Remarks by Chris PowellLincoln Day DinnerBristol Republican Town CommitteeDouble Tree by HiltonBristol, ConnecticutTuesday, April 29, 2025 Here is a parable about Connecticut politics that should be in the New Testament: One day Jesus was sitting in the back of a diner on the Berlin Turnpike having lunch. A Republican in a wheelchair entered the dinerContinue reading “Why Lincoln remains basic to American politics”
Author Archives: cxpowell
Cheng scandal provides a scolding for higher education
By Chris Powell While the Board of Regents of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System wants to be rid of its chancellor, Terrence Cheng, his contract extends for another 14 months and apparently the board feels that it can’t fire him outright — either because he doesn’t deserve to be kicked out that hardContinue reading “Cheng scandal provides a scolding for higher education”
Illegal immigration’s backers in Connecticut overlook its enormous costs
By Chris Powell Last week two groups supporting illegal immigration, Connecticut Voices for Children and the Immigration Research Initiative, issued a report warning that mass deportation of the state’s illegal immigrant population — estimated at as many as 150,000 people — would be disastrous for the state’s economy and state government. The report claimed that illegal immigrantsContinue reading “Illegal immigration’s backers in Connecticut overlook its enormous costs”
Democrats are frantic to spend more as economizing is forbidden
By Chris Powell What’s most remarkable about the state budget being devised by the Democratic majority in the General Assembly isn’t the scrambling to dismantle or evade the constitutional spending cap — the “fiscal guardrails” that have kept state government more or less solvent in recent years — though there is plenty of desperation aboutContinue reading “Democrats are frantic to spend more as economizing is forbidden”
Trump isn’t what’s wrong with education in Connecticut
By Chris Powell Governor Lamont and state Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker are being cheered for refusing to certify to the U.S. Education Department that state government is in compliance with the Trump administration’s view of civil rights law. The administration’s view is that “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” the slogan of leftist education, is unconstitutional becauseContinue reading “Trump isn’t what’s wrong with education in Connecticut”
Provide free school lunches but not with a dedicated tax
By CHRIS POWELL For the sake of argument, concede the premise of much of Connecticut state government policy — that people no longer need to be prepared financially to support their own children and that there is never any shame in thrusting that responsibility on the state. Patronage for higher education is one-sided campaign financingContinue reading “Provide free school lunches but not with a dedicated tax”
Patronage for higher education is one-sided campaign financing
By Chris Powell Even people skeptical of the bloat of the federal government may not have fully appreciated its discretionary political patronage until, upon his return to the presidency in January, Donald Trump began to reduce it. Who outside the universities themselves knew that Columbia University has been getting more than a billion dollars aContinue reading “Patronage for higher education is one-sided campaign financing”
Plenty of money for political patronage despite danger to state budget
By Chris Powell Is state government in Connecticut in a financial emergency because of its likely loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal assistance under the Trump administration? Most Democratic state legislators think so. Led by House Speaker Matt Ritter, they want to remove the “fiscal guardrails” that have restrained state government spendingContinue reading “Plenty of money for political patronage despite danger to state budget”
Welfare continues to hide in Connecticut’s electricity bills
By Chris Powell Why should Connecticut’s electricity grid be incorporated into the state’s welfare system? Why are electricity users in the state who pay their own electric bills being charged extra to subsidize discounts for electricity used by poor people who don’t pay? Why aren’t those subsidies financed by general taxation? Connecticut Democrats insist onContinue reading “Welfare continues to hide in Connecticut’s electricity bills”
Connecticut Democrats insist on open borders or secession
By Chris Powell Rage and indignation again are sweeping the state Capitol and the People’s Republic of New Haven, this time because the city’s “hometown airline,” Avelo, which has revived Tweed New Haven Airport, has contracted with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to fly illegal immigrants out of the country from Arizona. Rule ofContinue reading “Connecticut Democrats insist on open borders or secession”
Chris Powell column 