State News

AG Leads Coalition On Price Fixing

Jun 15, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong led a coalition of 51 states and territories today in filing the third lawsuit stemming from the ongoing antitrust investigation into a widespread conspiracy by generic drug manufacturers to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade for generic drugs sold across the United States. This new Complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, focuses on 80 topical generic drugs that account for billions of dollars of sales in the United States. The Complaint names 26 corporate Defendants and 10 individual Defendants. The lawsuit seeks damages, civil penalties, and actions by the court to restore competition to the generic drug market. The topical drugs at…

State News

State Parks Closed Due To Filled Lots

Jun 13, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#CTStateParks-- Here is a brief list of parks closed today due to parking lots filled to capacity. Here is a list from CTState Parks Twitter page. Was the prepaid parking through DMV such a great idea?

State News

Governor Wants Independent Review Of Nursing Homes

Jun 11, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that he is ordering an independent, third-party review to be conducted of the preparation and response to the COVID-19 pandemic inside of Connecticut’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The review will incorporate a top-to-bottom analysis of all elements of the pandemic and how it was addressed in these facilities, which were disproportionately impacted by the virus. The governor said he wants the analysis completed before the start of autumn in order to prepare for a potential second wave of the virus. “Our state took proactive and innovative steps to address the outbreak in our long-term care facilities, but we must take steps to better understand how prepared the system was, and…

State News

Policing Act of 2020

Jun 10, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) co-sponsored the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, the first-ever bold, comprehensive approach to hold police accountable, change the culture of law enforcement and build trust between law enforcement and our communities, introduced by U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Karen Bass (D-CA) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY). “This sweeping, far-reaching reform in police practices and training is long overdue. Revamping police training, new methods for screening prospective officers, eliminating chokeholds as a practice, and imposing individual accountability to officers who break the law are among the necessary changes offered in this impactful legislation,” said Blumenthal. “We need both Republicans and Democrats to come together to support…

State News

Senators Say Covid Aid Checks For Those Not Filing With IRS

May 29, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON, DC – While the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that the president signed into law last week ensured that the Treasury Department had the authority to send automatic direct cash assistance to Social Security beneficiaries regardless of whether they file taxes or not, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released contradictory guidance earlier this week stating that Social Security beneficiaries would need to file tax returns in order to receive direct payments. U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined a group of 41 senators in expressing alarm over this guidance and calling for the Treasury Department and Social Security Administration to ensure that all Social Security beneficiaries will automatically receive the direct assistance included…

State News

Blumenthal Opposes Trump

May 28, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection, which is responsible for oversight of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), released the following statement in response to President Trump’s proposed Executive Order targeting online political speech: “This Executive Order is egregiously excessive with clearly malevolent intent to suppress free speech. It is a blatant attempt to use the full power of the United States government to force private companies to lie for him.” “Whatever the criticisms I may have of current law, Trump’s demagogic meat-ax Executive Order is exactly wrong. This Executive Order is an authoritarian attack against freedom of expression and accountability. It provides no relief…

State News

Senator Wants Gun Safety Bill

May 27, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined by Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced the NICS Data Integrity Act, a bill that would allow the FBI to maintain gun-purchase records until background checks are complete. Under current law, the FBI is required to purge incomplete background checks from its systems if they are not finalized within 88 days, a practice that often results in guns being sold without finished background checks. The bill also requires the FBI to search the National Data Exchange (N-DEx) database, an information-sharing system used by criminal justice agencies, for all background checks. Currently the FBI can only search N-DEx if a background check is delayed. “This bill is really basic,” said Blumenthal. “This legislation just…

State News

Senators Want Loan Forgiveness

May 21, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) led a group of ten Senators introducing the Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants During the COVID-19 Crisis Act, legislation that would provide student debt relief to public health workers, police officers, and others who dedicate their careers to public service. Many of these public servants have been playing a central role in helping communities across the country respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. “For all who are risking lives and making untold sacrifices, what better way of saying thanks than to relieve the crushing weight of student debt,” said Blumenthal. “This step, expanding opportunities to alleviate financially crippling burdens, is a win-win for them and our nation. These public servants have earned every dime of this…

State News

Comish Reminds Business To Check Insurance

May 19, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais and Economic Development Commissioner David Lehman today reminded businesses of the importance of checking to make sure their insurance coverage accurately reflects any changed circumstances as they move to comply with Governor Ned Lamont’s reopening guidelines. “The pandemic has already caused undue hardship to families and businesses and further risk to public health and to businesses should be kept to a minimum,” said Commissioner Mais. “Business owners should verify that the coverage they have is still right for them, and that they are prepared both for reopening and for hazards like the upcoming hurricane season.” “The Governor and Reopen Connecticut are instituting a thoughtful reopening schedule with the safety and security of the public, said DECD Commissioner…

State News

AG Defends Immigrant Detainees

May 19, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#Hartford, CT – Attorney General William Tong led a coalition of 18 attorneys general filing a friend of the court brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit defending due process rights of immigrant detainees who have been unlawfully denied bond. The brief supports the petitioners in Pereira Brito v. Barr, who sued the Board of Immigration Appeals to block unlawful bond hearing procedures that have resulted in the indefinite detention of many immigrants with no meaningful legal recourse. A Massachusetts District Court in 2019 found the BIA policy violated the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act and entered a permanent injunction. The attorneys general urge the appeals court to uphold that decision. The petitioners represent a class…

AG Leads Coalition On Price Fixing

State Parks Closed Due To Filled Lots

Governor Wants Independent Review Of Nursing Homes

Policing Act of 2020

Senators Say Covid Aid Checks For Those Not Filing With IRS

Blumenthal Opposes Trump

Senator Wants Gun Safety Bill

Senators Want Loan Forgiveness

Comish Reminds Business To Check Insurance

AG Defends Immigrant Detainees

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