CT News Junkie

Lettuce Ladies Pump Gas and Hand Out Sandwiches

Tue, 13 May 2008 12:27:53 -0500

If you accepted a tofurkey, lettuce, and vegenaise sandwich from Colleen Higgins and Ashley Byrne of Peta Tuesday morning you received two free gallons of gas. Why? "Because going vegan is the single most effective action they can take," Byrne said, standing on the corner of Capitol Avenue and Broad Street in Hartford wearing nothing more than strategically placed lettuce leaves.

Democrats in 2nd CD Nominate Courtney

Mon, 12 May 2008 23:56:41 -0500

(Updated: Tuesday, 2:30 p.m.) Known as 'Landslide Joe', more than 350 Democratic delegates from the Second Congressional District nominated U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney for a second term Monday. The Vernon Democrat earned the nickname two years ago when he won the seat by defeating then incumbent Republican Rob Simmons by just 83 votes. Courtney greeted his supporters with handshakes, hugs, and kisses as he stood at the back of a University of Connecticut ballroom listening to his nomination speeches. The speeches were given by a University of Connecticut graduate, Electric Boat employee, and Norwich veteran.

Workers Protest Wages and Benefits in Bloomfield

Mon, 12 May 2008 21:30:20 -0500

Employees at Bloomfield Health Care Center took their voices to the street Monday and let management know they mean business when it comes to wages, benefits, and negotiations. The 120-bed skilled nursing facility on Park Avenue in Bloomfield voted 68-42 in favor of union representation in 2006. It's been a month and a half since the National Labor Relations Board certified the results of that election. Workers said Monday that Bloomfield Health Care Center has ignored the union's effort to schedule negotiations. Bloomfield Health Care Center's administrator Steve Barrett said he would email a statement by the end of the business day, but as of 9:39 p.m. no statement had arrived.

Enviro-Justice Campaign Pays Off

Mon, 12 May 2008 13:24:52 -0500

Robin Schafer (pictured) and other environmentalists are celebrating passage of a new state law that could give pollution-plagued neighborhoods like Fair Haven a weapon to fight back. It took members of the New Haven Environmental Justice Network and its parent organization, the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice, five years to convince the legislature to pass the state's first environmental justice law. They and other environmentalists celebrated that and some other victories, while watching some other important bills die in the legislative session that ended last week. Click here to continue reading Melinda's report from the Elm City.

Best and Worst Places in the World to be a Mother

Sun, 11 May 2008 10:58:03 -0500

Save the Children, a humanitarian organization in Westport, released its ninth annual Mothers' Index that ranks the best -- and worst -- places to be a mother and a child. The Mother's Index compares the well-being of mothers and children in 146 countries. The Nordic countries sweep the top rankings of the best places to be a mother, while countries in sub-Saharan Africa dominated the bottom tier. Sweden tops the list, while Niger ranks last among the 146 countries surveyed. The United States placed 27th this year, one slot down from last year's ranking. Click here to view the full 2008 report card on mothers.

Another 5th District Candidate Emerges

Sat, 10 May 2008 19:22:40 -0500

CANTON, Conn. - For voters in Connecticut's Fifth District who are appalled by the Republicans' disastrous foreign policies, and disillusioned by the Democrats' broken promises to fix them, the November 2008 elections will offer a third choice. Harold Burbank II is running for Congress as the Green Party candidate for Congress, challenging first-term incumbent Democrat Chris Murphy and Republican state Sen. David Cappiello. Burbank, a human rights attorney, has never worked for a corporation. He has an impressive record of public service in government, in international relations and law, and in the peace movement for over 30 years. It is this experience in justice work and what Burbank calls this "critical moment in history" that drove his decision to run for the Fifth District congressional seat. Click here to continue reading Gale's report.

Democratic State Convention A Contrast From 2006

Sat, 10 May 2008 12:39:11 -0500

Compared to two years ago Saturday's Democratic State Convention at Central Connecticut State University was by all accounts uneventful. There were no challenges to the three Democratic National Committee member nominations and the rule changes were fairly straightforward. Without much fanfare, John Olsen, Ellen Camhi, and Anthony Avallone were nominated to go to Denver in August as members of the Democratic National Committee. The largest applause erupted when Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy took the podium and nominated Mrs. Camhi, as a national committee member.

Who's To Blame?

Fri, 09 May 2008 18:04:07 -0500

One's a city Democrat. The other, a suburban Republican. The two state legislators went toe-to-toe on the question of whom to fault for the collapse of a reading program and other New Haven budget woes. The friendly but impassioned Crossfire-like exchange took place Thursday afternoon between New Haven State Rep. Cameron Staples, the legislature's finance co-chairman; and State Sen. Len Fasano, who represents Wallingford, North Haven and Cheshire. Click here to continue reading Paul's report or click the play arrow to witness the exchange.

