The latest challenge to the fiscal autonomy of state’s watchdog agencies by the administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is raising unprecedented legal questions likely to eventually require Attorney General George Jepsen and Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo to publicly contradict or confirm the administration’s position.
Toni Walker
Posted inEducation, Money
Clues to where Malloy’s commissioners might cut, if given the authority
Asked by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to give state agency leaders the authority to cut $360.8 million, state legislators are struggling to get a sense of which programs and services gubernatorial appointees would deem “pet projects” and target for reductions or elimination. “What I am trying to figure out when someone from a domestic violence shelter […]
Posted inEducation
A second chance for CT youths who break the law?
On any given day, about 160 young offenders are incarcerated in Connecticut’s juvenile jail or pre-trial detention centers. State officials want to substantially reduce that number, but first they have some obstacles to overcome. First of two articles.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
There is more to Connecticut life than business taxes
Since the state budget was finalized, all we have heard in the media is that major corporations and Connecticut citizens are threatening to leave the state because of the increasing taxes. But I would like to ask my fellow citizens and these large companies to consider that this budget offers a real lifeline to some Connecticut children and young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
House adopts controversial state budget
Connecticut’s long-running budget drama began drawing to a close early Wednesday as the House of Representatives adopted a $40.3 billion, two-year package that largely restores deep cuts to social services and expands municipal aid while bolstering tax revenues by almost $2 billion.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy’s fitful search for a ‘new normal’ on budgets
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy talks about his push for a “Second Chance Society” for ex-offenders and his intention to somehow coax the General Assembly into putting the state on a path to spend $100 billion on transportation over 30 years. But the reality of governing in the first months of his second term is less about big ideas than the prospect of a protracted and painful conversation with a restive General Assembly about what kind of government Connecticut can afford.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
Is it a gag order or the Malloy administration speaking with one voice?
Key legislators say a directive from budget director Benjamin Barnes restricting what agency heads can tell legislators about Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget proposal is hindering lawmakers in doing their jobs and will push more of the budget-writing process behind closed doors. Barnes says the administration simply works together “as one administration, with all our commissioners and agency heads.”
Posted inPolitics
Dogged by Rikers’ scandal, Schriro confirmed on a close vote
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.
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 inPolitics
Malloy says justice must mean a ‘second chance’
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy outlined “second-chance society” initiatives for non-violent offenders Tuesday in a Yale policy address that pronounced the zero-tolerance approach of the 1980s and 1990s a waste of human and fiscal capital.
Posted inEducation
Education funding: Malloy wants to back off state formula
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is asking state legislators to ignore the formula they adopted last spring, a move that would relieve the state from having to send school districts another $6 million next school year.
Posted inEducation
Changing remedial college courses: law, implementation, pushback
Some people are confused about a new state law aimed at helping the many community college students who need remedial work.
Posted inEducation
Top CT budget lawmaker: Where’s money for social workers?
The millions of dollars DCF has saved from decreasing the number of children living in group homes or being sent out-of-state are almost entirely funneled to other areas of the governor’s proposed budget.