Connecticut Politics Today

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Newton Fired?

Sen. Ernest E. Newton (D-Bridgeport) has been suspended by his employer (not the citizens of Bridgeport, but his other employer), Partners for Community Inc. All this is in relation to the FBI investigation into corruption, which has included a raid on his legislative office in Hartford. Also, the first Democrat, Rep. Andrew M. Fleischmann (D-West Hartford), called on Newton to step down from his committee assignments, including Public Safety, which oversees the State Police. Stories here, here and here.

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Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Wal-Mart to Be Investigated For Child Labor Law Violations

AG Richard Blumenthal stated that he would look into allegations against Wal-Mart, following then company's recent settlement of federal charges. According to the federal charges at least 21 of the violations occurred in Connecticut. Story here and here.

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Homosexuality = Sickness?

Sen. Thomas A. Colapietro (D-Plymouth) backtracked slightly from his statements that homosexuality is a disease. Colapietro originally made the statement to the Bristol Press. He later said that "I feel bad they took the word `sick' as derogatory, it wasn't meant that way." Story here.

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Calls for Newton to Step Down

Republican leaders are calling on Sen. Ernest Newton(D-Bridgeport) to resign from the committee that oversees the state police, after the FBI raided his sister's office and later, his legislative office in Hartford. Following the first set of raids, Newton stepped down as co-chairman of the Public Safety Committee, but remains a member. Story here.

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Let the Bargaining Begin

Gov. Rell has signaled her willingness to negotiate on tax increases, if the Democratic leadership will discuss budget cuts. She has challenged Democrats to match here 54% of decrease in the deficit through budget cuts. Story here.

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Following New York's Lead

Rep. Richard F. Roy (D-Milford) has submitted, for the seventh year in a row, a bill that would prohibit cell phone use while driving a car. In the past Sen. Billy Ciotto (D-Wethersfield) has successfully blocked the bill from becoming law. Rep. Roy is hoping that his increased seniority, and close ties to the leadership, will overcome the Ciotto roadblock this year. Story here.

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Monday, February 14, 2005

Lieberman to Head Pentagon?

The Washington Post is reporting that that Sen. Joe Lieberman is on the short list to dead the Defense Department when Don Rumsfeld decides to leave. Story here.

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Who Is the Next Paul Newman?

Now that rumors about Newman challenging Sen. Joe Lieberman in the Democratic primary seem to have quashed, the search for another challenger continues. No other immediate names are included. Story here.

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Fairfield County Legislators Dominate Transportation Committee

Fairfield County legislators comprise 15 of the 31 members of the Transportation Committee, up fropm 8 during the last session. Metro-North improvements and I-95 are expected to be higfh priorities. Story here.

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Exactly How Much Vitamin A Does a Bud Light Have?

Sen. David Cappiello (R-Danbury) is pushing legislation to require nutritional information labels on alcohol. Story here.

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Making the Prisoners Pay

AG Richard Blumenthal has been enforcing a little known law that allows the state to try and recoup the cost of incarcerating a prisoner. The Department of Corrections says the state collected $1.3 million last year. Story here.

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Friday, February 11, 2005

Sen. Andrew Roraback (R-Goshen) has proposed a bill that would allow probation for people accused of assisted suicide. The bill appears to be a reaction to the 10 year sentence recently meted out to Huntington Williams. Story here.

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A Rocky Road for Gov.'s Budget

Democrats are already ripping Gov. Rell's budget proposal, one day after she made her proposal to the Legislature. Democrats called it "mean" and shortsighted. (Republicans don't appear to be overly fond of the proposals either.) Stories here, here and here.

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Thursday, February 10, 2005

Rell Proposes $15.3 Billion Budget

The Governor's budget proposal includes a mix of tax hikes and spending cuts. Reaction from both sides of the aisle was mixed. Democrats called it a Rowland Budget Redux, Republicans are holding their nose at the tax increases. Stories here, here, here and here. Full Text of her address here.

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State Publicizes Drug Prices

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is rolling out a website (www.cslib.org/attygenl) that compares prices online 38 commonly prescribed drugs at 476 pharmacies statewide. Story here.

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Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Compromise on Malpractice Reform?

Governor Rell has proposed a bill that neither the Connecticut State Medical Society and the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association don't immediately hate. The bill doesn't place caps on jury awards, but does make some reforms that insurers and doctors will like. Story here, here and here.

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Smokers Fight Back

Smokers are attempting to repeal the 2003 ban on smoking in bars and restaurants and Rep. Leonard Greene (R-Beacon Falls) has proposed a bill that would do just that. However, prospects for passage do not seem bright. Story here, here and here.

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Dead on Arrival?

Even Republicans are badmouthing Governor Rell's budget proposal, even though it hasn't been released yet. Senate President Pro Tem Donald Williams has called the leaked details "troubling" and Republican Senate Leader Louis DeLuca (R-Woodbury) would not endorse the Governor's plan. Story here, here and here..

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Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Surplus? What Surplus?

UConn officials throw cold water on Gov. Rell's plan to freeze tuition increases at the school. According to school officials, the surplus that the Governor cited as the reason for a freeze, had already been committed to employees who previously had taken a pay freeze. Story here.

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Rell Pushes Tax Increase

Gov. Rell's new budget includes an increase in the state gas tax. All of the revenue raised by the tax will be earmarked for transportation projects. The plan calls for a gradual increase to $0.30 a gallon by 2010. (Currently the tax is $0.25 a gallon.) Story here.

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One Eye on Today, One Eye on '06

Mayor John DeStefano (D-New Haven) addressed supporters in New Haven to go over the success of the past year, and the challenges for 2005. Apparently no explicit statements about 2006 were made. Story here.

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Marriage v. Civil Unions

The Legislature appears to be moving ahead with civil unions for gays and lesbians, at the expense of a gay marriage bill. Civil Unions appears to have bipartisan support, and in the words of Sen. Andrew McDonald (D-Stamford) "Do we have the votes to get to the next level? My guess is we don't at this juncture." Stories here, here, here.

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Monday, February 07, 2005

Free Higher Education for Adopted Children?

Gov. Rell has proposed that a regulation that gives free college tuition to foster children be expanded to include adoption of abused or neglected children. Story here.

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As Goes Massachusetts, So Goes Connecticut?

The legislature is continuing debate on bringing same-sex marriage to Connecticut. Story here. Meanwhile some Gay Activists question the wisdom of marriage over civil unions. Here.

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1.3 Billion, No Problem

The new co-chair of the legislature budget writing committee, Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield) isn't phased by a 1.3 billion dollar shortfall in the budget. Story here.

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Sunday, February 06, 2005

Honeymoon Over.

The Fairfield County Weekly, not a big fan of any Republican Governor, goes after Governor Rell on her support of the death penalty. Story here.

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Higher Education Proposal

The Governor has proposed a tuition freeze for all 17 state colleges and universities. Story here.

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A Connecticut Icarus?

The New Haven Register tells the story of what happens after you lose a power struggle in the legislature. Rep. William Dyson went from co-chairman of the Appropriations committee to a backbencher after his campaign for Speaker failed. Dyson blames racism as having played a role in his fall. Story here.

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