AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantApr 14, 2021 at 7:04 pmHARTFORD — The state Senate voted Wednesday to deter age discrimination by preventing employers from asking a prospective candidate for their date of birth or graduation dates on job applications.The bipartisan measure was passed unanimously, and lawmakers said that it would have passed last year if the General Assembly session had not been short-circuited by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.AdvertisementSen. Derek Slap, a West Hartford Democrat, worked for three years on the bill in a state where the workforce is aging.“It’s extremely...…AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantApr 14, 2021 at 7:04 pmHARTFORD — The state Senate voted Wednesday to deter age discrimination by preventing employers from asking a prospective candidate for their date of birth or graduation dates on job applications.The bipartisan measure was passed unanimously, and lawmakers said that it would have passed last year if the General Assembly session had not been short-circuited by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.AdvertisementSen. Derek Slap, a West Hartford Democrat, worked for three years on the bill in a state where the workforce is aging.“It’s extremely...WW…

AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantApr 12, 2021 at 6:00 amHARTFORD — While New York and New Jersey have forged ahead in legalizing recreational marijuana, it is still not guaranteed that Connecticut will join them this year as lawmakers cannot agree on how cannabis tax revenue should be spent and how equity provisions should be crafted.House Speaker Matt Ritter, a Hartford Democrat, said the bill had a 50-50 chance before it was approved last week by the legislature’s influential judiciary committee by a 22-16 vote with three Democrats voting against the measure and breaking with the majority...…AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantApr 12, 2021 at 6:00 amHARTFORD — While New York and New Jersey have forged ahead in legalizing recreational marijuana, it is still not guaranteed that Connecticut will join them this year as lawmakers cannot agree on how cannabis tax revenue should be spent and how equity provisions should be crafted.House Speaker Matt Ritter, a Hartford Democrat, said the bill had a 50-50 chance before it was approved last week by the legislature’s influential judiciary committee by a 22-16 vote with three Democrats voting against the measure and breaking with the majority...WW…

AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantApr 07, 2021 at 11:16 amHARTFORD — A key legislative committee has voted to expand a Connecticut law that allows guns to be temporarily seized from troubled firearms owners.The law, which was originally enacted in 1999, has helped those who were suicidal or in danger of hurting others, lawmakers said.Advertisement“The law has prevented hundreds of deaths in our state ... primarily suicides,” said Rep. Stephen Stafstrom, a Bridgeport Democrat who co-chairs the legislature’s judiciary committee.The law is being expanded to allow family members and medical...…AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantApr 07, 2021 at 11:16 amHARTFORD — A key legislative committee has voted to expand a Connecticut law that allows guns to be temporarily seized from troubled firearms owners.The law, which was originally enacted in 1999, has helped those who were suicidal or in danger of hurting others, lawmakers said.Advertisement“The law has prevented hundreds of deaths in our state ... primarily suicides,” said Rep. Stephen Stafstrom, a Bridgeport Democrat who co-chairs the legislature’s judiciary committee.The law is being expanded to allow family members and medical...WW…

AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantApr 08, 2021 at 8:41 amHARTFORD — After a request from Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Ned Lamont is considering whether to house migrant children from the Texas border at a state facility in Middletown.Lamont took a tour last week of the now-closed Connecticut Juvenile Training School, a controversial juvenile jail that was opened by Gov. John G. Rowland in 2001 and closed in 2018 by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.Advertisement“The vice president pulled me aside and asked me directly,’' Lamont told WTIC-1080 AM Thursday morning, referring to a conversation when...…AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantApr 08, 2021 at 8:41 amHARTFORD — After a request from Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Ned Lamont is considering whether to house migrant children from the Texas border at a state facility in Middletown.Lamont took a tour last week of the now-closed Connecticut Juvenile Training School, a controversial juvenile jail that was opened by Gov. John G. Rowland in 2001 and closed in 2018 by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.Advertisement“The vice president pulled me aside and asked me directly,’' Lamont told WTIC-1080 AM Thursday morning, referring to a conversation when...WW…

AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantMar 15, 2021 at 5:20 pmHARTFORD — Lawmakers clashed Monday over raising taxes on the wealthy, including hiking personal income taxes and imposing a so-called mansion tax on all homes worth more than $430,000.Proponents at a daylong public hearing said the state needs to raise taxes on the rich because the poor and middle-class have been struggling for the past year with high unemployment during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. They said that the additional millions of dollars in tax revenues are needed to fund essential services and reduce racial and...…AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantMar 15, 2021 at 5:20 pmHARTFORD — Lawmakers clashed Monday over raising taxes on the wealthy, including hiking personal income taxes and imposing a so-called mansion tax on all homes worth more than $430,000.Proponents at a daylong public hearing said the state needs to raise taxes on the rich because the poor and middle-class have been struggling for the past year with high unemployment during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. They said that the additional millions of dollars in tax revenues are needed to fund essential services and reduce racial and...WW…

AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantFeb 19, 2021 at 6:00 amHARTFORD — For 40 years, Connecticut residents have been returning their soda and beer bottles and getting the same amount back: 5 cents.As more bottles have ended up in the trash, Gov. Ned Lamont and House Speaker Matt Ritter of Hartford are now supporting doubling the redemption to 10 cents in an attempt to increase recycling.AdvertisementWith tons of garbage being generated every day, too much trash is either being burned or shipped outside Connecticut borders, Lamont said.“We have an awful lot of waste — trash-to-energy and taken...…AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantFeb 19, 2021 at 6:00 amHARTFORD — For 40 years, Connecticut residents have been returning their soda and beer bottles and getting the same amount back: 5 cents.As more bottles have ended up in the trash, Gov. Ned Lamont and House Speaker Matt Ritter of Hartford are now supporting doubling the redemption to 10 cents in an attempt to increase recycling.AdvertisementWith tons of garbage being generated every day, too much trash is either being burned or shipped outside Connecticut borders, Lamont said.“We have an awful lot of waste — trash-to-energy and taken...WW…

AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantFeb 01, 2021 at 2:37 pmHARTFORD — A bipartisan group of Connecticut legislators and mayors called Monday for increased state funding for cities like Hartford and New Haven, but they could not agree on how to pay for it.The largest cities would receive millions in additional state money under a multipronged plan to increase state payments by Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney of New Haven and House Speaker Matt Ritter of Hartford — the two top Democrats in the legislature. While multiple towns would benefit, the two biggest winners would be New Haven with...…AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantFeb 01, 2021 at 2:37 pmHARTFORD — A bipartisan group of Connecticut legislators and mayors called Monday for increased state funding for cities like Hartford and New Haven, but they could not agree on how to pay for it.The largest cities would receive millions in additional state money under a multipronged plan to increase state payments by Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney of New Haven and House Speaker Matt Ritter of Hartford — the two top Democrats in the legislature. While multiple towns would benefit, the two biggest winners would be New Haven with...WW…

AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantFeb 01, 2021 at 6:00 amFrom potentially selling wine in supermarkets to imposing a statewide “mansion” tax on homes worth more than $430,000, the Connecticut General Assembly is debating legislation this year on a wide range of topics.More than 2,000 bills — many only one sentence long at this early stage — have been filed as lawmakers have opened the floodgates in the traditional “long” legislative session that lasts until early June.AdvertisementBut Republicans are saying that the Democratic majorities in the state House of Representatives and Senate are...…AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantFeb 01, 2021 at 6:00 amFrom potentially selling wine in supermarkets to imposing a statewide “mansion” tax on homes worth more than $430,000, the Connecticut General Assembly is debating legislation this year on a wide range of topics.More than 2,000 bills — many only one sentence long at this early stage — have been filed as lawmakers have opened the floodgates in the traditional “long” legislative session that lasts until early June.AdvertisementBut Republicans are saying that the Democratic majorities in the state House of Representatives and Senate are...WW…

AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantJan 26, 2021 at 6:47 pmHARTFORD — Republican legislators say a Democratic leader’s plan to enact a new property tax on the wealthy will instead target middle class homeowners since it would impose an annual levy on all Connecticut residences worth more than $430,000.AdvertisementBut Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney said Tuesday he considers his proposal a “mansion tax’' that will ensure financial fairness in tough times and raise $73 million per year as part of a package to provide property tax relief for cash-strapped communities like his hometown of...…AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantJan 26, 2021 at 6:47 pmHARTFORD — Republican legislators say a Democratic leader’s plan to enact a new property tax on the wealthy will instead target middle class homeowners since it would impose an annual levy on all Connecticut residences worth more than $430,000.AdvertisementBut Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney said Tuesday he considers his proposal a “mansion tax’' that will ensure financial fairness in tough times and raise $73 million per year as part of a package to provide property tax relief for cash-strapped communities like his hometown of...WW…

AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantApr 20, 2021 at 6:42 pmHARTFORD — A coalition of groups called Tuesday for allowing all Connecticut adults to grow their own marijuana and helping those who have been arrested on marijuana charges in the past as part of the effort to legalize recreational marijuana.About 100 people gathered for a rally outside the Legislative Office Building in Hartford to push for the controversial bill that top legislators say has about a 50-50 chance of passage as the legislature heads toward adjournment on June 9.AdvertisementThe advocates are pushing for a bill that has...…AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantApr 20, 2021 at 6:42 pmHARTFORD — A coalition of groups called Tuesday for allowing all Connecticut adults to grow their own marijuana and helping those who have been arrested on marijuana charges in the past as part of the effort to legalize recreational marijuana.About 100 people gathered for a rally outside the Legislative Office Building in Hartford to push for the controversial bill that top legislators say has about a 50-50 chance of passage as the legislature heads toward adjournment on June 9.AdvertisementThe advocates are pushing for a bill that has...WW…