By CHRIS POWELL Speaking to the General Assembly last week, Governor Lamont felt obliged to rile up members of his party’s big majority against immigration law enforcement. Referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the governor said: “ICE, everywhere you go uninvited, violence follows. Go home. We’re keeping Connecticut safe without you.” Democratic legislators stoodContinue reading “Lamont thrills Democrats with nullification rhetoric”
Author Archives: cxpowell
Governor can bribe voters but it won’t lessen poverty
By CHRIS POWELL Governor Lamont’s address this week welcoming the General Assembly back to work was reminiscent of the old lament about election years — that people in a democracy are easily bribed with their own money. Serious school could force kids to cut social media time Why have Democrats failed to reduce Yale’s bigContinue reading “Governor can bribe voters but it won’t lessen poverty”
Serious schooling could force kids to cut social media time
By CHRIS POWELL Kids always have spent too much time doing unproductive stuff for mere amusement. It’s called being a kid. Governor Lamont and Attorney General William Tong think they can change this by legislation restricting social media. They condemn “youth social media addiction,” which they say is shortening the attention spans of young peopleContinue reading “Serious schooling could force kids to cut social media time”
Why have Democrats failed to reduce Yale’s big tax break?
By CHRIS POWELL How much is Yale University worth to New Haven, the state, and the country? Yale is the city’s largest employer and, while its educational property is exempt from property taxes, the university is still the city’s third-largest taxpayer. Complete immigration reform is easy, and Democrats will reject it Secret payments are corruptContinue reading “Why have Democrats failed to reduce Yale’s big tax break?”
Complete immigration reform is easy, and Democrats will reject it
By CHRIS POWELL Whether the fatal shootings of Rene Good and Alex Pretti by immigration agents in Minneapolis were justified or excusable can be determined only by independent investigation, which, unfortunately, the Trump administration seems unlikely to permit. Secret payments are corrupt even when UConn teams win Medicaid could be reduced; and deliver the voterContinue reading “Complete immigration reform is easy, and Democrats will reject it”
Secret payments are corrupt even when UConn teams win
By CHRIS POWELL Secret payments are contradictions of open, accountable, and democratic government. They are the essence of government corruption. Yet last year the General Assembly and Governor Lamont authorized such secrecy. Why? Because it was sought by the University of Connecticut, which is often considered the fourth branch of state government and entitled toContinue reading “Secret payments are corrupt even when UConn teams win”
Medicaid could be reduced; and deliver the voter rolls
By CHRIS POWELL State Comptroller Sean Scanlon warns that Connecticut’s state budget is in danger of being devoured by its Medicaid program, whose costs are soaring even as federal aid to the program is being reduced. To ensure that the state’s approximately one million Medicaid recipients maintain their health insurance coverage, Scanlon says “every optionContinue reading “Medicaid could be reduced; and deliver the voter rolls”
Lamont’s ‘unfinished business’ needn’t wait for another term
By CHRIS POWELL Being governor is a tough job, especially in Connecticut, where thousands have their hands out and the more they’re given, the more they want and expect. The state has not prospered particularly during Ned Lamont’s two terms, but given his party’s ravenous constituencies, things probably would be worse under any other Democrat.Continue reading “Lamont’s ‘unfinished business’ needn’t wait for another term”
Economizing in schools is illegal; and four years of paid leave drag on
By CHRIS POWELL Hamden Mayor Adam Sendroff says the town is in “a financial crisis.” Indeed, the town long has been struggling financially. So the mayor has asked town departments to reduce their budgets by 5%. Connecticut’s minimum wage increase indicates worsening poverty ‘Affordability’ doesn’t apply to cost of state employees Mayor panders to theContinue reading “Economizing in schools is illegal; and four years of paid leave drag on”
Connecticut’s minimum wage increase indicates worsening poverty
By CHRIS POWELL Connecticut’s minimum wage, having been indexed to inflation since 2019, rose to $16.94 per hour this month and was celebrated by Governor Lamont and state Labor Commissioner Dante Bartolomeo. ‘Affordability’ doesn’t apply to cost of state employees Mayor panders to the mob, inviting more insurrection Minneapolis incident distracts from the big underlyingContinue reading “Connecticut’s minimum wage increase indicates worsening poverty”
Chris Powell column 