After hearing from Connecticut college students about their experiences of sexual violence, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said he wants an overhaul of federal law and enforcement procedures to ensure that college staff no longer turn away students seeking help.
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.
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Washington Watch, Week of May 11
The House of Representatives is in recess this week, so look for stepped up activities in the state for members of Connecticut’s House delegation.
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New gasoline reserve to help CT prep for hurricanes
Washington — Because of the severe disruption to gasoline supplies wrought by Superstorm Sandy, the Department of Energy Friday announced it will establish two Northeast gasoline reserves — near New York Harbor and in New England.
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CT senators take new aim at gun control
Washington — A year after a modest proposal to change gun laws failed in the Senate, Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy have switched tactics.
They plan to introduce a bill that would forbid anyone under a temporary restraining order from owning a gun.
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Despite CT lawmakers’ support, minimum wage bill falters in Senate
Washington — Senate Democrats Wednesday failed to move forward on a bill that would boost the federal minimum wage, likely killing the effort in Congress.
The bill failed on a 54-44 vote. Sixty votes were needed.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT lawmakers join war on heroin, painkillers
Washington – Washington has turned its attention to the epidemic of heroin addiction and overdose deaths – including more than 250 in Connecticut last year, but there’s a limit to what the federal government and Congress can do, especially in times of tight budget constraints.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Blumenthal calls for ban on ‘the new Joe Camel’
Flanked by two Yale doctors and brandishing packages of fruit-flavored “e-hookahs,” U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal Monday renewed his fight against tobacco industry marketing to kids, calling e-cigarettes and e-hookahs “the new Joe Camel.”
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CT lawmakers introduce Metro-North safety bill
Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, Jim Himes, D-4th District, Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, and New York Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney introduced a bill Monday that would force Metro-North to institute an “alerter” system, a safety system that sounds an alarm when an engineer remains idle while the train is moving.
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Washington Watch, Week of April 27
A House panel will examine prescription drug and heroin abuse, and committees in both the House and Senate will be discussing issues related to the defense industry.
Posted inMoney, Politics
CT lawmakers take fight over Russian ‘copters to Kerry
Having had a poor response from the Pentagon, Connecticut lawmakers and others who are trying to protect local defense interests have taken their fight to end Russian military contracts to Secretary of State John Kerry.
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Blumenthal asks Justice Dept. to investigate GM
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.
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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.