No Universal Plan, But Health Care AdvocatesStill Have Small Successes To Celebrate

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:36:10 -0500

The debate on universal health care was postponed last year because the 2007 General Assembly wanted to study the issue before passing legislation like its neighboring states. In the absence of a major statewide policy on access to affordable health care, the 2008 General Assembly did pass five smaller health care bills being praised by health care advocates. With only a few days left in the session, the General Assembly was able to approve all five bills: -A bill to establish a new Health Equity Commission, whose mission will be to eliminate disparities in the health status of minorities; -A bill to expand a pilot program, known as Money Follows the Person, designed to help transition people from nursing homes to less restrictive community settings; -A bill amending the Medicaid program to include hospice services for low income people who are terminally ill; -A mental health bill that eliminates the requirement for a three-day stay in an acute care hospital setting before an insurance plan will allow coverage of medically necessary psychological services in a residential facility, and; -A bill opening the state employee health insurance pool to municipal, nonprofit, and small business employees.

102 Layoffs Loom

Fri, 09 May 2008 08:13:06 -0500

(Updated 9:36 p.m.) City Hall now plans to start turning away some men from homeless shelters, kill an early-reading program, eliminate 160 positions, and close a senior center, three police substations, and the Dwight School in order to balance the coming year's budget. The Shubert theater, Market New Haven and Tweed New Haven Airport would also receive budget cuts under a revised budget plan Mayor John DeStefano announced at City Hall Thursday afternoon. Click here to continue reading about the cuts New Haven will be making.

Critique of Legislation Session Differs by Party

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:48:54 -0500

Democrats in the Senate and the House called separate press conferences Thursday to tout the successes of the legislative session, while Republicans in the House and the Senate held a joint press conference criticizing the majority Democrats for not adjusting the 2009 budget--an agreement that was reached in unison with Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell. Senate President Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn, said by sticking with the $18.4 billion state budget, which increases spending 4 percent, it means the state is "living within our means," not unlike Connecticut families. Speaker of the House James Amann, D-Milford, said the current budget does not create any new taxes, however, it does include an increase in the state's petroleum gross receipts tax and it may include the extension of the real estate conveyance tax, if lawmakers call themselves back into special session. Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, said he's disappointed Rell and Democrat-controlled legislature agreed to stick with last year's budget and ignore the GOP's alternative budget proposal that hinged on an early retirement program for about 4,200 state employees.

Bittersweet Session Comes To An End

Thu, 08 May 2008 01:06:43 -0500

With a special session on the horizon and an ever-growing list of retirements the end of the session was bittersweet for many. Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, who announced he would not seek re-election last month, described the past four months as a "rollercoaster ride." Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Southport, said, "It's not the best session we've ever had." In fact, it was "less than stellar," he added. Senate President Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn, said, "We got a number of good things accomplished," including the mortgage relief bill and a health care bill that provides relief to cities and towns. But there was also a list of bills lawmakers were unable to pass during the short four-month session.

Paid Sick Days Bill Dies on House Calendar, Again

Wed, 07 May 2008 23:05:41 -0500

A bill that would allow workers to accumulate one hour of paid sick time for every 40 hours worked died Wednesday night. The Paid Sick Days bill passed the senate, but was stalled for the second year in a row on the House calendar. Sen. Edith Prague, D-Columbia, who championed the bill, said its defeat was making her sick. "It's dead," she said as the clock approached midnight. "Next year." There had been talk earlier in the day that if lawmakers intended to call themselves back into special session to extend the real estate conveyance tax then they could include Paid Sick Days in the call to special session. However, Democratic leadership in the Senate didn't want to make it part of the debate, since it had already passed the bill twice. "This is a disappointment for the thousands of Connecticut residents who called, emailed, and wrote to their legislators in support of Paid Sick Days," Jon Green, executive director of the Working Families Party said.

Rell Calls It A Night; Lets Lawmakers Duke It Out After Giving Them Mixed Reviews

Wed, 07 May 2008 19:13:48 -0500

At an early evening press briefing, Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she would not be giving the traditional speech at midnight to adjourn the legislative session. However, she also noted that this is not like any other session she's ever experienced. Usually during the final days of session lawmakers are scrambling to get their bills passed, but with the budget in place lawmakers have "too much time on their hands," Rell said. "I've decided that everybody's temper is just getting a little too short right now and by midnight everyone is going to be a little tired and will want to go home," Rell said.

Special Session?

Wed, 07 May 2008 14:45:57 -0500

(Updated: 5 p.m.) Hours before the end of the regular legislative session, Sen. President Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn, announced that his caucus was in favor of holding a special session this summer to address the real estate conveyance tax, which will sunset if lawmakers are unable to pass a bill to extend it by midnight tonight. Williams said Wednesday that his caucus is "worried about driving up property taxes." The real estate conveyance tax levied on homeowners selling their homes brings in about $40 million in revenue to cities and towns across the state. Cities and towns love the tax because they can use it to reduce the local property tax burden. Real estate agents hate the tax because they say it takes sellers by surprise at closings. Speaker of the House James Amann, D-Milford, met with Williams Wednesday afternoon and it looks like a special session is possible, but they were still working out the details. A call to special session has to be very narrow and only the items listed in the call can be debated. Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, said "they should run the bill now."