Politics
60 articles
Connecticut Finance Panel Backs $900M in Tax Cuts
Connecticut's Finance Committee endorsed nearly $900M in tax relief options, setting up a budget clash with Gov. Lamont before the May 6 session deadline.
PoliticsCT Faces Tiny $6M Budget Deficit, Comptroller Projects
Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon projects a $6 million budget deficit, the state's first under Gov. Ned Lamont, though reserves dwarf the shortfall.
PoliticsCT Legislature Passes $29B Budget Plan, Heads to Lamont
Connecticut's Appropriations Committee approved a $29B state budget, boosting spending 6.2% and setting up negotiations with Gov. Ned Lamont.
PoliticsSen. Tony Hwang Retires: CT GOP Faces Deeper Crisis
Connecticut Republican Sen. Tony Hwang won't seek a seventh term, leaving two Fairfield County seats vulnerable and the GOP caucus near single digits.
PoliticsCT Building Code Loophole Puts Homes at Carbon Monoxide Risk
A single word in Connecticut's building code lets installers use unsafe PVC pipe for furnace venting, creating a deadly carbon monoxide risk in homes.
PoliticsWill Higher Gas Prices Actually Boost Mass Transit?
Connecticut transit advocates hope rising gas prices will shift commuters to trains and buses, but the economic reality is far more complicated.
PoliticsDanbury's Homeless Need More State Support
The Danbury Support Center runs 40 beds on limited funding. ARC wants $690K from Connecticut lawmakers to expand capacity and serve more homeless residents.
PoliticsCT Governor Opposes SAVE America Act Voting Rules
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas slam the SAVE America Act, saying it would suppress voting for thousands of residents.
PoliticsNew Haven Schools Seek More Funding for Failing Facilities
NHPS officials briefed city alders on a $5.5M annual funding gap leaving school buildings undermaintained and unsafe for students and staff.
PoliticsConnecticut Sets New Rules for School Crisis Drills
Connecticut's Senate Bill 298 establishes statewide standards for school crisis drills, requiring trauma-informed practices and parent notification.
PoliticsConnecticut Push for Ranked-Choice Voting in Cities
Senate Bill 386 would let Connecticut municipalities adopt ranked-choice voting. Advocates are racing to build Senate support before the session ends.
PoliticsSister Fights for Brother's Rights at Osborn Prison
Lisa Velasquez-Torres speaks out about dire conditions at Osborn Correctional Institution, where her brother Luis faces neglect and medical failures.
PoliticsCT Politics: Ganim Reelection, DECD Study & More
Gov. Lamont backs Bridgeport Mayor Ganim's 2027 reelection bid, while a DECD statewide economic study faces funding hurdles in Hartford.
PoliticsCT Senate Approves State Employee Raises 30-2
The Connecticut Senate voted 30-2 to approve raises for 3,661 unionized state workers, a sharp contrast to the heated House debate a day earlier.
PoliticsCT Climate Superfund Act vs. Gas Price Myths
Connecticut's Climate Superfund Act opponents blame it for rising gas prices. Here's why economists say that argument doesn't hold up.
PoliticsRitter Eyes Compromise on CT Tax Rebates and School Aid
House Speaker Matt Ritter says Connecticut lawmakers are nearing a deal balancing Governor Lamont's tax rebate plan with increased funding for local schools.
PoliticsCan CT Bars Sell THC-Infused Drinks? State Law Explained
Connecticut bars cannot legally sell THC-infused drinks. Learn who can sell them, the 2024 rule change, and what the state's cannabis law requires.
PoliticsNo-Fault Evictions Threaten CT Communities and Democracy
Connecticut's Senate Bill 257 aims to expand just cause eviction protections, shielding tenants from no-fault removals that devastate neighborhoods and democracy.
PoliticsUConn Graduate Assistants Rally for Higher Pay, Lower Fees
UConn graduate assistants rallied in Storrs, demanding fee freezes, higher stipends, and stronger protections for international students amid contract talks.
PoliticsCT Lawmakers Consider Legalizing Plug-In Solar Panels
Connecticut's House Bill 5340 could allow residents to use plug-in solar panels without utility approval, easing some of the nation's highest electric bills.
