If Left Alone, Deficits Only Get Bigger

Residents of this state are facing tough economic times and it could get worse.
House and Senate Republicans on Wednesday said it’s time lawmakers did their part to erase a $300 million budget deficit that’s been confirmed by independent analysts. Republican House Leader Larry Cafero and Senate Republican Leader John McKinney held [...]

Legislature Passes Emergency Energy Assistance

In the early morning hours on Saturday, the legislature adopted the following measures during a one-day special session today Aug. 22 called to deal with emergency energy assistance:

$8.5 million for Operation Fuel to provide emergency assistance to households with income between 151% and 200% of the federal poverty level ($31,800 to $42,400 for a family [...]

Congratulations, Shelton Little Leaguers!

State Reps. Larry Miller and Jason Perillo greeted the best Little Leaguers in New England at the Capitol on Friday, when the General Assembly honored Shelton National Little League for representing the region in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Republicans Miller and Perillo, R-113, posed for pictures with [...]

House GOP Proposes Telecommuting Pilot

Program would save Taxpayer Dollars, Lessen Traffic on Highways
House Republicans today underscored their support for more flexible work weeks for state employees by promoting their own office plan to allow for telecommuting, a policy aimed at saving taxpayer dollars, making workers more productive and getting commuters off clogged highways.
“We want to [...]

Republicans Force Gas Tax Roll Back

DEMOCRATS STILL BLOCK GOP BUDGET THAT SAVES $155 MILLION IN PAYROLL   
Bowing to Republican pressure and public anger, the legislature today rolled back a scheduled July increase on the gasoline gross receipts tax. But Democrats voted down the GOP alternative budget that saves Connecticut $155 million in payroll and restore valuable programs including school reading, [...]

Narrow Call

 
“soley limited to…”
This phrase peppers the document (SJ-104) that is currently being used on the floor of the House of Representatives to call the chamber back into special session.
As House GOP Leader Larry Cafero pointed out, the call is crafted so narrowly, it permits nearly no amendments whatsoever, limiting the debate only [...]

Ethics On Tap Today in the House

The Connecticut House of Representatives is scheduled to take up ethics legislation today that is the result of a compromise between House Republicans, Senate Republicans, Senate Democrats and Governor Rell.  SB 333, An Act Concerning Comprehensive Ethics Reform is not supported by either House Speaker Jim Amann, or GAE Committee Chairman [...]

Universal Healthcare Gateway Bill Under Debate

The House has been debating HB 5536, An Act Establishing the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership this evening.  The bill is a step and a half toward universal healthcare and socialized medicine, and has been advanced by House Majority Leader Chris Donovan. 
Section six of the bill requires the Comptroller to study how to [...]

House GOP Reacts to Democrats’ Appropriations Budget

Democrats today tried to take a page from the House Republicans’ successful 2007 No Tax Increase budget today by putting forth a spending plan that apparently won’t increase taxes this year but could lead to massive deficits next years because of built-in questionable savings.Republicans immediately questioned whether the proposal which includes [...]

Rep. Hamzy: “Jen’s Law” Passes Judiciary

A measure developed by Deputy Republican Leader William A. Hamzy, R-78th District, that would allow family violence victims who fear for their safety to offer court testimony via teleconference rather than being forced to appear in person was approved unanimously today by the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee.The legislation (House Bill 5875) stemmed from the August 2007 murder [...]