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Only one rationale remains for casinos in Connecticut

By CHRIS POWELL Back in the 1990s several rationales were offered when Connecticut approved its two Indian tribal casinos following enactment of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Here’s what Lamont calls ‘safe’; and Fazio’s half-hearted tax cap Like Groucho, Connecticut won’t let education encroach on football Public campaign financing has yet to improve theContinue reading “Only one rationale remains for casinos in Connecticut”

Here’s what Lamont calls ‘safe’; and Fazio’s half-hearted tax cap

By CHRIS POWELL Governor Lamont’s campaign in the Democratic primary for governor often broadcast a television commercial emphasizing a comment he made during his welcoming address to the General Assembly in February. Referring to agents of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, the governor commanded: “ICE, go home! We’re keeping Connecticut safe without you.”Continue reading “Here’s what Lamont calls ‘safe’; and Fazio’s half-hearted tax cap”

Like Groucho, state won’t let education encroach on football

By CHRIS POWELL Having smiled benignly at Hartford Public High School’s graduation of an admittedly illiterate and innumerate student two years ago, Governor Lamont and the General Assembly this year passed a law formally lowering academic standards in public high schools. Public campaign financing has yet to improve the state Despite CEA’s backing Lamont, many teachersContinue reading “Like Groucho, state won’t let education encroach on football”

Public campaign financing has yet to improve the state

By CHRIS POWELL Connecticut’s system of “public” financing of election campaigns, the Citizens Election Program, established in 2005 under Gov. Jodi Rell, still sounds good in principle. Candidates for state office who restrict themselves to small donations and raise a threshold amount qualify for fairly substantial grants of campaign money from state government. Connecticut DemocratsContinue reading “Public campaign financing has yet to improve the state”

Connecticut Democrats fear police at the polls more than lawbreakers

By CHRIS POWELL Given Connecticut’s worsening social disintegration, most people are probably glad to see police officers patrolling on foot or in cruisers. Residents of cities, where crime is worst, often ask for more police visibility. Despite CEA’s backing Lamont, many teachers may pick Elliott Primary campaign shows Lamont frantically pandering to leftists Can easternContinue reading “Connecticut Democrats fear police at the polls more than lawbreakers”

Despite CEA’s backing Lamont, many teachers may pick Elliott

By CHRIS POWELL Connecticut’s largest teacher union, the Connecticut Education Association, has endorsed Governor Lamont for renomination in the Democratic primary and re-election in November. “Governor Lamont’s partnership with the education community has strengthened our schools and our profession,” CEA President Kate Dias says. Primary campaign shows Lamont frantically pandering to leftists Can eastern ConnecticutContinue reading “Despite CEA’s backing Lamont, many teachers may pick Elliott”

Primary campaign shows Lamont frantically pandering to leftists

By CHRIS POWELL In the demagoguery festival that is the Democratic primary for governor, Governor Lamont shouts, “ICE isn’t getting our voter rolls!” Can eastern Connecticut get ready in time for its future? Will state ever reduce poverty or just keep manufacturing it? Governor Lamont ignores more misconduct by state police But the secretary ofContinue reading “Primary campaign shows Lamont frantically pandering to leftists”

Can eastern Connecticut get ready in time for its future?

By CHRIS POWELL Fifty-six years ago Alfred M. Bingham of Salem, an elderly liberal lawyer and author with a national reputation whose father had been a U.S. senator from Connecticut in the 1920s, sought the Democratic nomination for Congress from eastern Connecticut. Bingham didn’t get the nomination but unlike many candidates he tried to thinkContinue reading “Can eastern Connecticut get ready in time for its future?”

Will state ever reduce poverty or just keep manufacturing it?

By CHRIS POWELL Will the day ever come in Connecticut when those in authority notice that despite all their chest thumping, posturing, sanctimony, and spending, some very big undertakings of government aren’t working? That is, failing to accomplish their nominal objectives while supporting a bureaucracy with great salaries, benefits, and pensions. Voter registration case isContinue reading “Will state ever reduce poverty or just keep manufacturing it?”

Governor Lamont ignores more misconduct by state police

By CHRIS POWELL Caught up in his primary campaign for renomination by the Democrats, maybe Governor Lamont and his publicists are too busy to notice and respond to news reports about improprieties in state government. Or maybe they’re just not inclined to call more attention to them, even by correcting them. Voter registration case isContinue reading “Governor Lamont ignores more misconduct by state police”