A U.S. Supreme Court decision Wednesday that weakens public-sector unions, whose members are the largest segment of organized labor and an influential Democratic ally in Connecticut politics, became an instant rallying point in the mid-term elections and potential wedge issue in the race to succeed Gov. Dannel P. Malloy as governor.
U.S. Supreme Court
Posted inMoney
Ruling enables CT to capture millions in taxes from online sales
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Thursday opening the door for states to capture sales tax receipts for online and other remote transactions could help Connecticut capture more than $100 million annually in new revenues.
Posted inJustice
A careful conversation with Justice Stephen G. Breyer
Justice Stephen G. Breyer knows the game. Without looking, Breyer knew exactly where he stood Thursday night throughout a 90-minute chat with CBS reporter Norah O’Donnell on the Bushnell stage, how close he was to boundaries beyond which a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court should not venture.
Posted inJustice, Politics
CT’s senators call Gorsuch extreme, but promise fair hearing
Connecticut’s two Democratic U.S. senators distanced themselves Friday from those would block the confirmation of President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court with the same tactics employed by Republicans against President Obama. But both suggested Neil Gorsuch’s conservatism may fall outside the legal mainstream.
Posted inNews
Protesters block Hartford’s Main Street over immigration ruling
Just days after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidated a White House plan to protect millions of immigrants living in the United States from deportation, more than 150 protesters gathered Monday afternoon outside the state’s federal immigration enforcement office in Hartford and blocked a portion of Main Street.
Posted inJustice, Politics
U.S. Supreme Court declines to consider Sandy Hook gun ban
The U.S. Supreme Court declined without comment Monday to consider a challenge by Connecticut gun owners to gun controls the state passed in response to the shooting deaths of 26 children and staff at Sandy Hook elementary school by a gunman armed with an AR-15, 30-round magazines and high-powered ammo.
Posted inHealth
U.S. Supreme Court deals blow to CT health data collection effort
In a ruling that could have reverberations for a Connecticut health reform effort, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that certain health plans could not be required by a state to disclose data for use in a health care claims database.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
A Connecticut story for the U.S. Supreme Court justices
I was nervous. This was my first case before the United States Supreme Court. But here I was, ready to argue against Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Association. In this case, a few public school teachers claim they shouldn’t have to pay union dues because it violates their First Amendment rights. A conservative ruling would be bad, extending to Connecticut teachers, many of whom went to jail in the 1970s to win improvements in collective bargaining….
Posted inPolitics
Connecticut reacts to SCOTUS upholding gay marriage
The U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision Friday declaring same-sex marriage to be a right under the Constitution was celebrated by politicians and activists in Connecticut, a state that banned housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation in 1991 and legalized same-sex civil unions in 2005 and marriage in 2008.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut’s ACA experience underscores correctness of Supreme Court’s ruling
The Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health), applauds the Supreme Court’s historic ruling Thursday upholding the availability of tax credits that make health insurance more affordable to everyone who meets the eligibility criteria through the Affordable Care Act. The decision means that as in Connecticut, millions of people in all states and in all types of health insurance marketplaces will be able to afford their health insurance because they can count on federal financial assistance.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Connecticut closely scrutinizing Supreme Court’s home care union ruling
In a decision that could have implications for two controversial Connecticut unions, a divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday in favor of Illinois home care workers who objected to paying fees to a union representing them.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Op-ed: Supreme Court prayer decision a poor fit for our nation
Not only does the Supreme Court majority seem out of touch with the diverse nature of the American population, it also seems out of touch with the notion of prayer.
Posted inHealth
High court affirms most of Affordable Care Act in 5-4 ruling
The Supreme Court upheld the linchpin of President Obama’s health care reform this morning, ruling 5-4 that Congress can use its taxing power effectively to compel all Americans to buy health coverage by 2014.
Posted inHealth
Supreme Court sharply divided over individual mandate
Washington — On the second day of oral arguments over the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, a divided Supreme Court turned its attention to whether Congress had the authority to require most Americans to have health insurance.
Posted inHealth
Supreme Court begins arguments on landmark health care law
Washington — Inside the Supreme Court on Monday, the justices appeared to be in rare agreement on the rejection of a technical issue that could stall consideration of the constitutionality of the federal health reform law.