After two days of behind-the-scenes drama and an afternoon of open revolt, the House of Representatives narrowly voted Tuesday to confirm Dora B. Schriro for a second term as commissioner of emergency services and public protection.
Themis Klarides
Posted inMoney, Politics
For now, Malloy says this budget problem is the legislature’s
Exactly four years ago, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy was in Norwich for the fifth of 17 town-hall meetings to pitch Connecticut on the labor concessions and record tax increase he proposed to erase the nation’s largest per-capita state deficit. Today, he is vacationing in Puerto Rico. There is no tour this year to sell the public on his plan to resolve a smaller shortfall with business taxes and spending cuts that fall heavily on the poor, elderly and disabled.
Posted inMoney, Politics
GOP offers no-tax-hike transportation plan
Republican legislators unveiled a $37 billion transportation proposal on Tuesday while making pre-emptive political strike against Gov. Dannel P. Malloy anticipated initiative on the same topic. GOP leaders stressed their plan makes a major investment without imposing tolls, increasing overall debt or raising taxes.
Posted inPolitics
GOP says Lembo ignored deficit to shield Malloy
Connecticut’s budget debate boiled over late Tuesday as the legislature’s top Republicans charged that Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo’s political affiliation has trumped his fiscal integrity. Sen. Len Fasano and Rep. Themis Klarides accused Connecticut’s chief fiscal watchdog of ignoring red ink to help Gov. Dannel P. Malloy – a fellow Democrat – save face.
Posted inPolitics
A struggle for high ground on campaign reform in CT
The General Assembly’s Republican minority moved Thursday to shape the debate on Connecticut’s system of publicly financing campaigns, demanding that Democrats close loopholes undermining the state’s clean-elections law. The GOP offers itself as the savior of a system whose creation was opposed by most Republicans.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy, GOP leader and press do photo op lunch
Answering a dare and a double dare to sit and talk about deficit projections, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, each accompanied by fiscal advisers, dined in a public cafeteria Friday, surrounded by a tight circle of aides, reporters, photographers and cops.
Posted inPolitics
Can Connecticut’s campaign finance reforms be saved?
Reform it. Leave it alone. Blow it up. Prescriptions for fixing Connecticut’s system of publicly financing campaigns vary wildly. Its tight limits on contributions and spending turned porous in 2014, tarnishing what had been a shiny instrument of campaign finance reform.
Posted inPolitics
Maynard’s unexpected return upstages an inauguration
The General Assembly opened its 2015 session Wednesday on an emotional note as the Senate welcomed the surprise return of Sen. Andrew M. Maynard, D-Stonington, who was re-elected without campaigning after sustaining a traumatic brain injury last summer.
Posted inEvents
Video: Workplace Retirement: Mirror/AARP Google Hangout
Along with sponsor AARP, The Connecticut Mirror will host its third Google Hangout on Thursday morning with Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo to discuss workplace retirement and savings options. Joining host and Mirror Budget Reporter Keith Phaneuf will be Lembo and AARP National Senior Legislative Representative Sarah Mysiewicz Gill from Washington D.C. Topics covered will include private workplace retirement options available to employees, payroll deduction savings plan and unfunded liabilities.
Posted inNews
VIDEO REPLAY: Mirror/AARP Google Hangout with House leaders
The Connecticut Mirror hosted a special Google Hangout with House Speaker J. Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, and House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, in advance of the 2015 legislative session. See a replay of the video.
Posted inPolitics
Klarides elected as first woman to lead House GOP
The winners of Tuesday’s legislative races met Thursday in closed caucuses to elect new leaders in three of the General Assembly’s four caucuses, including Rep. Themis Klarides as the first woman to serve as House Republican leader.
Posted inPolitics
Three lawmakers wage quiet campaigns to succeed Cafero
Three lawmakers are waging quiet campaigns to succeed House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, on the assumption he will not seek re-election to the General Assembly this fall after 22 years as a legislator, the last eight as the top Republican.