http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/ct-news/ en-us Sat, 2 Jan 2010 17:23:25 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419563/posts NEW BRITAIN — - With an aging population, rising poverty and few prospects for job growth, how can Connecticut improve its chances for future prosperity? State economic development officials have put together a 66-point plan they say should serve as a guide for policy-setting and decision-making. Business owners, workers and taxpayers who want to question that plan, or propose amendments to it, get their opportunity Thursday at a forum sponsored by the state Department of Economic and Community Development. After drafting the 542-page report, the agency is traveling around the state to get a last round of public input before... Courant.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419563/posts#comment Sat, 2 Jan 2010 17:23:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419455/posts <p>NEWTOWN - A Hartford man serving a 30-month prison sentence for burglarizing U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd's Hartford office died Thursday at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington.</p> <p>Gilbert Soto, 50, had been taken to the UConn Health Center after being found suffering from a head injury in the shower area of the medical wing of the Garner Correctional Center in Newtown. Police initially said his death was suspicious, but a preliminary investigation by state police detectives has determined that may not be the case.</p> Hartford Courant http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419455/posts#comment Sat, 2 Jan 2010 13:51:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419214/posts She is a political novice seeking to unseat one of the most powerful Democrats in the United States Senate. But Linda McMahon does possess one big weapon: a vast personal fortune that she is already wielding to shake up the race. Ms. McMahon has been saturating residents with television advertisements, pouring money into the campaigns of local elected officials and building a campaign organization that dwarfs its rivals. The NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419214/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 23:21:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418895/posts The federal Transportation Security Administration has questioned a Niantic man who posted a document on his blog that described temporary measures for screening airline passengers. Steven Frischling, a Niantic travel blogger and photographer, said he was on the phone Tuesday with Florida travel writer Chris Elliot when Elliot asked him if any federal agents had paid him a visit. Elliot, like Frischling, posted security directives they each received by e-mail, detailing new security measures for all outside flights headed for the United States. Frischling said Elliot told him that federal agents had just visited him. Frischling said Thursday that he... The Day http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418895/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 12:37:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418615/posts The McDonalds had only four months to go before the crushing economics of covering treatments for their autism spectrum son was all on them. “But thank God, come January, we’ll have no worries,” said Michelle McDonald, 39, as she joined others in Hartford Wednesday to talk about an insurance fix that mandates coverage for medical needs of these children. The law, which was championed by state Sen. Martin Looney, D-New Haven, state Sen. Joseph Crisco, D-Woodbridge, and state House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, applies to private insurance plans and is effective as of Friday. McDonald said her non-verbal 4-year-old son... NewHavenRegister.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418615/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:44:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418341/posts South Windsor (AP) - South Windsor's board of education has avoided a threatened lawsuit by dropping plans for a high school graduation at a church. The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut and Americans United for Separation of Church and State threatened to sue schools in Enfield, South Windsor, Windsor and East Hartford and the Metropolitan Learning Center Magnet School. The South Windsor board voted to change the venue for the June 22 graduation from the First Cathedral in Bloomfield to the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Greg Stokes, chairman of the Enfield Board of Education, said Wednesday that board... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418341/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:11:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417932/posts JW is now out with its list of the most corrupt politicos, the top 10. Sen. Chris Dodd is on the list. Judicial Watch has come out with its list of the Top 10 most corrupt politicians. Not many surprises although I guess taking payoff money for Nebraska doesn’t count. H/T to Hotair for the leg work. Read Ed’s take. Pretty good. Chris Dodd is number one on the list … unfortunately, it’s alphabetical. http://www.radioviceonline.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417932/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:28:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417369/posts Now that our attention is focused on airline security measures thanks to the failed airline attack on Christmas Day, it's worth mentioning that one senator took money away from aviation security to line the pockets of a constituency that supported his presidential campaign in a big way. Back in July, Senator Chris Dodd, D-Conn., proposed an amendment reducing aviation security appropriations by $4.5 million in favor of firefighter grants -- a notoriously inneffective program. In fact, the money was specifically "for screening operations and the amount for explosives detection systems." The amendment was also sponsored by Sen. Lieberman, D-Conn., and... Washington Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417369/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:43:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416927/posts Sen. Joe Lieberman, to his credit KNOWS the importance of going after terrorists and terrorism. Senator Joe Lieberman seems to understand the gravity of the situation. Get them before they get us. The terrorists are not suspects and their acts are not alledged, they are intent on killing all of us. Joe knows this not because he is a wicked smahhhht analyst. He knows it because they have told us so. He begins by asking the President to keep GITMO open. Not a bad idea. http://www.radioviceonline.