Reuters reports
Judge
agrees five Manafort trial witnesses may testify with immunity
Reuters reporter says Myanmar police planted secret papers
Shoon Naing Simon Lewis World News July 23, 2018
YANGON (Reuters) A jailed Reuters reporter told a court
in Myanmar on Monday that documents he is accused of breaking state secrets
laws to obtain were planted by a police officer who handed him papers he had
not sought in order to entrap him. The officer had
then lied to the court about what happened he said. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-journalists/reuters-reporter-says-myanmar-police-planted-secret-papers-idUSKBN1KD1O3
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As Christine Stuart of CTNewsJunkie.com reports Connecticut Insurers Pitch 12.3 Percent Average Rate Hike
For 2019 Plans we also learn that Prisoner Sues For Access To Expensive Hep C Drugs. Therein, Stuart reports the following: Through attorney Ken Krayeske, the prisoner, Robert Barfield, filed a federal
class action lawsuit last week against the state Department of Correction
claiming his constitutional rights have been violated. The department is
refusing to give him access to a drug treatment program that would cure him.
Hepatitis C (HCV) is a blood borne disease caused by a virus. The hepatitis C
virus causes inflammation that damages liver cells and is the leading cause
of liver disease. It is a disease that can be spread and its now curable
thanks to expensive drugs that range from $54,000 to $95,000 per patient per
course of treatment. A typical course of treatment lasts 12 weeks. Continue reading Read more at Civil Liberties Health Care Public Health State Budget Criminal Justice Insurance
On Oct 14, 2016 in a headline by Beth Schwartzapfel captioned Why Some Prisons are Spending Millions on a Pricey New Drug Connecticuts prison system treats
about 20 people a year with DAAs, each selected by a panel of doctors. My
total budget is about $89 million to deliver healthcare for 16,200 people. Thats mental health, dental, medical, consults,
surgeries, says Johnny Wu, medical director of the states
prison health care system. To have a couple of million dollars tied up for
hep C is a big portion of my budget. Continue reading at https://www.themarshallproject.org/2016/02/22/why-some-prisons-are-spending-millions-on-a-pricey-new-drug
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It appears there could be more on
the horizon which could result in
another negative impact to public
sector unions in addition to Janus.
Read on
Janus is only the beginning
Steven
Greenhut The American Spectator July19, 2018
Janus is a huge victory and the unions are smarting from
it, but it will take other efforts to roll back the current level of pay and
benefits, halt the pensionspiking deals and other
giveaways, and get rid of the protections that make it impossible to get rid
of public employees.
One of the most promising developments toward that end
comes in an upcoming California Supreme Court case called Cal Fire Local 2881
v. the California Public Employees Retirement System. That case involves
something known as the California Rule. It is not really a rule but a series
of long standing court interpretations concluding that public employees can
never have their vested benefits reduced even going forward. No one is
proposing rolling back previously earned benefits but the only way to reform
the system is to reduce benefits starting tomorrow. Currently pension deals
cannot be reworked until all current employees and retirees have passed away.
Fortunately union overreach has pushed this matter to the states
high court. Continue reading at Janus is only the beginning
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ANALYSIS | Pension Shortfalls Loom Large; 2 Experts Talked
Solutions With CCM At June Meeting
by Connecticut Conference of Municipalities
July 22, 2018
Posted to Analysis Opinion Member Opinion State Budget Pensions
Jean-Pierre Aubry, an expert
from Boston Colleges Center for Retirement Research, and W. Gordon Hamlin,
Jr., president of Pro Bono Public Pensions and a 2016 Fellow in Harvards Advanced Leadership Initiative gave separate
presentations on what was affectionately dubbed the 800
pound gorilla in the room Public Pensions. Continue reading at https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/story/20180723_analysis_pension_shortfalls_loom_large_2_experts_talk_solutions/
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State Comptroller Kevin Lembo helped
to put Connecticut on the TRANSPARENCY map by instituting and promoting some
of the best state transparency websites in the country. Visit OpenConnecticut
, Transparency Connecticut, and Connecticut | Open
Data | Open Data - State of Connecticut where you can research $$$ how, when and where your state
tax dollars $$$$ are being spent.
