Connecticut Politics Today

Friday, April 29, 2005

A New Batch of Future Leaders Sworn In

The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) at UConn swore in its new leaders this week.

Story here.

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More on Danbury's Volleyball ban

A Public Defender has commentary on the proposed ban on Volleyball games in Danbury, an attempt by the city to combat illegal immigrants.

Commentary here.

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Immigrant Driver's Licenses

Connecticut Law Blog is following a proposed Senate bill that would restricting the validity of the driver's license of someone who is not a citizen and is in the country on a visa of limited time-period, until the expiration of that visa.

Story and Commentary here.

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Cellphone Restriction Bill Passes House

The House passed a bill that would allow drivers to place and answer calls, but they would have to conduct their conversations with headphones or some other hands-free technology. In the past the bill has been bottled up in the Senate, but Lt. Gov. Sullivan, an opponent, no longer controls the Senate agenda, increasing the likelihood of passing.

The bill would also ban drivers under 18 from using cellphones at all, and impose a $100 for driving while distracted, such as eating or drinking, leads to a moving violation.

Stories here and here.

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Minimum Wage Increase Approved

The House voted 96-44 to increase the state minimum wage to $7.65 in 2007. The bill passed with primarily Democratic support. No word on the increase's fate with in the Senate or the Governor.

Storie here, here and here.

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Thursday, April 28, 2005

More High School Issues

House Minority Leader Robert Ward (R-North Branford) has proposed legislation that would institute steroid testing for high school athletes. The bill would affect almost 100,00 students in the state.

Story here.

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Now For the Serious Issues Facing Connecticut

The Senate has passed a bill that bans the sale of soda at schools, including school fundraisers. Next the Senate will certainly take up the pressing issue of making sure that shoes laces are always tied.

Story here.

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Can't We All Just get Along

Gov. Rell and House Speaker James Amann continue to be at loggerheads over the budget, but appear to be doing so in nicer terms.

Story here.

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Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Democrats Blink

In a bow to the reality that they were losing the PR battle of the budget, Democrats in Hartford postponed sending a budget to Gov. Rell, in the face of her threats to veto it.

Story here.

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Emission Program in Trouble Again

According to AG Blumenthal, portions of the much embattled emission testing program may be illegal, since there is a cap of $10 a year for testing, each test is $20, and some cars may have to be tested in consecutive years. (Figures this would happen the week after I finally get my car tested.

Story here.

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State Ethics Problems

In a state that has seen a Governor and several mayors packed off to jail, it probably isn't shocking to find out that only 59 percent of towns have written codes of ethics for public officials. A proposed bill in the legislature would change that.

Story here.

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Tuesday, April 26, 2005

2006 races

The Courant runs down the current state of the 2006 US House races.

Story here.

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Monday, April 25, 2005

Storrs Survives

UConn apparently survived another Spring Weekend.

Story here.

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Danbury's Illegal Immigration Issue

The New London Day has a story on the steps that Danbury has been taking to deal with illegal immigrants -- which may represent 10-15,000 people in the city of 75,000.

Story here.

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Civil Unions Protests

Opponents of Connecticut's new Civil Unions law (both those opposing any law, and those favoring marriage rights) rallied this weekend at the Capitol.

Stories here, here and here.

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Filibuster Comes to Connecticut

Judge Janice Brown, nominated to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals by President Bush and filibustered by Democrats in the Senate, was in Connecticut this past weekend. Her comments certainly were not the soothing type likely to get Democrats eager to confirm her.

Story here.

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Friday, April 22, 2005

Gay Reaction Mixed to Civil Unions

Harvey Firestein (Ridgefield) is unhappy with the compromise on civil unions, arguing against anything short of gay marriage. Other activists are glad for the baby steps.

Story here.

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Millionaires to Pay More Under Dem Budget

The Legislature's Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee passed a budget which includes an extension of the business-tax surcharge and an increase in the inheritance tax focused on the wealthiest citizens in the state. The tax increase would raise over a billion dollars in the next two years.

Gov. Rell has called the tax increase "unacceptable." Democrats counter that their plan is more fair than the tax increases pushed by the Governor.

Stories here, here, here.

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Thursday, April 21, 2005

Connecticut Legalizes Civil Unions

Gov. Rell signed the law last night which creates civil unions for gays and lesbians.

Connecticut is the first state to allow civil unions or marriage for gays and lesbians via the legislative process.

Stories here, here, here, here, here, and here.

However, some practical problems may arise, like who will perform the ceremony.

Story here.

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ACLU Takes a Stand for Immigrants in Danbury

Entering a simmering controversy, the ACLU is monitoring the activities of city officials that are targeting ethnic groups and illegal immigrants. According top the CT ACLU's legal director, "Any time you have a law that targets one particular nationality or ethnic group, that is obviously anathema to the Bill of Rights."

Story here.

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Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Simmons Arming for 2006

According to recently released FEC reports, Rep. Rob Simmons has raised $290,000 for his 2006 reelection fund, $200,000 of which has come from Political Action Committees. 2004 opponent, and possible 2006 challenger, Joe Courtney has raised $60,000.

Given Simmons close election, and the withering attacks he has been facing for his connections with Tom DeLay, expect Simmons to raise a whole lot for 2006 -- because as the GOP's most vulnerable House member, he will need it.

Story here.

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Election Law On Trial

A Federal Court is reviewing Connecticut's requirement that voters register at least two weeks before an election in order to vote. Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal are both named in the suit, but both have expressed sympathy for abolishing the two week deadline.

The current law allows unregistered citizens to vote for president, but not other federal or state races. The plaintiffs allege that 30,000 unregistered Connecticut citizens voted for president in 2004, but they were barred from voting in other federal and state races.

Story here.

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Fight, Fight!

The budget fight is on!

After Gov. Rell's denouncing of the Democratic budget propsal, House Speaker James Amann (D-Milford) said that Democrats would pass their budget and dare Rell to veto it. And if she does, according to Amann, they'll send another one right back. "If she vetoes it, we'll have another one on her table before she catches her breath," Amann said. "She fired a shot at us."

The differences are regarding the Governor's proposed $15.27 billion budget and the Democrats' $15.53 billion proposal.

Story here, here, here and here.

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Tuesday, April 19, 2005

New Posts Will Resume Tomorrow.

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