State News

Election Security

Sep 22, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON, DC, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) applauded the House of Representatives’ passage of legislation he introduced in the Senate to improve election security. The Defending the Integrity of Voting Systems Act would make it a federal crime to hack any voting systems used in a federal election and now awaits President Trump’s signature. “As foreign adversaries seek to undermine our democracy, our election systems are in dire need of strong safeguards. Our adversaries have shown a willingness and capability to hack the infrastructure that powers our democracy, however, our laws and enforcement lag far behind this dire threat. This bill provides the Department of Justice with powerful tools to vigorously prosecute and stop malicious hackers. I am grateful to my…

State News

ITT Debt Relief

Sep 21, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Hartford, CT) — Attorney General William Tong has secured an agreement to obtain $292,874 in debt relief for former ITT Tech students in Connecticut as part of a settlement with 48 attorneys general and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Nationally, the settlement will result in debt relief of about $330 million for former students of the failed for-profit college. The agreement affects about 43,000 loans. The settlement is with PEAKS Trust, a private loan program run by ITT and affiliated with Deutsche Bank entities. ITT filed bankruptcy in 2016 amid investigations by state attorneys general and following action by the U.S. Department of Education to restrict ITT’s access to federal student aid. “This settlement holds PEAKS Trust accountable for its predatory lending…

State News

CT Paid Leave Website

Sep 18, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, in partnership with the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority, announced the launch of a new website – CTPaidLeave.org – with the goal of supporting all Connecticut residents to understand their roles, rights, and responsibilities based on the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA). The site is built to provide information for all employers, employees, and healthcare providers to better navigate this new, comprehensive program, administered by the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority. The Connecticut Paid Leave program is set to begin on January 1, 2021, making the new website a vital tool for all impacted employees, employers, sole proprietors and self-employed individuals to understand their roles and responsibilities. Paid Leave program benefits become accessible to…

State News

Wear Your Mask Act In ALL Federal Buildings

Sep 18, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#WASHINGTON, DC] – Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Carper (D-DE), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Wear Your Mask Act today, requiring that all people in federal buildings and facilities across the country – including post offices, Social Security offices, and the U.S. Capitol – wear a face mask any time they are within six feet of another person. “Mask wearing should be considered a moral and health mandate— our single best method to combat the coronavirus,” said Blumenthal. “Backed by both common sense and science, our measure would impose this public health imperative in all federal buildings. Even with a vaccine, mask wearing will be a vital tool in conquering…

State News

SENATORS DEMAND BIG PHARMA ALLOW LOW-INCOME PATIENTS TO ACCESS LIFESAVING, DISCOUNTED 340B DRUGS AND CARE

Sep 17, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) led a group of 22 senators, including U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), in demanding that pharmaceutical manufacturers stop withholding medications discounted under the 340B Drug Pricing Program from qualified providers that use contract pharmacies – locking out low-income patients from accessing lifesaving drugs and care. In a letter to the drug industry trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the senators pointed to multiple retaliatory, burdensome, and likely unlawful efforts by its member drug companies to prevent 340B-covered providers from receiving discounted drugs, including denials to providers using contract pharmacies and excessive claims data requests. “By improperly limiting access to 340B drugs, manufacturers will sever a lifeline to treatment for…

State News

At Home Learning Tools Arriving Ahead Of Schedule

Sep 16, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#HARTFORD, CT– Governor Ned Lamont announced today that nearly 25 percent of the 81,000 devices purchased through his administration’s Everybody Learns initiative is scheduled to arrive earlier than anticipated, with some districts seeing deliveries this week. Taken together with the 60,000 Dell laptops provided by the Partnership for Connecticut, the State of Connecticut has now provided more than 141,000 devices targeted primarily to high-need districts and their students. The state has also made substantial progress on its delivery of 60,000 at-home internet connections in the way of personal hotspots and broadband service. All of the 12,744 personal hotspots that were ordered have been delivered, and fulfillment of broadband service is underway for approximately 40,000 students. “From the beginning…

State News

Insurance Commissioner Issues Decisions For 2021 Health Insurance Rates

Sep 14, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais announced the Department has made final decisions on health insurance rate filings for the 2021 coverage year. Rates for individual plans were held essentially flat, with an average increase of 0.01%, down from the average requested increase of 6.29%. The average increase approved for small group plans is 4.1%, down from the requested average increase of more than 11.28%. As a result of these decisions, approximately 214,600 Connecticut consumers are projected to save $96 million. “Working on behalf of consumers, the Department was able to reduce the health insurance rate increase requests thanks to the hard work of our actuaries and professional staff,” Commissioner Mais said. “I will continue to work collaboratively with all stakeholders…

State News

AG Urges Protection For Ratepayers

Sep 9, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong submitted testimony today to the Energy and Technology Committee of the Connecticut State Legislature, urging strong action to protect ratepayers. In written testimony, Attorney General Tong offers support and key suggestions to strengthen ratepayer protections in the bill. “I commend your leadership during this critical moment for Connecticut ratepayers. This summer, while enduring the current public health and economic crises, Connecticut consumers coalesced in their anger at their Eversource electric bills skyrocketing in July. Then, consumers of both Eversource and United Illuminating were left in the dark for up to one week during the hot days of August after Tropical Storm Isaias thrashed our State. Connecticut ratepayers have a right to be angry…

State News

Senator Calls For Break Up Of Utility

Sep 9, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today is submitting testimony in support of LCO 3920, An Act Concerning Emergency Response by Electric Distribution Companies and Revising the Regulation of Other Public Utilities, which is up for a public hearing before the Energy and Technology Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly today at 10:30 A.M. “The legislature has a huge, historic opportunity, which it should meet with bold, historic action. Like you, I have heard unprecedented outrage and frustration as I’ve traveled our state— a galvanizing grassroots demand for reform, now cresting. A public utility like Eversource should be truly public— putting people before profits, downsized and managed to be really responsive, and even owned by the people of Connecticut.…

State News

PUSH FOR VA TO COVER K2 VETERANS’ TOXIC EXPOSURE CARE

Sep 4, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced legislation today, mandating the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide health care and benefits to all veterans who served at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base (K2) in Uzbekistan and have illnesses associated with the toxic substances found at the site. “This bill will bring life-saving relief to hundreds – and potentially thousands – of veterans who were exposed to extremely harmful toxins in the black goo and glowing ponds reported at K2,” said Blumenthal. “When we send people to war, we make a commitment and accept an obligation to treat them no matter the costs. We know that K2 veterans are suffering from cancers and other illnesses at a great rate, so…

Election Security

ITT Debt Relief

CT Paid Leave Website

Wear Your Mask Act In ALL Federal Buildings

SENATORS DEMAND BIG PHARMA ALLOW LOW-INCOME PATIENTS TO ACCESS LIFESAVING, DISCOUNTED 340B DRUGS AND CARE

At Home Learning Tools Arriving Ahead Of Schedule

Insurance Commissioner Issues Decisions For 2021 Health Insurance Rates

AG Urges Protection For Ratepayers

Senator Calls For Break Up Of Utility

PUSH FOR VA TO COVER K2 VETERANS’ TOXIC EXPOSURE CARE

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