By CHRIS POWELL Small but feisty, the Republican minority in the General Assembly made a big stink the other day about the Democratic majority’s deciding to terminate at midnight a public hearing on vaccine legislation. Hundreds of people who wanted to speak at the hearing lost their opportunity. Why should Connecticut waive law enforcement anywhere?Continue reading “Overlong legislative hearings are for venting, not persuading”
Author Archives: cxpowell
Why should Connecticut waive law enforcement anywhere?
By CHRIS POWELL Hearings of the General Assembly on proposed legislation almost always could use more critical questions, especially when such questions are not merely politically inconvenient but politically incorrect. Suspension of fuel taxes won’t really save any money Public schools couldn’t meet new home-school standards Greens would cripple democracy in guise of making stateContinue reading “Why should Connecticut waive law enforcement anywhere?”
Suspension of fuel taxes won’t really save money
By CHRIS POWELL Don’t make too much fun of Governor Lamont’s idea about suspending Connecticut’s fuel taxes while prices are soaring because of the war in the Middle East. But the idea isn’t such a boon either. Public schools couldn’t meet new home-school standards Greens would cripple democracy in guise of making state cleaner StudentsContinue reading “Suspension of fuel taxes won’t really save money”
Public schools couldn’t meet new home-school standards
By CHRIS POWELL In principle there’s nothing wrong with the basics of the home-schooling legislation that got a public hearing before the General Assembly this week. The bill would require people to notify local officials in person when they withdraw their children from public school to home-school them, to bring their home-schooled children to someContinue reading “Public schools couldn’t meet new home-school standards”
Greens would cripple democracy in guise of making state cleaner
By CHRIS POWELL Connecticut’s so-called environmentalists are following the state’s employee unions in contriving new ways of destroying what is left of democracy and accountability in state and municipal government. They want to put a “green” amendment in the state Constitution to guarantee everyone the right to a clean and healthy environment. Students visiting stateContinue reading “Greens would cripple democracy in guise of making state cleaner”
Students visiting state Capitol insist money equals education
By CHRIS POWELL High school students were brought to the state Capitol last week to rally with teachers, school administrators, and others on government’s payroll in support of big increases in state financial aid to municipal school systems. Democrats would nullify more; and parks won’t save cities Just another week in Hartford as state legislatorsContinue reading “Students visiting state Capitol insist money equals education”
Democrats would nullify more; and parks won’t save cities
By CHRIS POWELL Most Democratic officials in Connecticut insist that theirs is not a “sanctuary state,” a state that obstructs enforcement of federal immigration law, even as nearly every week they call for more such obstruction. Just another week in Hartford as state legislators look away Federal aid isn’t really free; and stop exalting abortionContinue reading “Democrats would nullify more; and parks won’t save cities”
Just another week in Hartford as state legislators look away
By CHRIS POWELL Last week Hartford was the scene of three horrible incidents. First a 17-year-old honor student at Hall High School in West Hartford was shot and killed and another young man was shot and critically wounded at around 2 in the morning in the heart of downtown, near the People’s Bank Arena. PoliceContinue reading “Just another week in Hartford as state legislators look away”
Federal aid really isn’t free; and stop exalting abortion
By CHRIS POWELL Commenting a few weeks ago about the public water system disasters from failed pipes in Waterbury, Connecticut U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said, “There is no free water, just like there is no free lunch.” Can Connecticut Democrats rise above identity politics? Throwing money at schools hides the learning problem Hartford’s new curriculum:Continue reading “Federal aid really isn’t free; and stop exalting abortion”
Can Connecticut Democrats rise above identity politics?
By CHRIS POWELL Why are some people Democrats and others Republicans? Personal identities have always had something to do with it. Some people inherit party affiliations from parents. Many Democrats come from the working and government classes. Many Republicans come from the propertied and professional classes. Throwing money at schools hides the learning problem Hartford’sContinue reading “Can Connecticut Democrats rise above identity politics?”
Chris Powell column 