by Suzanne Bates | Jan 22, 2015 | Features, General, Politics, State Budget, Taxes & Spending
The state’s Compensation Commission must have been inspired by the generosity Gov. Dannel Malloy exhibited last month when he gave dozens of senior officials 12 percent raises, and pushed several of his top commissioners’ salaries over $200,000. The commission...
by Suzanne Bates | Jun 19, 2014 | Features, General, Politics, Unions
Connecticut’s public employee unions are big players in the state’s elections, spending millions on their political operations, which may affect 2014 races. The unions are a highly-focused, highly-motivated interest group when it comes to state-level elections,...
by Suzanne Bates | Jul 25, 2013 | Education, Features, General, State Budget
Connecticut is spending millions on so-called “phantom students” because it pays for some students twice – a practice that would end if the state instead “followed the child” with its education dollars. School districts are paid based on the number of school-aged...
by Suzanne Bates | Jul 10, 2013 | Education, Features, General, State Budget
State officials recently approved borrowing $80 million to renovate Weaver High School, with Hartford picking up the tab for another $20 million, even though three-quarters of its desks are empty. The current 370,000 square-foot school building, which sits on a 29...
by Suzanne Bates | Jul 8, 2013 | Education, Features, General, State Budget
If you happen to be driving across Hartford around the time school lets out you may find yourself behind a full-size passenger van with a bright yellow sign that says “Carrying School Children” emblazoned on the back. Many of these vans are carrying children to and...
