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Cato founder: Focus on liberty, cut spending
“At some point this debate is not about spending in the abstract. It’s about what the proper role of government is,” said Ed Crane, founder and president of the Cato Institute, at a luncheon held April 14 by the Yankee Institute for Public Policy. “Somebody has to...
1,126 Connecticut Employees Earn More Than Governor
[This article appeared in Budget & Tax News, published by the Heartland Institute, on April 25, 2011.) Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy took office in January knowing he had to balance a budget deficit in excess of $3 billion. Malloy, the former Mayor of Stamford...
Himes calls GOP debt-ceiling demands absurd
Congressman Jim Himes told a group of Hartford business leaders Thursday that Congress is “playing with fire” by debating whether to increase the debt ceiling. Himes, D-4th, said hesitation puts the full faith and credit of the U.S. government in jeopardy. “We have to...
Bridgeport annexes part of Trumbull to build school at record-breaking cost
Update your GPS. Bridgeport just got bigger. Forty-eight acres formerly in Trumbull are now in Bridgeport. Gov. Dannel Malloy signed Senate Bill 1238, a special act changing the municipal-boundary line between Bridgeport and Trumbull, Saturday after the General...
Cato Institute founder: America is exceptional
“One thing I feel strongly about is American exceptionalism,” said Ed Crane, founder and president of the Cato Institute, at a luncheon held Thursday by the Yankee Institute for Public Policy. Crane said he objects to President Barack Obama’s view of American...
State employee retirement accounts get 160% match
The rich benefits of state-employee pension plans are well known. Many critics suggest they should be changed from defined-benefit to defined-contribution plans. Connecticut already has an optional defined-contribution plan, similar to a 401(k), higher education...
Legislature considers limits on employer free speech
The Connecticut General Assembly is considering a bill that would prevent employers from talking about religious or political topics with their employees, the two forms of speech most protected by the First Amendment. The labor and public employees committee has...
CPAs: Connecticut is already bankrupt
Connecticut’s accountants have noticed an unhappy pattern. The state is: 50th in debt per person 48th in debt as a share of personal income 49th in funding of pensions 49th in amount of working capital The Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants is running...
State snags $20 million from UConn malpractice fund
The University of Connecticut Health Center malpractice account is underfunded with only enough money to cover one-third of the estimated claims against the state-owned hospital. Two years ago, this underfunding would have been illegal. The state required the health...
SustiNet to cost at least $62 million while 2010 change will save $286 million
SustiNet, the ambitious state plan to bring everyone with state-purchased insurance under one umbrella organization, will cost at least $62 million, according to a study funded by the state’s insurance companies. The report, completed by Hay Group of Arlington,...