Posted inNews

Hayes joins hunt for McConnell in attempt to end shutdown

WASHINGTON – Followed by a phalanx of journalists, Rep. Jahana Hayes joined a group of House Democratic freshmen Wednesday who went on the hunt for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to pressure him to hold votes on Democratic bills that would end the shutdown. They did not find McConnell, but even if they had, there’s little evidence they would succeeded in ending a 26-day stalemate.

Posted inMoney, News, Politics

Congress’ efforts to avoid another shutdown feature last-minute deals

Updated at 7:20 p.m.
WASHINGTON — To avoid another government shutdown, the U.S. House on Tuesday passed a spending bill that would fund the Pentagon until the end of the federal fiscal year – with big boosts for the Connecticut defense industry — and keep other federal agencies running until March 23. But approval of the bill is just one maneuver in a complex budget dance between congressional Republicans and Democrats this week that also will feature a face-off between the House and Senate.

Posted inMoney

Immigrant youth press CT senators to become ‘dream heroes’

WASHINGTON — Ā Undocumented youth in Connecticut are asking the state’s U.S. senators to reject any federal budget bill that does not contain protections for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – or DACA program recipients. Both Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy support permanent protection for these youth, but they have not promised to reject a budget bill that would not provide that help.

Posted inPolitics

This Week in Washington

Congress moved at the 11th hour to avert a government shutdown, but it’s only a short-term fix — with a new budget deadline of Dec. 11. Access Health CT CEO James Wadleigh defended the operations of Connecticut’s health exchange to skeptical GOP lawmakers. Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini’s plans to merge with Humana were also scrutinized by a House panel this week.