State News

Act Concerning Domestic Workers

HARTFORD, CT)— Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz submitted written testimony to the Labor and Public Employees Committee in support of House Bill 5276, An Act Concerning Domestic Workers. The bill would require employers of domestic workers to disclose information about working conditions and grants to domestic workers certain privacy protections, the ability to raise health concerns relating to cleaning products and protection from retaliation. “The Council on Women and Girls is supporting this legislation because it is important that domestic workers, the majority of whom are believed to be women, are entitled to greater employment protections,” Lt. Governor Bysiewicz wrote in her testimony. “The lack of domestic worker employer requirements allows for potentially unsafe and unfair working conditions. This bill is important to…

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AG On States’ Rights To Regulate Rising Cost Of Prescription Drugs

Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong joined a bipartisan coalition of 46 attorneys general filing an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court supporting states’ rights to regulate and address the rising cost of prescription drugs. In Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, the attorneys general argue that in order to protect the well-being of consumers, states must regulate pharmacy benefit managers, also known as PBMs. PBMs act as middlemen between pharmacies, drug manufacturers, health insurance plans, and consumers. Their position gives them some power to manipulate the market as they develop and maintain prescription drug formularies, contract with pharmacies, negotiate discounts with drug manufacturers, and process and pay prescription drug claims. Today’s brief supports the state of Arkansas’ position…

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Governor On Gaming

HARTFORD, CT) – Max Reiss, Director of Communications for Governor Ned Lamont, today released the following statement regarding legislative proposals on gaming:   “For years now, Connecticut’s gaming economy has been declining and stuck in litigation while our surrounding states continue to expand and prosper. Last legislative session, the governor worked to achieve a comprehensive solution to Connecticut’s ongoing gaming quagmire. Unfortunately, neither tribe accepted that proposal.   “This legislative session, there are two proposals on the table. One of the proposals would authorize only the tribes to conduct sports betting and virtually all other forms of online gaming both on and off their tribal reservations. The other proposal would authorize the tribes to conduct sports betting on their tribal…

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Attorney General On ACA

Hartford, CT – Attorney General William Tong today issued the following statement regarding the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act individual mandate. “The stakes, in this case, could not be higher. Our entire healthcare system hangs in the balance,” said Attorney General Tong. “We’re going to be fighting on behalf of cancer survivors, young adults, pregnant women, people with diabetes, and hundreds of thousands more in Connecticut whose healthcare is under attack. The Trump Administration is going to have to explain to the Court and the American people why it thinks cancer survivors and others with so-called pre-existing conditions should be denied coverage. Our side has the stronger argument, as a matter…

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Connecticut Joins Other States In JUUL Investigation

Hartford, CT) -- Attorneys General from Connecticut, Florida, Nevada, Oregon, and Texas announced a bipartisan, multistate investigation into JUUL Labs. The 39-state multistate coalition is investigating JUUL’s marketing and sales practices, including the targeting of youth, claims regarding nicotine content, and statements regarding risks, safety and effectiveness as a smoking cessation device. “Connecticut’s investigation into JUUL is active and expanding. Our state, along with Florida, Nevada, Oregon, and Texas, is now leading a bipartisan, 39-state coalition investigating JUUL’s marketing and sales practices, including efforts by the company to market their nicotine delivery devices to youth. We are also looking at claims made by JUUL regarding nicotine content and statements they have made regarding the risks, safety, and effectiveness as a…

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Governor Trying To Lure Recent Grads

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is partnering with several organizations to launch an innovative program that is designed to encourage graduates of Connecticut’s higher education institutions to build their careers and stay in the state upon receiving their diplomas.   Launching as a pilot program in Stamford this spring and expanding statewide by 2022, the Governor’s Innovation Fellowship will provide recent and upcoming college graduates the opportunity to start their careers with job placement at a growing, Connecticut-based company. Participants will also receive access to mentors and staff who will help them build their careers, as well as a $5,000 grant that will help them get settled as they embark on their post-college lives.…

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$75,000 in state funding that it will use to provide housing support for residents of Puerto Rico

Police UPDATE: 2020-02-22@1:35am--#Bridgeport CT--On February 22, 2020 at approximately 00:41 am the Bridgeport Emergency Communications Center received a report from post A21 that she was involved in an MV crash at the Intersection of Park Avenue and Olive Street.   A Bridgeport Police Vehicle was traveling northbound on Park Avenue in route to assist another officer on a call. As the Officer was approaching the intersection of Olive Street a Black Honda which was traveling eastbound on Olive Street failed to properly stop at the stop sign. As it crossed the intersection it was struck by the Police car traveling northbound.   Bridgeport Police Officers, fireman, AMR and the Bridgeport Police Crash Investigation Unit responded to the scene.   The…

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AG Lawsuit On Upwind States…I’ll Leave The Puns Up To You The Viewer

Hartford, CT – Attorney General William Tong today joined a new federal lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its failure to act – despite a court mandate -- on the problem of air pollution from upwind states that is harming Connecticut air and preventing the state from achieving compliance with federal Clean Air Act standards. Filed in U.S. District Court in New York, today’s lawsuit asks the court to declare EPA in violation of the Clean Air Act for not taking action on the upwind pollution problem affecting Connecticut and other states in the region, and to set dates for the agency to propose and adopt completed federal plans for doing so. In addition to Connecticut and…

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Blumenthal Heading To Puerto Rico

HARTFORD, CT– On Thursday, February 20 at 10 AM at the Greater Hartford Puerto Rican Day Parade Office in Hartford, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) will be touring Puerto Rico on Friday and Saturday to assess damage and hear from officials regarding recovery efforts following hurricanes Maria and Irma and the series of earthquakes over recent months, in particular the impacts the natural disasters have had upon the children of Puerto Rico.   Blumenthal will thank Yale-New Haven Health Northeast Medical Group physicians and staff who organized a humanitarian trip to Puerto Rico to deliver medical supplies. Americares has collaborated with physicians to transport these essential supplies.   This press release is made possible by:

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Tong Defends Immigrant Driver’s Licenses

Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong led a coalition of 14 states today, authoring an amicus brief defending the right of states to keep their roads safe by issuing driver’s licenses to residents regardless of federal immigration status. The case involves a challenge to New York’s Green Light Law by Erie County Clerk Michael Kearns. New York’s law, passed last June, authorizes the issuance of driver’s licenses to state residents without regard to immigration status. The partisan challenge wrongly claims that federal immigration law preempts New York’s state authority to issue those licenses. The brief, filed by states that similarly offer licenses regardless of immigration status, argues that issuing and regulating personal driving credentials is a traditional and effective exercise of…

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