Washington — The law that authorizes federal transportation spending in Connecticut and across the nation runs out at the end of the month, and the fund that pays for that spending is expected to go broke two months later, but Connecticut says it has funding in place for at least six months’ worth of projects if Congress fails to act in time to avert the looming crisis.
Rosa DeLauro
Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat, has served as the U.S. representative for Connecticut’s third congressional district since 1991.
Posted inMoney, Politics
CT Lawmakers split on defense bill Obama dislikes
WASHINGTON – Connecticut lawmakers were split Friday over a massive defense bill that would authorize billions of dollars for the state’s defense industry but has provoked a veto threat from President Obama for boosting military spending in an account that’s out of the reach of a spending cap.
Posted inNews
When it comes to trade pact, Himes is the man in the middle
WASHINGTON – Rep. Jim Himes has emerged as a key, swing vote as President Obama struggles to win congressional support for a new trade pact with 11 other nations that ring the Pacific Ocean.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Battle lines drawn in Connecticut over Pacific trade deal
WASHINGTON – The battle lines drawn over a proposed U.S. trade pact with 11 Pacific Rim nations are running straight through Connecticut, which has emerged as the home of some of the proposed agreement’s most ardent supporters and bitter foes.
Posted inNews
DeLauro hosts salon to help Clinton drum up endorsements
WASHINGTON — Although she’s considered her party’s front-runner in the race for the White House, Hillary Clinton has not locked up the endorsements of even half of the Democrats in Congress. So Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who endorsed Clinton last week, offered to help boost those numbers this week.
Posted inEnergy & Environment, Money
On conservation’s front lines, districts facing budget cuts
The five little-known Connecticut Conservation Districts help municipalities and the public with soil and water conservation problems and projects they can’t handle themselves. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposed budget would end all $300,000 in state funding for the districts — money they say is necessary to run their offices and leverage larger sums in the form of grants.
Posted inPolitics
Esty raised most campaign cash this year, but Himes has biggest war chest
WASHINGTON — While it seems they ended their last campaigns just a short while ago, the members of Connecticut’s House delegation have begun raising money for their re-election efforts. Rep. Elizabeth Esty brought in the most money during the first quarter of 2015, but Rep. Jim Himes had the most cash on hand.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy helps give Congress a say on Iran nuclear deal
WASHINGTON — After the White House reluctantly withdrew its objections, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy voted for a bill Tuesday that would give Congress a say in any agreement with Iran over its nuclear power program. The bill also bridges a disagreement between Murphy and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal over the role Congress should play on an Iran deal.
Posted inNews
DeLauro clashes with Obama trade officials over U.S. exports
Washington – Rep. Rosa DeLauro escalated a war on a proposed trade pact between the United States and most Pacific Rim nations by saying on Thursday the nation’s top trade official is wrong about U.S. imports and exports.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy leads CT delegation in official overseas travel
WASHINGTON – When it comes to overseas travel, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a member of the foreign relations committee, is the Connecticut congressional delegation’s most frequent flyer, taking nine official trips since being sworn in two years ago.
Posted inPolitics
DeLauro reproves UTC chief over possible Sikorsky selloff
WASHINGTON – Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat who represents a congressional district that is home to Sikorsky Aircraft, blasted United Technology Corp. CEO Greg Hayes on Thursday, saying he is going back on his word to keep the helicopter maker in Stratford.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers split on Netanyahu speech
WASHINGTON – One Connecticut lawmaker decided to skip his speech to a joint session of Congress and others had differing reactions to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu’s forceful condemnation of U.S. efforts to reach an agreement with Iran over nuclear weapons.
Posted inPolitics
DeLauro skips Netanyahu speech
Washington – Saying he is “disrespectful to President Obama, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, had a change of heart and decided to skip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu’s speech Tuesday to a joint chamber of Congress.
Posted inPolitics
In CT, 1,500 Homeland Security employees spared shutdown, for now
WASHINGTON – With a last-minute vote, Congress averted a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, extending its funding by seven days and at least temporarily sparing 1,500 agency employees in Connecticut their paychecks.
Posted inPolitics
Food stamp program under GOP microscope
WASHINGTON – Congressional Republicans this week began a comprehensive review of the food stamp program to determine what is working – and to eliminate what in their view is not – a move that could impact thousands of recipients in Connecticut. Even without changes in the program, thousands of unemployed food stamp recipients in Connecticut may find they are no longer eligible after the end of the year.