Lembos latest effort is detailed within the July 18, 2018 article
by Keith M. Phaneuf of CTMirror.org captioned Lembo will oppose $10 M analysis of tolls but plan likely still
to pass.
Therein, Keith Phaneuf reports the following State Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo
said Wednesday he will not support Gov. Dannel P. Malloys proposal to borrow $10 million to fund a new
analysis on electronic tolling. Opposition from Lembo
and others on the 10-member State Bond Commission will likely not be enough
to stop the panel from approving the funds when it meets on July 25, however.
Lembo, who is one of eight Democrats on the
commission, said the question of whether to restore tolls to Connecticuts highways should be resolved by the General
Assembly. The Bond Commission should not act as a replacement for legislative
action Lembo said. While the subject of electronic
tolling and infrastructure funding as a whole is
important to debate and discuss, I do not support financing this study
through bonding without legislative directive. These decisions should be left
to the next governor and legislature. Continue Reading →
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Your State Legislators Should be
Working for You!
Let them know how you feel on State
Issues Impacting You and Your Family!
Find Your Legislators - Connecticut General Assembly
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APPRECIATION
IS EXTENDED TO CBIA
The Connecticut Business &
Industry Association
For its
Very Valuable and Informative Website!!!!
In the words of CBIA The
Connecticut Business & Industry Association is fighting to make
Connecticut a top state for business, jobs, and economic growth. A better
business climate means a brighter future for everyone.
The Federation notes that CBIA, the
Connecticut Business & Industry Association, provides businesses,
taxpayers, and the general public with valuable
information though its website at CBIA -
Connecticut Business, Industry, Economy, HR.
Here you can find a compilation of news articles
and more providing insight into Connecticuts fiscal
climate.
It is with deep appreciation to CBIA for making this
information available to the general public and for
their advocacy in promoting a healthy business climate in which Connecticut
companies can prosper.
Visit their website often where you can Read more from
CBIA on Connecticut Economy,
State Spending, Taxes
The following is a sampling of what CBIA provides
What is Your Share of Connecticuts
Debt?-cbia.com
Connecticut taxpayers share of the states debt jumped 8%
last year to $53,400 according to a new report released this week.
Truth in Accountings annual Financial State of the States report says Connecticut has $12.1 billion in available assets and $81.9
billion in bills including bond debt and unfunded state employee pension and
retirement benefits.
Financial decisions made by the states elected officials
over the years have left Connecticut with a $69.8 billion shortfall, which
equates to $53,400 for every taxpayer, the Chicago-based nonpartisan,
nonprofit organization said. Continue reading at https://www.cbia.com/news/inside-the-capitol/taxpayer-share-connecticuts-debt/
High Costs, Slow Growth Drop States CNBC Business Ranking
High costs and a sluggish economy are the key factors
behind Connecticuts slide in CNBCs latest annual
Americas Top States for Business rankings.
Connecticut fell to 37th, a year after climbing 10 spots
to 33rd in the cable networks annual competitiveness ratings, with declines
in a number of critical areas. CNBC ranked the state in the bottom 10 in four key categories infrastructure (47th), cost of doing business
(46th), economy (45th), and cost of living (43rd). Continue reading at https://www.cbia.com/news/economy/connecticut-cnbc-top-states-ranking
Eco
State Government Report: Connecticuts
Economy at 2004 Level
Connecticuts economy is at the same level it
was in 2004 according to a new state government report highlighting the states
sluggish job and economic growth.
The July issue of The Connecticut Economic Digest, published by the Department of
Economic and Community Development and the Department of Labor, says the states economy has declined 3.3% since the recession
ended in 2010. Continue reading at https://www.cbia.com/news/economy/connecticut-economy-2004-level/
Inside the Capitol
Connecticut this week joined New
York, New Jersey, and Maryland in suing the federal government over new
limits on state and local tax deductions.
The suit, filed Tuesday in Federal
District Court in Manhattan, calls the tax changes an unconstitutional
assault on states rights. https://www.cbia.com/news/inside-the-capitol/connecticut-joins-federal-tax-lawsuit/
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Business Insider reports
Take an awe moment
This heroic dog who saved 12 people
after an earthquake met her own statue and the photos are adorable