WASHINGTON — Gun control advocates in Congress, with Connecticut’s lawmakers taking a lead, are hoping the massacre in Orlando is a “tipping point” that overcomes the deep resistance in Congress to strengthening the nation’s federal gun law. Political points may be scored, but it’s not likely Congress will budge.
Rosa DeLauro
Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat, has served as the U.S. representative for Connecticut’s third congressional district since 1991.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT lawmakers seek more money as House, Senate split on Zika funds
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have split on how to fund federal efforts to fight the Zika virus, with Connecticut lawmakers playing key roles in trying to boost the amount of money that would go to states to battle the spread of the disease.
Posted inPolitics
Congress fighting over Zika funding that could aid CT pharmaceuticals
WASHINGTON — Congress is tied in a partisan knot over funding U.S. response to the outbreak of the Zika virus, money that could help several Connecticut pharmaceutical companies continue their work toward a vaccine.
Posted inPolitics
Connecticut lawmakers trouncing challengers in political fundraising
WASHINGTON – Connecticut lawmakers have raised and spent millions of dollars in political cash, even if they have no challenger or the ones they have are woefully underfunded. It’s the system, analysts say. And they say it’s not likely to change.
Posted inPolitics
Food stamp benefits end for some single adults in 87 CT towns
WASHINGTON — Because the economy has improved in the towns where they live, thousands of Connecticut food stamp recipients lost their food stamp benefits beginning this month. The state’s economic upturn in 82 towns has caused able-bodied, childless, adult food stamp recipients who are unemployed to lose their benefits unless they got jobs, education or training at least 20 hours a week.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers seek more funds for gun background check system
WASHINGTON — All five members of Connecticut’s U.S. House delegation joined dozens of other lawmakers – many of them but not all fellow Democrats – to ask for more money for the federal gun purchaser background check system.
Posted inNews
CT lawmakers trying to blunt deep cuts for Sikorsky helicopters
WASHINGTON — Connecticut lawmakers and their allies in Congress are waging a war against the Pentagon’s plan to dramatically cut the number of Sikorsky-made Black Hawk helicopters it will buy next year. The lawmakers may very well win.
Posted inPolitics
DeLauro to join Obama on Cuba trip
WASHINGTON — Rep. Rosa DeLauro will be among about 20 other lawmakers, most of them Democrats, to visit Cuba with President Obama, when he makes his historic trip to the island next week.
Posted inPolitics
DeLauro to travel to Flint ahead of key Michigan primary
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, will join House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and nearly two dozen other progressive Democrats on a trip to Flint, Mich., on Friday to rally behind the victims of the city’s water crisis – and perhaps try to give Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton a boost.
Posted inPolitics
Even without challengers, CT lawmakers spend lots of campaign cash
WASHINGTON — They may not have well-funded challengers, or any political rivals at all, but the members of Connecticut’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives continued to raise campaign money and spend a lot of it, on everything from consultants to tickets for sporting events.
Posted inNews
Obama budget would cut Black Hawks, F-35s, boost Pell grants, Head Start
WASHINGTON — President Obama’s 2017 proposed budget, released Tuesday, would sharply cut funding for Connecticut -made Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters and trim the number of F-35s the Pentagon would buy, while boosting spending on certain domestic priorities.
Posted inPolitics
For CT delegation, a flurry of successes in a blizzard of bills
WASHINGTON – Sen. Richard Blumenthal sponsored and co-sponsored 377 bills and amendments in 2015, more than any other U.S. senator. But a Connecticut Mirror analysis found other Connecticut lawmakers were busy, too.
Posted inPolitics
Obama puts CT accomplishments on national ‘to do’ list
WASHINGTON — In his State of the Union speech, President Obama’s “to do” list was much like Connecticut’s “already done” list. “I’ll keep pushing for progress on the work that still needs doing,” the president said. “Protecting kids from gun violence, equal pay for equal work, paid leave, raising the minimum wage.”
Posted inPolitics
DeLauro defies Obama on State of the Union issue
WASHINGTON — Once again, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro is defying President Obama as he prepares to give his State of the Union address to the nation. Once again, the split is over trade.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Federal budget bill good for CT defense, health insurance industries
WASHINGTON — The federal government’s proposed $1.1 trillion budget deal will please Connecticut health insurers, defense contractors and early childhood education advocates; but disappoint those seeking more federal heating aid and country-of-origin labeling on beef and pork.