State court marshals are urging support for a measure that would empower them to carry firearms in state courthouses, but the bill faces an uncertain future as the legislature’s Judiciary Committee nears its deadline.
State Budget
Posted inMoney, Politics
Lembo, OFA project CT budget deficit; Malloy does not
Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo projected Monday that the current state budget is a modest $44.6 million in deficit, effectively matching the conclusion reached March 27 by the legislature’s nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration still says finances are in balance.
Posted inEducation, Money, Politics
Aresimowicz offers phase-in compromise on pension bills for CT towns
House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz offered a compromise Wednesday on one of the stickiest points in Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget: asking communities to gradually assume a portion of skyrocketing teacher pension costs.
Posted inEducation, Money, Politics
Black and Puerto Rican Caucus wants to broaden CT tax debate
Leaders of the legislature’s Black and Puerto Rican Caucus said they are exploring raising income tax rates on wealthy households — a once popular proposal among House and Senate Democrats that has fallen into disfavor as Republicans have gained seats in both chambers.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Democrats eyeing sales tax hike to plug holes in next CT budget
While Gov. Dannel P. Malloy continues to push spending cuts as the chief solution to Connecticut’s latest budget crisis, his fellow Democrats on one key panel say a more balanced mix of reductions and revenue might be unavoidable.
Posted inHealth, Money
State worker union launches TV ad to fight layoffs
Two days after Gov. Dannel P. Malloy threatened to lay off 4,200 unionized state workers unless concessions are granted, Connecticut’s largest healthcare workers union launched a television ad urging viewers to keep its members on the job.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy says budget remains in balance, despite nonpartisan warning
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration reported a modest $22 million surplus projection Monday for the current fiscal year — despite nonpartisan analysts’ warnings that eroding income tax receipts have created a $65 million deficit.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Will partisan gridlock push CT budget debate behind closed doors?
While Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Senate Republican leader Len Fasano were swapping barbs recently about the next state budget, their public exchange ironically hinted at something just the opposite. Namely, that the next state budget may be crafted behind closed doors to a much greater extent than in any other recent session.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy budgets for big raises yet seeks union concessions
Why does his two-year budget include $800 million for state employee raises — an amount that far exceeds anything Malloy set aside before and doubles the funding his staff estimated was necessary just five months earlier?
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy challenges GOP to show its CT budget plan now
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy effectively told Republican legislative leaders Thursday to put up or shut up when it comes to the next state budget.
Posted inEducation, Money, Politics
Small towns want teachers’ pension bills ‘off the table’
Connecticut’s small towns pressed the General Assembly on Thursday to take the governor’s proposal to shift a third of teacher pension costs onto communities “off the table” in state budget deliberations – but administration officials held firm on their plan.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Bill to give towns more time to pass budget bogs down in Senate
State legislators sparred for the second day in a row Wednesday over whether to give communities more time to adopt their local budgets — a fight that left the extension issue in limbo after a 90-minute Senate debate.
Posted inEducation, Money, Politics, Transportation
Malloy asks CT businesses to push for transportation ‘lockbox’
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy urged business leaders Wednesday to help him convince legislators to safeguard transportation funds. The governor also said cities and towns must shoulder some of the burden of surging teachers’ pension costs.
Posted inMoney
Democrats push CT income tax cut for seniors – but aren’t sure how to pay for it
House and Senate Democrats called Thursday to exempt all Social Security from the state income tax, a move that could save seniors $45 million per year.
Posted inEnergy & Environment, Money
Advocates push to ban under-the-radar sales of state property
Conservation advocates hope to clear a crucial hurdle this spring toward establishing tougher standards for the sale or transfer of state property.