WASHINGTON — Sen. Chris Murphy on Saturday had some of Capitol Hill’s the harshest criticism of U.S. airstrikes on Syria, calling them “illegal,” and counterproductive, leading to more attacks by Bashar al-Assad on the Syrian people and “a bloodier, more brutal war.” Other Connecticut lawmakers were more supportive of the strikes, but called on the White House to seek authorization from Congress for further military action and devise a “comprehensive” strategy on Syria.
Washington
Posted inEducation
U.S. Ed Dept. comes to aid of CT students of shuttered for-profit school
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Education has come to the aid of hundreds of Ridley-Lowell Business & Technical Institute students whose education came to an abrupt end last week when the school shut down without warning. The help includes allowing students file claims to have their student loans discharged.
Posted inMoney
CT Dems help derail GOP’s balanced-budget amendment
WASHINGTON — House Republicans failed on Thursday to pass a balanced-budget amendment the GOP hoped would rebrand the GOP as the party of fiscal responsibility. Connecticut Democrats helped torpedo the effort.
Posted inMoney, News, Politics
CT among highest states in Pentagon per-capita spending
WASHINGTON – Pentagon spending on contracts in 2015 was $2,504 for every man, woman and child in Connecticut, more per person than in any other place except Virginia and the District of Columbia, according to a recently released report by the Pew Charitable Trusts. But a key lawmaker warned Thursday that lean years are coming for the Pentagon’s budget.
Posted inHealth
CT opioid lawsuits advancing in face of settlement effort
WASHINGTON — Nearly two dozen Connecticut cities and towns are scheduled to soon confront Purdue Phama and other opioid makers in court over what they say are the pharmaceuticals’ deceptive practices. Meanwhile, there is an effort by a federal judge in Ohio to negotiate a massive settlement for the hundreds of federal lawsuits across the nation targeting the opioid makers for their marketing practices.
Posted inPolitics
Senate attempt to protect Mueller gets a boost
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s angry tweets this week about the growing Russia investigation and the federal raid of the president’s personal lawyer has jump-started an effort backed by Sen. Richard Blumenthal and a growing number of senators to try to prevent Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s firing.
Posted inPolitics
Esty: I gave abusive staffer good reference to ‘get him out of Washington’
WASHINGTON — Rep. Elizabeth Esty said she wrote a glowing reference letter for former chief of staff Tony Baker with the understanding the would leave Washington, D.C., providing “space” and protection to another former aide, Anna Kain, who has accused Baker of physical and verbal abuse. “My instinct was once I learned about (the abuse) was how to protect her,” Esty, D-5th District, said.
Posted inPolitics
Sandy Hook Promise founder Mark Barden weighs 5th District race
Mark Barden, a prominent gun-control advocate since the death of his son in the Sandy Hook School massacre more than five years ago, is weighing a run for Congress in Connecticut’s sprawling 5th District with the encouragement of the Democratic leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Posted inJustice
Four ways to fix Facebook
For years, Congress and federal regulators have allowed the world’s largest social network to police itself — with disastrous results. Here are four reforms under discussion in Washington.
Posted inPolitics
Conservative watchdog seeks ethics probe of Esty
WASHINGTON — A conservative watchdog group, the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, filed a complaint Thursday with the Office of Congressional Ethics requesting an immediate investigation into Rep. Elizabeth Esty’s handling of a former chief of staff accused of abusive and threatening behavior.
Posted inMoney
National Indian group urges Zinke to act on CT tribes’ casino issue
WASHINGTON — The National Congress of American Indians came to the support of Connecticut’s Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes Thursday, urging Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to approve a change in their gaming compacts that would clear the way for the tribes to operate a new casino in East Windsor.
Posted inPolitics
List of Republicans eyeing Esty’s seat grows as Petit considers race
WASHINGTON — The list of Republicans eyeing Rep. Elizabeth Esty’s seat in Congress grew longer Wednesday. J.R. Romano, the head of the Connecticut Republican Party said William Petit is considering a run for the seat.
Posted inPolitics
Courtney draws ‘Quiet Corner’ challenger
WASHINGTON – Dan Postemski, an Iraq War veteran and chairman of the Hampton Republican Town Committee, said on Wednesday that he plans to challenge Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District.
Posted inPolitics
Esty seat not a toss-up, but fierce race expected
Publicity over the scandal that embroiled Rep. Elizabeth Esty and the rarity of an open seat in an especially hot midterm election will make the contest for Connecticut’s 5th District a nationally watched race.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
EPA plan to ease car emission standards would affect CT more than most
The Environmental Protection Agency’s plans to ease auto emissions standards has particular resonance for Connecticut, with the potential to force the state to accept cars that are more polluting than it wants and make its notoriously bad air even worse.