later, Newtown families continue their campaign
WASHINGTON — Some 227 people have died from gun violence in Connecticut since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre two years ago. On Wednesday, Connecticut lawmakers joined Newtown families and victims of gun violence across the nation in renewing their calls for new federal gun laws.
Posted inPolitics
Senate to begin debate on bill that would turn Coltsville into national park
WASHINGTON – A massive defense bill that would authorize billions of dollars in spending on Connecticut defense projects — and turn the Hartford’s Coltsville neighborhood into a national park — may face its first test in the Senate today.
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal promotes bill to combat sports blackouts
Washington – Sen. Richard Blumenthal knocked major league sports leagues Thursday, saying the federal government has given them a “blank check,” and promoted legislation that would pressure the leagues to end the blackout of games.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers laud Carter as prospective Pentagon chief
WASHINGTON – Connecticut lawmakers on defense panels lauded presumptive Defense Secretary nominee Ashton Carter, even as the defense industry may be wary about the candidate’s reputation as a cost cutter.
Posted inPolitics
On Black Friday, Blumenthal shops for media
On a day when every newscast was certain to report on Black Friday shopping, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal attracted every network affiliate to a news conference with a bit of media catnip — a fresh gloss on an old warning to consumers about the sales and advertising practices at outlet malls.
Posted inPolitics
Obama actions to help only some Connecticut immigrants stay
WASHINGTON – President Obama’s controversial move to stop the deportation of millions of immigrants will help thousands of undocumented people living and working in Connecticut, but bypasses thousands of others.
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal, other senators blast defective airbag maker Takata
WASHINGTON – Are drivers in Connecticut safe from the chance the airbags in their cars may kill or maim them? That was one question raised during a heated Senate hearing Thursday on the safety of airbags installed in more than 30 million vehicles made by Honda, Chrysler, BMW and eight other automakers. All were made by the Japanese company Takata.
Posted inPolitics
Senate moves Bolden nomination to federal court forward
Washington – The Senate on Wednesday voted to limit debate on the nomination of Victor Allen Bolden, the corporation counsel for the city of New Haven, to the federal bench, paving the way for a confirmation vote Thursday.