PoliticsConnecticut Pushes Congress to Reform the Jones Act
Connecticut lawmakers are urging Congress to reform the 1920 Jones Act, citing higher energy costs, burdens on Puerto Rico, and clean energy delays.
PoliticsCT Bills Seek ICE Accountability Backed by Tong & Blumenthal
Connecticut's Judiciary Committee advanced bills to let the state sue ICE agents for civil rights violations and restrict immigration enforcement locations.
PoliticsConnecticut Pre-K Endowment Funding in Peril as Surplus Shrinks
Connecticut's Early Childhood Education Endowment may receive just $30M—less than 10% of what lawmakers promised—as the state's budget surplus dwindles.
PoliticsBridgeport Cop Took Ambulance Meant for Shooting Victim
A Connecticut Inspector General report reveals a Bridgeport officer redirected an ambulance from dying shooting victim Dyshan Best to a colleague with a panic attack.
PoliticsLamont Pushes Connecticut Ban on Machine Gun-Convertible Handguns
Gov. Ned Lamont proposes making Connecticut the second state to ban handguns easily converted to machine guns using illegal after-market switches.
PoliticsStrong CT Schools Need Community Partnerships
Bridgeport students and educators braved winter storms to advocate for stronger school-community partnerships at the Connecticut State Capitol.
PoliticsConnecticut Bills Would Shield Officials' Addresses From Public
Connecticut lawmakers weigh three bills exempting public servants' addresses from FOIA disclosure, raising press freedom and accountability concerns.
PoliticsCT Leads Multistate Suit Over EPA Endangerment Finding Repeal
Connecticut AG William Tong is leading a multistate legal challenge against the EPA's decision to rescind its greenhouse gas endangerment finding.
PoliticsJohn Larson Faces Primary Challenge in Connecticut's 1st District
Rep. John Larson, 77, faces an unprecedented primary challenge in Connecticut as three younger Democrats push for generational change in Congress.
PoliticsConnecticut Bill Would Fund UConn UFO Study
Connecticut lawmakers introduced H.B. 5422, directing UConn to study UFOs and evaluate a permanent state center, raising taxpayer spending concerns.
PoliticsCT Finish Line Scholarship Faces Funding Shortfall in 2026
Connecticut's Finish Line Scholarship Program may serve only one-third of eligible students this fall due to proposed budget cuts by the governor.
PoliticsCT Politics: Eviction Reform, Aquarion & Towing Laws
Connecticut politics this week covers DHS funding fights, eviction reform, water utility oversight, towing laws, and school grant updates.
PoliticsCT Lawmakers Propose $40M Plan to Offset Federal SNAP Cuts
Connecticut Democrats push a $40M bridge food assistance program to help 36,000 residents losing SNAP benefits under new federal work requirements.
PoliticsCT's Southeast Resiliency Project Delayed by DEEP Decision
Eastern Connecticut's critical gas pipeline upgrade is 90% complete, but a state agency review is blocking the final three miles from moving forward.
PoliticsCT Home Care Advocates Fear Cuts to Community First Choice
Connecticut families protest Gov. Lamont's plan to eliminate Community First Choice, warning thousands could lose home-based care or face long waitlists.
PoliticsCT Lawmakers Advance Key Child Welfare Nominations
Connecticut's nominations panel unanimously approved Elena Trueworthy for Office of Early Childhood and advanced Christina Ghio as child advocate to the full House.
PoliticsCT Lawmakers Consider Prison Health Care Reform Bill
Connecticut's House Bill 5567 aims to fix a crisis in inmate medical care, addressing poor nutrition, staffing shortages, and delayed treatment in state prisons.
PoliticsCT House Dems Plan to Redirect Tax Rebates to Schools
Connecticut House Democrats propose diverting $100-150M from Gov. Lamont's tax rebate program to aid struggling school districts facing a fiscal crisis.
PoliticsConnecticut Homelessness Triples: A Housing Affordability Crisis
Unsheltered homelessness in Connecticut has nearly tripled since 2022. Researchers say unaffordable housing is the primary driver of the growing crisis.
PoliticsCT Municipal Utility Rates vs Eversource & UI Costs
Connecticut's 7 municipal electric utilities charge 23–64% less than Eversource and United Illuminating. Here's what customers in those towns pay.
