Friday, May 18, 2012
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ends "Blue Laws" in ceremony at Enfield Town Hall.
Connecticut's archaic "Blue Laws" prohibiting liquor stores from opening on Sundays ended Thursday, with the signing of legislation that allows those retailers the opportunity to open seven days a week if they so choose. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed the bill into law in the Town Council Chambers at Enfield Town Hall. Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, state Sen. John Kissel, Rep. Kathy Tallarita and Rep. David Kiner were among the legislators present for the ceremony. The bill allows liquor permittees to sell alcohol from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, as well as on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, and on Mondays following a Christmas or New Year's Day holiday that falls on a Sunday. The governor said he chose to stage the signing …
And, Himes applauds House passage of Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act.
LIEBERMAN: The senator released a statement Thursday in response to the U.S. Postal Service's decision to delay closing mail processing plants until 2013. “I appreciate that the Postal Service is moving forward with its downsizing in a way that is consistent with the Senate-passed 21st Century Postal Service Act," he said. "The PMG assures us that no mail processing centers will be closed this year, which means the House still has time to pass a bill so it can be reconciled with the Senate-passed bill." HIMES: The congressman applauded on Wednesday the House passage of legislation that will reduce income tax and reporting burdens for Connecticut residents who occasionally commute to other states. The Mobile Workforce State Income Tax …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Stamford Board of Finance set the Mill Rate during Wednesday night's meeting at a $17.79 average.
A $17.89 B $17.49 C $16.73 CS $17.08 Personal Property $17.89 Average Stamford's Board of Finance approved a $17.79 Mill Rate Monday. The levy is expected to raise $432,315,482 for the city's operating budget next year, and some reserves. There was lengthy discussion between members about what funds they would include and what they would pass on, like $300,000 in the contingency fund at the request of Mayor Michael Pavia for the library or funding for his fire plan. After one particularly lengthy discussion on a point of funding, board member Kathleen Murphy explained her thoughts that it was no longer the time to be having these discussions. "We don't have a lot of money here," Murphy said. "We are in a tough economic environment. It's …
And, DeLauro and Murphy oppose Republican plans for domestic violence act.
BLUMENTHAL: The senator was one of a few legislators honored by the Sports Fan Coalition for supporting legislation to eliminate the FCC's sports blackout rule on Tuesday night. The other recipients were Commissioner Robert McDowell, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Reps. Joe Barton (R-Texas), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.). Blumenthal tweeted about the awards ceremony and posted this photo: "Honored to be Sports Fans Coalition’s Most Valuable Lawmaker for work on sports blackouts w/ @DavidGoodfriend @brifred http://bit.ly/Jf6F4j" LIEBERMAN: The senator released a response to the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee's approval of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
An update on the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee as John Blankley prepares to challenge 6-time incumbent Rep. Livvy Floren, a seat the represents portions of Stamford.
Races for Greenwich's delegation in Hartford will be just that — a race. For the first time in recent memory, residents will have a choice in the November election as the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee will field four candidates to challenge the dominating Republican delegation. DTC Chair Frank Farricker said Tuesday, "The really important thing is that for the first time we are running candidates for every position and I think that redistricting has leveled the playing field and that will be a good thing for us." And Farricker ruled out any run for himself. Earlier this year, he said he was considering a run for the 150th District House seat held by Republican Lile Gibbons who is retiring. "I am in the middle of buying a new …
In what could be the last time they get to vote on issues they will present to the Board of Representatives, the Charter Revisions Committee met Tuesday night following a public hearing on a report of their recommendations.
Meeting in a room occupied mostly by firefighters, the Charter Revision Committee took to the 4th floor cafeteria of the Stamford Government Center Tuesday night to hear from the public. Following the meeting, they took to the Republic Caucus Room to discuss what they'd just heard and open the floor for amendments or re-voting on various issues that would be included in their recommendation report. That report will be issued to the Board of Representatives by next week's deadline of Wednesday, May 23, 2012. Lots of issues were covered by the few that chose to take to the podium in front of the committee, including the controversial unified fire plan, the proposal to institute term limits for the mayoral position and limiting elected …
And, Lieberman talks with CNN about the Taliban.
BLUMENTHAL: In an interview with The Daily Campus, the senator expressed support for the Know Before You Owe Private Lender Act, which would require private lenders to inform prospective student borrowers of all of their loan options, "so people don’t leap into committing." LIEBERMAN: Following the death of a Afghan peacemaker in Kabul on Sunday, the senator told CNN that the Taliban "is not interested in peace talks," according to GovExec.com. Lieberman also said that the U.S. should "continue to put pressure" on the Taliban to engage in these talks. HIMES: The congressman used Twitter to ponder what's coming this week in Congress' 2012 session: "Back in DC. Last week, GOP saved a non-existent $20 bn from TBTF banks and eliminated a …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Blankley hopes to unseat the 6-term Republican in the 149th District covering Greenwich, Stamford.
John Blankley, the Greenwich Democrat who lost the First Selectman's race last November by a nearly 3 to 1 margin, announced Tuesday that he "intends to run as the Democratic candidate for District 149 in the Connecticut State House of Representatives." Blankley will be facing 6-term incumbent Livvy Floren, the Republican who has been representing the district that includes North Greenwich and parts of Stamford. Blankley, a Greenwich businessman, has been active in local politics, having served on the board of the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee and the Representative Town Meeting “The residents of Greenwich and Stamford are very important to the State of Connecticut,” Blankley said in a prepared statement. “Our neighbors and friends…
Almost $1 million more dollars was slashed from the Stamford budget by the Fiscal Committee just before the Board of Representatives assembled and voted to pass the $243 million budget.
-------- QUICK POINTS: -------- At 5:30 p.m., the Board of Representatives Fiscal Committee kicked off an evening of debate that would lead up to an 8:00 p.m. Board of Representatives special budget meeting to approve a $243,095,340 operating budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. By the end of the committee meeting, the board had sought to reduce the city's operating budget for 2012-2013 by an additional $985,000, a majority of that coming from cuts to emergency services. At the 8:00 p.m. meeting, the Board of Representatives assembled to pass the recommended cuts 28-1. The lone dissenter, Representative Salvatore Gabriel, said he thought the board could have done more to help the citizens and taxpayers of Stamford. "We shouldn't be …
The Stamford Board of Representatives Fiscal Committee Chair John Mallozzi announced Monday night he'd be stepping down from the position of chair in preparation for leaving the board entirely.
John Mazzolli, chair of the Stamford Board of Representatives Fiscal Committee announced Monday night during the special budget meeting that he'd be stepping down from his position. Mallozzi said the move was so he would be able to move on from the Board of representatives entirely. "I would like to say thank you to the Fiscal Committee for the work they've done," Mallozzi said during his closing remarks on the fiscal committee's report to the Board of Representatives. "I appreciate all the help I've received in the last couple of years, but [after tonight] I will be resigning as chairman of the Fiscal Committee and ask to be removed from the fiscal committee in preparations of leaving the board completely." Board of Representatives …
DJ McAneny
11:25 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Just a reminder that we like to play civil here, folks. I always support discussions - even heated ones. Just a friendly reminder is all. more ›