By Chris Powell Connecticut’s top elected officials and members of Congress, all Democrats, excel at criticizing the private sector and the state’s regulated utilities. Indeed, there is always much to criticize, as last week state Attorney General William Tong criticized Connecticut Natural Gas for earning more money than authorized by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.Continue reading “Murder in a state prison but who really cares?”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
State Education Department belatedly notices Hartford school disaster
By Chris Powell At last the state Education Department seems to have noticed that long after Hartford’s school system was designated an “alliance district” and given extra state money to execute a special plan to improve student performance, performance has not improved and the school system itself is falling apart, with a $40 million budgetContinue reading “State Education Department belatedly notices Hartford school disaster”
Despite fawning lawyers, courts can be corrupt
By Chris Powell According to the Connecticut Bar Association, criticism of the courts has gone too far, particularly criticism of the New York State court that convicted former President Donald J. Trump of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. In a letter sent this month to the association’s members, its top three officers, includingContinue reading “Despite fawning lawyers, courts can be corrupt”
Coach’s loyalty comes easy; and a one-man crime wave
By Chris Powell Connecticut is not just thrilled that UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley has declined a lucrative offer from the Los Angeles Lakers. People are also moved by the expressions of loyalty from the coach and his wife, Andrea — not just loyalty to the state but, as Mrs. Hurley noted in aContinue reading “Coach’s loyalty comes easy; and a one-man crime wave”
‘Fair share’ won’t persuade suburbs on more housing
By Chris Powell As much as Connecticut badly needs more housing to reduce the cost of living in the state, it’s not surprising that the state law that was enacted last year to spur housing construction is accomplishing nothing. The law requires only that a study be made of how much more housing each municipalityContinue reading “‘Fair share’ won’t persuade suburbs on more housing”
Easier jobs make Dan, Geno better liked than legislators
By Chris Powell Celebrating Dan Hurley’s decision this week to keep coaching the men’s basketball team at the University of Connecticut, state House Speaker Matt Ritter confirmed a thought previously reserved for cynics. That is, UConn’s success with basketball is state government’s great rationalization for giving the university whatever it wants financially year after year.Continue reading “Easier jobs make Dan, Geno better liked than legislators”
Flagpole propaganda; and hate on her sleeve
By Chris Powell Wethersfield last week gave Connecticut the defining lesson about why only government’s own flags should fly over government buildings and on government property. A member of the Republican minority on Wethersfield’s Town Council proposed to raise the “thin blue line” flag at Town Hall to honor state Trooper Aaron Pelletier, who hadContinue reading “Flagpole propaganda; and hate on her sleeve”
Firing restores accountability; and governor boosts ‘ranked choice’
By Chris Powell By firing TaShun Bowden-Lewis, the state’s chief public defender and the first Black one, Connecticut’s formerly obscure Public Defender Services Commission has struck a belated blow for the public’s sovereignty over its own institutions. But it almost didn’t happen. Last year the commission was upset by Bowden-Lewis’ insubordination, whereupon she accused theContinue reading “Firing restores accountability; and governor boosts ‘ranked choice’”
Vermont rivals Connecticut in ‘climate change’ craziness
By Chris Powell While it may be hard to believe, Vermont seems to have gotten ahead of Connecticut in “climate change” craziness. The Green Mountain State has just passed a law allowing itself to charge big oil and gas companies for the cost to the state of the “greenhouse gases” emitted by use of theContinue reading “Vermont rivals Connecticut in ‘climate change’ craziness”
Only governor can achieve health center’s solvency
By Chris Powell For $504,000 Governor Lamont has just purchased a consultant’s report putting in print what nearly everyone involved with public policy already knew about the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington and what anyone else might have deduced on his own. That is, if the place is to stop losing tens ofContinue reading “Only governor can achieve health center’s solvency”
Chris Powell column 