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416927/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:40:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416899/posts Now that our attention is focused on airline security measures thanks to the failed airline attack on Christmas Day, it's worth mentioning that one Senator took money away from aviation security to line the pockets of constituency that supported his presidential campaign in a big way. Back in July, Senator Chris Dodd, D-Conn., proposed an amendment reducing aviation security appropriations by $4.5 million in favor of firefighter grants -- a notoriously inneffective program. In fact, the money was specifically "for screening operations and the amount for explosives detection systems." The amendment was also sponsored by Sen. Lieberman, D-Conn., and Sen.... Washington Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416899/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:05:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416893/posts Mark Hemingway has a long memory for budgeting amendments, which he proves at the Washington Examiner. With focus returned to airport security, Mark reminds us of how Chris Dodd paid off a political constituency by getting a little pork to the firefighters union that supported his bid for the presidency in 2007-8, which got $10 million in “firefighter assistance grants” from FEMA’s budget. All Dodd had to do was to get $4.5 million from another source — which turned out to be the TSA’s explosives detection systems: Hot Air http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416893/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:58:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416860/posts Senate Democrats will face a problem when they return in January every bit as tough as crafting the healthcare bill: Assembling a climate and energy package that can be shoehorned into the election-year calendar. Imposing limits on greenhouse gases is a White House and Democratic priority, but it’s stuck in line behind health care, Wall Street reform and jobs legislation. It’s also become increasingly apparent since the Copenhagen climate summit that the Senate will go forward in a dramatically different direction than the House, which approved its own climate bill last summer. Environmentalists familiar with Democratic plans say party leaders... The Hill, Washington, DC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416860/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:09:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416470/posts Now that our attention is focused on airline security measures thanks to the failed airline attack on Christmas Day, it's worth mentioning that one Senator took money away from aviation security to line the pockets of constituency that supported his presidential campaign in a big way. Back in July, Senator Chris Dodd, D-Conn., proposed an amendment reducing aviation security appropriations by $4.5 million in favor of firefighter grants -- a notoriously inneffective program. In fact, the money was specifically "for screening operations and the amount for explosives detection systems." The amendment was also sponsored by Sen. Lieberman, D-Conn., and Sen.... Wash Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416470/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:05:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416390/posts MIDDLETOWN, CT — A wounded U.S. Marine Corps reservist, who says that after being called up for duty in Iraq he returned to his workplace only to be demoted, is now suing his former employer under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. Jay Belanger, of Middletown, was working as a financial advisor for Prudential Securities, earning about $100,000 from managing over $11 million spread over approximately 150 brokerage accounts, when his unit was called up for active duty, according to the suit filed last week in U.S. District Court. He served during the initial invasion of Iraq in... Middletown Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416390/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:13:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416139/posts Feingold, McCain, Lieberman Introduce Resolution to Reverse FEC’s Action to Gut Corporate Jets Provision. WASHINGTON, DC – A bipartisan group of senators has introduced legislation to reject a Federal Election Commission regulation that would effectively gut Congress’ work to crack down on Senators accepting rides on corporate jets. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) introduced a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to overturn the FEC’s decision and require it to redraft the regulation. In the regulation published in the Federal Register on December 7, the FEC undermined Congress’ decision in 2007 to... U.S. Sen. John McCain, RINO-Ariz. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416139/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:54:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415486/posts Sen. Chris Dodd (D) returned home to Connecticut this afternoon following a historic vote this morning in the Senate that will reform health care. Dodd is facing a tough re-election bid and at least one man at Bradley International Airport let him know just how tough it will be."You're not gonna get re-elected," the man said. "Nice. Merry Christmas," Dodd responded.But is Dodd concerned that this vote will hurt his chances at winning in 2010?"Oh, I don't know, I find it somewhat amusing that people, every move you make has some sort of political calculation," he said.And he stands by... WTNH http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2415486/posts#comment Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:27:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414675/posts Christmas, a time to spend with dear ones. Each year we look forward to spending time with family and friends to celebrate Christmas, remember those who may not be as fortunate, and especially remember those service members who are away from home, protecting our home. So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us to you! Thank you for making Radio Vice Online and Sound Off Connecticut a part of your life this year. We’re not quite certain we deserve all of the attention, but I can tell you we are quite humbled by it. http://www.radioviceonline.