PoliticsCT Paid Leave Law: Progress for Moms, But Gaps Remain
Connecticut's paid leave law helps new mothers, but partial wage replacement and separate applications leave many families struggling to fully benefit.
PoliticsCT Pension Funds Post 14% Return, $8.3B Gain in 2025
Connecticut's pension fund earned a 14% return in 2025, generating $8.3 billion in gains and ranking in the top 17% of peer funds nationwide.
PoliticsIran War Raises Economic Uncertainty in Connecticut 2026
Gov. Ned Lamont warns the Iran conflict is driving up energy prices in Connecticut, with gas hitting $3.45/gallon and a possible tax holiday under consideration.
PoliticsCT's Hidden Per Pupil Pension Subsidy Fuels School Inequity
Connecticut's $1.7B teacher pension contribution bypasses school funding equity reviews, creating a hidden subsidy that favors wealthier districts.
PoliticsCT Homeschooling Bill HB 5468: What It Means for Families
Connecticut's Education Committee examines HB 5468, a bill reshaping homeschooling oversight and expanding access to public school resources.
PoliticsConnecticut's New Civics Seal: What It Means for Students
Connecticut's new State Seal of Civics Education lets high schoolers earn diploma recognition for civic knowledge and real-world engagement, starting in 2026-2027.
PoliticsConnecticut Considers Styrofoam Ban and Single-Use Plastic Limits
Connecticut's House Bill 5524 proposes banning polystyrene containers by 2028 and restricting single-use plastics like straws and utensils in restaurants.
PoliticsConnecticut Knows How to Prevent Homelessness. Will It Act?
Unsheltered homelessness in CT rose 45% last year. Housing advocates say flexible funding can prevent the crisis before it starts.
PoliticsCT Legislature 2026: Guns in Schools, Rent Caps & ICE Bills
Connecticut lawmakers advance bills on off-duty officers in schools, a 5% rent increase cap, ICE detention facilities, and hospital taxes in the 2026 session.
PoliticsCT Lawmakers Question DCF Nominee Susan Hamilton
Connecticut lawmakers grilled DCF interim commissioner Susan Hamilton at her confirmation hearing, raising concerns about child safety, caseworker turnover, and agency oversight.
PoliticsCT Senators Back Bipartisan Housing Bill to Cut Costs
Connecticut Senators Blumenthal and Murphy voted to advance the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, targeting supply shortages and institutional investors.
PoliticsLamont Reaches Deals With 10 Unions, But Raises Still Delayed
Governor Lamont reached tentative contracts with 10 state unions covering 20,000 workers, but over half of bargaining units still await raises eight months overdue.
PoliticsNew Canaan Faces Affordable Housing Project Despite Moratorium
A developer tests New Canaan's 2024 affordable housing moratorium with a 14-unit proposal, arguing state law exempts the assisted living project.
PoliticsCT Survivors Push to Ban Female Genital Mutilation
Connecticut remains one of nine states without an FGM ban. Survivors are urging lawmakers to pass legislation criminalizing the practice as a class D felony.
PoliticsCT Bill to Ban Convertible Pistols Faces Massive Opposition
Governor Lamont's bill to ban convertible pistols in Connecticut drew 1,900 opposition testimonies versus 50 in support at a packed Capitol hearing.
PoliticsConnecticut Lawmakers Hear Testimony on ICE Accountability Bills
Hundreds testified in Hartford in support of bills limiting ICE enforcement and creating safe spaces in schools, churches, and medical facilities in Connecticut.
PoliticsLamont Nominates 14 Lawyers to Connecticut Superior Court
Gov. Ned Lamont nominated 14 lawyers to fill 20 vacancies on Connecticut's Superior Court, including his former budget director and a ex-Republican lawmaker.
PoliticsConnecticut Housing Committee Advances Eviction Reform Bill
Connecticut's Housing Committee moves to pass Senate Bill 257, which would largely ban no-fault evictions in apartment buildings with five or more units.
PoliticsBridgeport Schools Request $106M Budget Increase
Bridgeport Public Schools seeks $106M in additional funding, warning that a $45M shortfall could force deep cuts to staffing and programs for 20,000 students.
PoliticsConnecticut SB 101: Opposition to Statewide Property Tax
The Yankee Institute opposes Connecticut SB 101, which would impose a graduated statewide property tax on homes assessed above $3 million.