WASHINGTON — In an escalating fight with General Motors, Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined other Democratic senators Friday in asking the Justice Department to investigate the automobile maker for allegedly delaying a recall of millions of cars that had faulty ignition switches, a defect that has been linked to 13 deaths.
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
CT defense giants increasingly political as Pentagon budget shrinks
WASHINGTON – Connecticut’s largest defense contractors are stepping up political donations to key lawmakers as competition increases for shrinking defense dollars.
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Following time-honored tradition, CT politicians bet on game
Politicians like to link themselves with winning local sports teams and those from Connecticut are no different. Sens. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both Democrats, say they have a “friendly wager” with Kentucky Republican Sens. Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell over the outcome of tonight’s NCAA championship game between UConn’s Huskies and the University of Kentucky Wildcats.
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Metro-North engineer involved in crash had sleep problems
The engineer of the Metro-North train that derailed in the Bronx in December suffered from severe sleep apnea, according to preliminary reports made public Monday by the National Transportation Safety Board.
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Jepsen begins campaign with rare, if brief, press conference
Attorney General George Jepsen’s re-election announcement Monday was a reminder of a major stylistic difference with his predecessor, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal. It was only his second news conference in a month, compared to a dozen for Blumenthal.
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Washington Watch, Week of April 6 – April 12
WASHINGTON — Congress will try to cram in as much work as possible this week before taking off for two weeks on an Easter/Passover/Spring break.
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Court invalidates aggregate limits on federal contributions
Washington – The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down an aggregate limit of $123,2000 in contributions that an individual can make to federal candidates, parties and political action committees each campaign cycle.
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Plans for Coltsville National Park move ahead, with changes
Washington – Plans to build a national park on the site of the Colt factory in Hartford have moved ahead in the House of Representatives, but not without alterations by a Utah Republican who wanted to make the park more acceptable to the Interior Department.
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Esty introduces e-cigarette bill
Washington—Rep. Elizabeth Esty introduced a bill Thursday that would ban advertising of e-cigarettes to children. “Advertisements for e-cigarettes that highlight flavors like bubblegum or gummy bears and promote cartoon characters are shameless efforts to addict our kids,” Esty said.
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Blumenthal asks for money for some, not all, endangered Democrats
In one of his latest fundraising appeals, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., has asked his donors to give to the campaigns of three endangered Democrats, Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Kay Hagen of North Carolina and Mark Udall of Colorado instead of giving that money to his campaign.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Blumenthal, Murphy declare war on heroin
Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy have declared war on heroin, insisting the federal government do more to combat what has become a particularly lethal drug that claims, on the average, one life in the state every day.
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Feds say Metro-North put on-time performance before safety
WASHINGTON –The Metro-North commuter railroad put on-time performance before concerns about safety or adequate training programs, the Federal Railroad Administration has found in a report released today.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Connecticut’s unemployed pin hopes on divided Congress
The Democratic-led Senate has voted several times to restore benefits to 3.6 million long-term unemployed like Norwalk resident Joel Zaremby, but it fell one vote short of the 60-vote threshold needed to move the legislation forward. Now the Senate is trying one more time to find a compromise that will clear that hurdle. But time is running out.
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Newtown cyclists say gun control campaign now a movement
WASHINGTON — Riding 400 miles from Newtown, 26 bicyclists hoping to change the nation’s gun laws faced some strong headwinds on their way to Washington, D.C. When they reached the U.S. Capitol Tuesday, they faced even more — of the political kind.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Blumenthal clashes with federal railroad chief over Metro-North crashes
“Four people might be alive today if those (railroad regulations) had been implemented,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal told the administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration. The hearing was Blumenthal’s first as a Senate subcommittee chairman.
