Legislature Wraps Up a Session Marked by Bipartisan Cooperation, Budget Pleasantries, and a Housing Hoopla
A day after passing a budget with overwhelming bipartisan support, the Connecticut legislature concluded its 2023 session Wednesday with the steady passage of bills in the House and a day-long filibuster by Republicans in the Senate.
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Connecticut Legislature Greenlights $5 Billion Bonding
Connecticut lawmakers Wednesday approved a bonding package that calls for roughly $2.5 billion in borrowing each of the next two fiscal years.
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After GOP Filibuster, Fair Share Housing Bill Dodges GOP Blocks and Lands on Gov’s Desk
For most of the final day of this year’s legislative session Wednesday, Senate Republicans filibustered a bill that would, among other things, study how affordable housing should be defined for municipalities and change the relationship between landlords and tenants.
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OP-ED | Apropos of Nothing: Of Civics, ‘Common Courtesy’ and the Ursine Menace
Opinion writer Terry Cowgill offers his thoughts on the teaching of civics classes in our schools, a new law requiring police officers to tell motorists why they were stopped, and what the government is doing to ease the friction between people and the state’s bear population.
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Omnibus Bill Addressing Bullying, Teacher Diversity, Budget Transparency Passes Despite GOP Reservations
HARTFORD, CT – The Connecticut House of Representatives Wednesday passed a comprehensive education bill that, among other things, seeks to update state laws around school climate and bullying, recruit a more diverse teaching corps, and improve transparency around local school budgets.
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Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter
A salute to Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. Editorial cartoon by Jeff Koterba.
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Union Strike Continues Even After Budget Boost
Union leaders told hundreds gathered on the front lawn of the state Capitol Wednesday that they are still on strike for better wages and benefits.
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Lamont Signs Bill Expanding Gun Regulations
Gov. Ned Lamont gave final approval to a sweeping update to Connecticut firearm regulations on Tuesday, signing into law a bill that expands the state’s assault weapons ban, restricts the open carry of firearms and raises the age to buy a semiautomatic rifle.
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Senate Sends Traffic Enforcement Cameras to Governor
A package of roadway safety policies including a municipal option for automated traffic enforcement cameras is headed for the governor’s desk following a Tuesday night vote of the Senate.
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OP-ED | No More FOI Carveouts For State Or Municipal Workers
Opinion writer Susan Campbell says Senate Bill 1157, which would have protected from disclosure via the Freedom of Information Act the home addresses of state and municipal employees, was a bad idea for a lot of reasons.
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Voting Rights Act Wrapped Into Budget
Included in the 832-page budget is an effort to codify the federal Voting Rights Act into state law. The language was included because the House of Representatives was unlikely to vote on a separate bill to do the same before the legislative session comes to an end Wednesday at midnight.
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Gun Violence Awareness, Biden-McCarthy Buddy Movie & Apple Vision
Based on Gun Violence Awareness Day, Apple’s new augmented reality goggles, and the fallout from the debt ceiling negotiation. Editorial cartoons by John Darkow, R.J. Matson, and Rivers.
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Senate Passes $51.1B Budget With Tax Cuts And Fiscal Guardrails Intact
The Senate overwhelmingly approved a proposed $51.1-billion two-year budget Tuesday.
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Pattis Takes Aim At ’Open Carry’
Gun owners took aim at Gov. Ned Lamont Monday even before he wielded a pen to try to curtail gun violence.
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House Approves Restructure of Municipal Retirement System
The House voted Tuesday to approve a proposal by the state comptroller to restructure an ailing state-run retirement system for municipal workers in 107 Connecticut towns and cities.
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Illegal Tire Dumping Plan Goes To Governor
The Senate Monday approved a bill requiring the tire industry to figure out how to prevent the tires from being illegally dumped instead of recycled.
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Senate Backs Ban On Synthetic THC Products
The Senate Monday moved to tighten Connecticut’s regulated cannabis marketplace, banning the sale of synthetic THC and high-potency products that are currently sold by unlicensed retailers.
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OP-ED | All The Rainbows And Unicorns Fit To Print
Opinion writer Kerri Ana Provost counts 38 book challenges just in Connecticut this year, compared to nine last year. None of these book banning attempts prompt divisive debate. They merely reveal existing divisions caused by pure hatred of queer and trans folks.
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House Requires Police to Inform Drivers of Reasons for Traffic Stops
Connecticut police officers would be required to inform drivers why they had been pulled over during traffic stops under legislation given final passage Monday by the House of Representatives.
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Drone Attacks On Moscow, Putin’s Nightmare
These two cartoons seemed to go together, following the intense aerial bombardment of Kyiv by Russian missiles and drones last week and a drone attack on Moscow for which Ukraine has denied involvement. Editorial cartoons by Patrick Chappatte and Arcadio Esquival.
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$51.1 Billion State Budget, Middle Class Tax Cuts Clear House
The House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to advance a two-year, $51.1 billion state budget package containing significant reductions in the income tax and hikes in education funding while fiscal constraints tempered other spending priorities.
Keep readingKeep CT’s Climate Promise
Connecticut promised to cut climate pollution and protect our future. But our state isn’t on track to meet its obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Join us in calling on Connecticut lawmakers to pass meaningful legislation this year and Keep CT’s Climate Promise. Learn more at ClimateActionCT.org.
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A Boon for Accountability, a Bust for Immediate Bill Reduction
“Accountability, transparency, value. This is what SB 7 is all about,” Rep. Jonathan Steinberg said when introducing a controversial proposal to change how utilities are regulated.
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Graceless Gospel & Pyramids Then And Now
The Associated Press reports that a Utah parent, frustrated by efforts to ban books from schools, convinced a suburban district that some Bible verses were too vulgar or violent for younger children. And Gatis Sluka offers his perspective on the world’s trash problem. Editorial cartoons by Randall Enos and Gatis Sluka.
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Secretary of the State: Budget’s Inadequate Early Voting Funding ‘Shortchanges’ Voters
The two-year state budget package expected to be adopted by the House on Monday “shortchanges” voters by failing to adequately fund Connecticut’s new early voting program, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas said.
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State Offers Help To Residents Who Want To Keep Their Medical Coverage Despite Potentially Losing Medicaid Benefits
State officials are trying to reach out to residents who may lose their Medicaid coverage because of changes in the federal rules.
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Ritter: Deal To End Group Home Strike Up To Lamont, Workers
House Speaker Matt Ritter said talks over increased pay and benefits are now between striking group home workers and Gov. Ned Lamont, as lawmakers are set to approve a budget in the final days.
Keep readingUS Adds 339,000 Jobs In May, Well Above Expectations
Hiring surged last month across the nation as U.S. employers added 339,000 jobs, far above expectations, according to a Friday report from the Labor Department. The job gains for March and April were also stronger than previously reported. The April jobs figure was revised up by 41,000, while the March number was revised up by 52,000.
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