If cows will get tax credits, all journalists should farm

By CHRIS POWELL Connecticut’s dairy farmers, long having suffered in a marginal business and having been reduced in numbers from about 800 in the 1970s to only 80 today, say they are on the brink of failure and require a subsidy from state government to survive. Governor argues weakly against voter registration ID proposal MisconductContinue reading “If cows will get tax credits, all journalists should farm”

Republican senators top governor’s tax cut by $1 billion

By CHRIS POWELL If Connecticut’s next state budget can be considered a sort of poker game of tax cutting, Governor Lamont has opened with $500 million and the minority Republicans in the state Senate have seen his $500 million and raised him $1 billion. But it’s not as hopeful for taxpayers as it looks. MoreContinue reading “Republican senators top governor’s tax cut by $1 billion”

‘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”

Hartford schools obstruct investigation of graduate’s illiteracy

By Chris Powell Fifty years ago, during the bad old days of the state Department of Children and Families, when it was called the Department of Children and Youth Services, a clumsy mechanism of unaccountability was used by the political hacks who ran the agency. (For years the only qualification of the department’s commissioner wasContinue reading “Hartford schools obstruct investigation of graduate’s illiteracy”

Mistakenly doubled salary explains state government

By Chris Powell Miracle of miracles, Connecticut’s Correction Department has arranged to recover a total of nearly $164,000 spent in 54 mistaken salary overpayments to an employee who was the highlight of a report by the state auditors in August.  Correction Commissioner Angel Quiros disclosed the repayment plan the other day in a letter toContinue reading “Mistakenly doubled salary explains state government”

A Connecticut fairy tale; and hiding juvenile crime

By Chris Powell While few people were looking, and while most who were were too deceitful to explain or afraid to speak out, the General Assembly passed and Governor Lamont signed a law requiring public schools to distribute free feminine hygiene products in at least one male restroom. In anticipation of the law’s date ofContinue reading “A Connecticut fairy tale; and hiding juvenile crime”