By Chris Powell Since it would widen state government’s “fiscal guardrails” enough to increase spending by 3.8% in its first year and 4.6% in its second, Governor Lamont’s budget proposal for 2025-26 has plenty of room for winners. Who are they? A ‘moral budget’ needs more than pious poses Ending poverty isn’t the aim ofContinue reading “State employees win again, electricity customers lose”
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A ‘moral budget’ needs more than pious poses
By Chris Powell Members of the clergy held a press conference at the state Capitol this week to protest restraint in state government spending, the infamous “fiscal guardrails.” They called for a “moral budget” — that is, a lot more spending on social services, schools, and housing. Ending poverty isn’t the aim of state policy;Continue reading “A ‘moral budget’ needs more than pious poses”
Ending poverty isn’t the aim of state policy; enlarging it is
By Chris Powell Nearly everyone on state government’s payroll, directly or indirectly, is beseeching Governor Lamont and the General Assembly to loosen the “fiscal guardrails” that have constrained spending and have allowed state pension funds to grow slightly faster than their obligations. Stewart goes for governor with giddy superficiality Trump and Democrats trade license forContinue reading “Ending poverty isn’t the aim of state policy; enlarging it is”
Stewart goes for governor with giddy superficiality
By Chris Powell Outlining last week her potential candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor, New Britain’s Republican mayor, Erin Stewart, said that while her likely Democratic opponent, Governor Lamont, is a nice guy, “he’s not evoking excitement in anyone.” But hadn’t Connecticut just had too much excitement from the first few days of theContinue reading “Stewart goes for governor with giddy superficiality”
Trump and Democrats trade license for lawlessness
By Chris Powell What exactly was President Trump up to this week when he tried to impose a “temporary suspension” on federal government grant payments? His people said it was to make sure that such payments align with the policies of his new administration. ‘Intervention’ in Bridgeport is just cover for a bailout Alphabet peopleContinue reading “Trump and Democrats trade license for lawlessness”
‘Intervention’ in Bridgeport is just cover for a bailout
By Chris Powell Last week Governor Lamont and his education commissioner, Charlene Russell-Tucker, went to Bridgeport to discuss what news organizations described as state government’s “intervention” in the impoverished city’s horribly performing schools. But the “intervention” was mainly for show. For the State Board of Education’s three-part plan for the city’s schools practically proclaims thatContinue reading “‘Intervention’ in Bridgeport is just cover for a bailout”
Alphabet people needn’t be so terrified in Connecticut
By CHRIS POWELL Many people are terrified by Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, but perhaps none more so than members of sexual minorities, who lately have commandeered nine letters — a third of the alphabet — to construct an acronym with which to represent themselves. The other day an activist among Connecticut’s alphabet peopleContinue reading “Alphabet people needn’t be so terrified in Connecticut”
Could Lamont ask Trump for help with electricity prices?
By Chris Powell When the General Assembly reconvened two weeks ago, Governor Lamont spoke at length about Connecticut’s outrageously high electricity prices and said that to bring electricity prices down the state needed access to more natural gas and more Canadian hydro-electric power. Connecticut’s Democrats don’t understand their working-class problem City mayors and educators seekContinue reading “Could Lamont ask Trump for help with electricity prices?”
Connecticut’s Democrats don’t understand their working-class problem
By Chris Powell With their party having lost much support from the working class in last November’s election, many Democratic state legislators in Connecticut think that a good way of making amends is to give unemployment compensation to strikers. City mayors and educators seek more money for what keeps failing To regrow Connecticut’s cities, firstContinue reading “Connecticut’s Democrats don’t understand their working-class problem”
City mayors and educators seek more money for what keeps failing
By Chris Powell Governor Lamont welcomed the General Assembly back to work two weeks ago with a remarkable exhortation. “We have a longer legislative session this cycle,” the governor said, “giving us an opportunity to get in the weeds, lift up the hood — not always arguing about more money but better results.” To regrowContinue reading “City mayors and educators seek more money for what keeps failing”
Chris Powell column 