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Martin Looney

Politics
CT Earned Income Tax Credit To Increase: Here's Who's Affected CT Earned Income Tax Credit To Increase: Here's Who's Affected
CT Earned Income Tax Credit To Increase: Here's Who's Affected Thousands of low-to-moderate income working individuals and families in Connecticut will see a significant boost in their state income tax credits under the newly signed state budget. Gov. Ned Lamont announced that the Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit is scheduled to increase from 23 percent of the federal credit to 30.5 percent this year. In total, the new budget will result in an additional $40 million being delivered to the nearly 195,000 households that are eligible for the tax credit, for a total of $158 million. The Connecticut Earned Income Tax credit was created in 2011. The n…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
CT State Senate Votes To End Religious Exemptions For School Vaccines CT State Senate Votes To End Religious Exemptions For School Vaccines
CT State Senate Votes To End Religious Exemptions For School Vaccines The Connecticut State Senate has passed a bill that would remove the religious exemption for childhood vaccinations in schools. In a 22 to 14 vote, the Senate passed the controversial bill, which reportedly drew huge crowds of thousands to the State Capitol on Tuesday, April 27 of parents and concerned citizens who were against the legislation and opposed the removal of religious exemptions. Lawmakers have stated that a highly contagious disease could quickly spread throughout a school system without vaccinations, while arguing that some parents have abused the exemption by using it for non…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Capitol Hill Riots Spark Outrage From Connecticut Political Leaders Capitol Hill Riots Spark Outrage From Connecticut Political Leaders
Capitol Hill Riots Spark Outrage From Connecticut Political Leaders Elected officials in Connecticut condemned the chaos that reigned supreme this week as Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building to show their support for his refusal to accept the results of November's presidential election. Following the riots in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Jan. 6, some of the Nutmeg State's top officials spoke out against the riots, during which four people died and dozens were taken into custody by police. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy expressed his outrage over what he called "a violent, fringe group of traitors to our nation who are not going away so long as Tru…

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by Zak Failla
News
More 'F's Than 'A's - Connecticut Politicians Graded On Educational Support More 'F's Than 'A's - Connecticut Politicians Graded On Educational Support
More 'F's Than 'A's - Connecticut Politicians Graded On Educational Support The Connecticut Educational Association has issued its annual report card on members of the state House and Senate - and the grades seem to have fallen along party lines. The CEA, which lobbies for educational funding and reform, gave Democrats high marks for their work on education issues and reserved the bottom end of the spectrum for Republicans. In all, out of Connecticut's 187 state politicians, 37 earned 'A's and 51 received 'F's. The annual report card considers whether legislators were supportive of education funding, unions, professional development, standards, and school safety. …

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by Kristin Palpini
Politics
COVID-19: Connecticut Advisory Board Working On Models To Selectively Reopen State COVID-19: Connecticut Advisory Board Working On Models To Selectively Reopen State
Covid-19: Connecticut Advisory Board Working On Models To Selectively Reopen State A collection of health, business, workforce, and education experts in Connecticut has been tasked with providing recommendations for when the state can start to begin the process of reopening non-essential businesses amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. The recommendations will be completed sometime before Wednesday, May 20. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced that a panel of experts will serve on the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group organized by AdvanceCT that will offer advice about reopening the state. 
Lamont said the advisory group “will consult with his administration and…

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by Zak Failla
News
Lamont Drops Plan For Truck Tolls On CT Highways Lamont Drops Plan For Truck Tolls On CT Highways
Lamont Drops Plan For Truck Tolls On CT Highways Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has abandoned his plan for installing toll gantries for trucks on state highways. State senators had been scheduled to vote on Lamont’s proposal this week, but reportedly stated they needed more time, prompting the governor to announce that the state would be ditching the plan. “I’ve got a Legislature that doesn’t want to make a choice,” Lamont said at a news conference. “I think it’s time to take a pause.  "Don’t say I need another week. I’ve heard that for a year. I’ve lost patience. We’re going to fix our transportation plan and will work with anybody wh…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
2020 Could Be Year Pot Becomes Legal In Connecticut, Some Lawmakers Say 2020 Could Be Year Pot Becomes Legal In Connecticut, Some Lawmakers Say
2020 Could Be Year Pot Becomes Legal In Connecticut, Some Lawmakers Say 2020 may be a green year in Connecticut, as lawmakers push to legalize recreational marijuana. With pot becoming legal in an increasing number of states across the country, Connecticut reportedly may be next in line as the stigma surrounding marijuana consumption continues to change. According to a CT Insider report, lawmakers Martin Looney and Joe Aresimowicz are confident that the drug will be fully legalized by the end of the year, though details are still scant about what legalization may look like in the Nutmeg State. “I think if a flat-out 'should we legalize?' bill goes up in the Ho…

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by Zak Failla
News
CT Lawmaker Calls For Officials To Hit Brakes On Tolling Bills CT Lawmaker Calls For Officials To Hit Brakes On Tolling Bills
CT Lawmaker Calls For Officials To Hit Brakes On Tolling Bills One Connecticut lawmaker is urging the state to hit the brakes after the Connecticut General Assembly’s Transportation Committee approved several tolling bills. Last week, the Committee passed Gov. Ned Lamont’s and two separate committee plans by a vote of 23-13, which includes installing tolls on Interstates 91, 95, 84 and along parts of the Merritt and Wilbur Cross parkways. The tolls are expected to generate an estimated $800 million in revenue annually. In total, up to 53 potential toll-collecting gantries are expected to be erected, down from the originally proposed 82 gantry model. H…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Proposed Bill To Consolidate Smaller School Districts Causes Concerns In Fairfield County Proposed Bill To Consolidate Smaller School Districts Causes Concerns In Fairfield County
Proposed Bill To Consolidate Smaller School Districts Causes Concerns In Fairfield County Connecticut lawmakers and parents have expressed mixed emotions as the state considers legislation to consolidate some of the area’s smallest school districts. Introduced by State Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, the bill would create a commission charged with developing a plan to consolidate districts in communities with less than 40,000 people. The bill reportedly is “to create a more efficient educational system.” If approved, the bill would become effective as of July 2021, though it hasn’t garnered wide-sweeping support from local residents or elected officials. It could pot…

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by Zak Failla