By CHRIS POWELL At his federal trial this month was Konstantinos Diamantis, who once doubled as deputy state budget director and chief of state government’s school construction office, really trying to defend himself against bribery and extortion charges, or was he actually auditioning for a revival of the Broadway musical “Fiorello”? Hamden’s leaders come outContinue reading “Corrupt ex-official’s trial evokes musical comedy”
Tag Archives: Gov. Ned Lamont
‘This is what democracy looks like’? God help us!
By CHRIS POWELL Participants at last Saturday’s “No Kings” rally at the state Capitol chanted smugly, “This is what democracy looks like.” Many were dressed in Halloween costumes. Mayor feigns dismay about employee’s reinstatement Church schools might save some city kids — is that bad? Romance of rail travel won’t ever pay the bills in ConnecticutContinue reading “‘This is what democracy looks like’? God help us!”
Does Connecticut need a governor who is more than a nice guy?
By CHRIS POWELL Polls have found that Governor Lamont is well liked, and it’s hard to recall any incident during his 6½ years as governor when he got really nasty in public. But a recent poll showed ambivalence about whether he should seek a third term next year. How much do illegals cost? And limitContinue reading “Does Connecticut need a governor who is more than a nice guy?”
How much do illegals cost? And limit state treasurer’s power
By CHRIS POWELL The open borders catastrophe the Biden administration inflicted on the United States has caused enormous pain — to the legal residents who have been victims of crime committed by illegal immigrants as well as to the illegal immigrants themselves, millions of whom now face overdue enforcement of immigration law and possible deportation. Continue reading “How much do illegals cost? And limit state treasurer’s power”
Trump aids Larson’s campaign; and Lamont’s disaster at PURA
By CHRIS POWELL Barring some accident, scandal, or health problem, U.S. Rep. John B. Larson probably can count on President Trump to carry him through next year’s Democratic primary in Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District. Let the Sun set elsewhere; we have enough basketball Postal service remains too quaint in Connecticut Build housing without sprawl; andContinue reading “Trump aids Larson’s campaign; and Lamont’s disaster at PURA”
Let the Sun set elsewhere; we have enough basketball
By CHRIS POWELL Why are Governor Lamont and state Treasurer Erick Russell so enthusiastic about using state pension money to make state government a minority owner of the Mohegan tribe’s Connecticut Sun women’s basketball team and move it to Hartford from the tribe’s reservation in rural eastern Connecticut? Postal service remains too quaint in ConnecticutContinue reading “Let the Sun set elsewhere; we have enough basketball”
Build housing without sprawl; and are schools sanctuaries?
By CHRIS POWELL Supposedly there was going to be a special session of the General Assembly in the fall to arrange a compromise on the housing legislation passed by liberal Democratic legislators during this year’s regular session but vetoed by Governor Lamont. Fall is here but neither the governor nor the legislature has issued suchContinue reading “Build housing without sprawl; and are schools sanctuaries?”
Remote work in state government isn’t best for the public
By CHRIS POWELL Working remotely by computer, internet, and telephone can make people more productive, sparing them the burden of commuting and the social distractions of the office. But working remotely can reduce productivity as well. It exposes workers to the distractions of home life, encourages them to slack off, since no supervisors or colleaguesContinue reading “Remote work in state government isn’t best for the public”
Don’t turn state pension money into a political slush fund
By CHRIS POWELL Despite some recent improvement, Connecticut’s state employee and teacher pension accounts are still underfunded by billions of dollars. Yet Governor Lamont wants to start using them as political slush funds. Connecticut Democrats divert more public money to patronage Yale has become too big for its property tax break Awful Trump is rightContinue reading “Don’t turn state pension money into a political slush fund”
By raising minimum wage, Connecticut admits failure
By CHRIS POWELL Governor Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, and state Labor Commissioner Dante Bartolomeo last week announced gleefully that Connecticut’s minimum wage will increase on Jan. 1 by 3.6%, from $16.35 to $16.94 per hour, being tied by state law to the federal employment cost index. The justifications they offered were not persuasive. Indeed,Continue reading “By raising minimum wage, Connecticut admits failure”
Chris Powell column 