cxpowell

Stop Connecticut’s utility regulator from usurping tax power

By Chris Powell Even a few members of the General Assembly’s Democratic majority last week expressed alarm at the latest arrogance at the Public Utilities Control Authority, its raising electricity rates again. This time the increase is to repay Connecticut’s two largest electric utilities, Eversource and United Illuminating, for the millions of dollars the agencyContinue reading “Stop Connecticut’s utility regulator from usurping tax power”

Without an auditor for prisons, legislature should do the job

By Chris Powell People may never care much about the health of criminals serving prison time, nor about their treatment generally, even if most of them will be released eventually and many may have a barely suppressed desire to take revenge on the world. But Connecticut should start caring more than it has cared lately.Continue reading “Without an auditor for prisons, legislature should do the job”

Will Connecticut ever notice its many chronic offenders?

By Chris Powell According to government officials and politically correct journalism, crime in Connecticut is down. But a dedicated band of chronic criminals is trying to keep up the appearances of a crime wave, even if elected officials refuse to notice. According to police in New Haven, two weekends ago a 49-year-old man hijacked aContinue reading “Will Connecticut ever notice its many chronic offenders?”

Connecticut isn’t ready to prosper; and stop taxing electricity

By Chris Powell When federal census data showed Connecticut’s population increasing by about 57,000 in 2021 and 2022, Governor Lamont construed it as great news, evidence of the state’s prosperity under his administration, a remarkable contrast with the population losses of nearby states. But the other day the U.S. Census Bureau acknowledged that the populationContinue reading “Connecticut isn’t ready to prosper; and stop taxing electricity”

‘Smart phones’ aren’t why Connecticut’s students are dumb

By Chris Powell Schools increasingly are prohibiting students from operating or even carrying “smart phones” — internet-equipped telephones — in class. Some schools are investing in special pouches in which students must lock their phones in school, being able to unlock them only with a special device made available when they are leaving. At $25Continue reading “‘Smart phones’ aren’t why Connecticut’s students are dumb”

Repulsive as Trump may be, his remarks weren’t racist

By Chris Powell For the sake of argument stipulate that Donald Trump is the most repulsive creature to walk the Earth since the dinosaurs. But that doesn’t mean he is always wrong or that his adversaries are always right. Contrary to what his adversaries are trying to construe from what they consider Trump’s repulsiveness, itContinue reading “Repulsive as Trump may be, his remarks weren’t racist”

Murphy’s silly tip to Democrats: Claim success on illegal immigration

By Chris Powell Identifying the weakest feature of one’s product and then promoting the heck out of it is said to be the first principle of cynical advertising. Connecticut U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, running for re-election, seemed to grab for it last week as he urged fellow Democrats to stop cowering amid illegal immigration. RespondingContinue reading “Murphy’s silly tip to Democrats: Claim success on illegal immigration”

Murphy’s money for nothing only makes poverty worse

By Chris Powell Running for re-election, Connecticut U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy proposes that the federal government spend $4 billion over four years to provide free summer camp to poor children. Connecticut might get $40 million of that. “Outside experiences, adventure experiences, summer experiences where you get to improve your socialization skills, where you have yourContinue reading “Murphy’s money for nothing only makes poverty worse”

Bears become less cute; and Central blows $763,000

By Chris Powell As their appearances in Connecticut become more frequent and damaging, bears become less cute and amusing. According to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, in the last two weeks: — A woman sitting in her back yard in Cheshire was attacked by a bear that snuck up on her fromContinue reading “Bears become less cute; and Central blows $763,000”