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414675/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:21:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414549/posts A walking path along the Naugatuck River. A better public safety communications system in Enfield. More than $28 million to support local homeless assistance programs in Connecticut. Those are just some of the projects for which U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd recently helped win federal funding. And that laundry list of goodies doesn't even include the possibility of $100 million for a new University of Connecticut hospital that was slipped into the health care overhaul bill last weekend. The politically vulnerable Democrat has been criticized for using the promise of federal money to bolster his chances of winning re-election in 2010.... Courant.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414549/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:24:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414215/posts Late in the negotiations for the Senate version of the health care reform bill, Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd worked to add a provision that could help the University of Connecticut partially fund the new hospital it has been seeking to replace the antiquated John Dempsey Hospital in Farmington. Dodd, chairman of the Banking Committee and a senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, is facing stiff competition for re-election in November. He introduced the amendment to the main bill, designed to increase the number of Americans covered by health insurance and enact other reforms, that... The Day.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414215/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:45:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414147/posts HARTFORD (AP) — Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell has asked the state attorney general to sue the federal government if Nebraska receives extra Medicaid money in the final version of federal health care reform legislation. In order to secure the support of Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson for the bill, Senate Democrats included a controversial provision that allows the federal government to pick up 100 percent of the cost of Medicaid expansion in his state. Rell, a Republican, says the inequity of that provision is "astonishing," and that Connecticut is traditionally reimbursed at a 50 percent rate for Medicaid expenses. Medicaid... New Haven Register http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414147/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:47:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413665/posts Unemployment Calls Overwhelm Server. Unemployment claims have been flooding into the state Department of Labor, dragging the filing system to a crawl. “Due to the high volume of claim filing, you may experience some difficulty filing your claim via the Web or by telephone. We apologize for any inconvenience,” the Web site says. http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/ A spokeswoman says the Department of Labor issued 156,673 benefit checks during the week of Dec. 13-19, up nearly 50 percent from 105,431 last year. The agency has been "incredibly busy" with claims and was "flooded with calls," she said. NBC 30 News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413665/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:28:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412787/posts In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, word has come that we New Yorkers are the sad sacks of the United States. This is something of a surprise. Sure, we complain a lot. Grumbling could qualify as the official state sport. But are we really the unhappiest of them all? It seems so, judging from a study by two economics professors, newly published in Science magazine. The academics — Andrew J. Oswald, of the University of Warwick in Britain, and Stephen Wu, of Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. — examined piles of data, tossed them into a... NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412787/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:48:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412685/posts Politics: Sen. Mary Landrieu was the new "Louisiana Purchase." Sen. Ben Nelson got the federal government to pick up his state's future Medicaid tab. Maybe we should just put Senate votes up on eBay. Nelson, the 60th vote in the middle-of-the-night Senate party line vote on health care reform, will go down in American political history as the inventor of the permanent earmark. His seemingly principled stand against including federal funding for abortion evaporated like the morning dew as he decided to take what was behind door No. 1. The deal for Nelson includes special Medicaid funding for Nebraska, along... Investor's Business Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412685/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:24:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412535/posts Health Bill Money For Hospital Sought By Dodd The Associated Press December 20, 2009 WASHINGTON -- A $100 million item for construction of a university hospital was inserted in the Senate health care bill at the request of Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., who faces a difficult re-election campaign, his office said Sunday night. The legislation leaves it up to the Health and Human Services Department to decide where the money should be spent, although spokesman Bryan DeAngelis said Dodd hopes to claim it for the University of Connecticut. The provision is included in a 383-page series of changes to the... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412535/posts#comment Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:46:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412255/posts You can follow Richard Nixon's prescription on how to win a Republican nomination for high office. You can even heap praise on Jimmy Carter. You cannot, however, do both. Nixon, the disgraced 37th president, reduced his formula for victory to this: Run to the right to get nominated, then dash to the middle to get elected. Many Republican candidates find it still works. Former Congressman Rob Simmons, the front-runner in the 2010 contest for the U.S. Senate seat held by beleaguered Democratic incumbent Christopher Dodd, won three terms in the House of Representatives as a moderate Republican. Ambitious Republicans, even... Hartford Courant http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412255/posts#comment Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:50:09 GMT