Thursday, May 17, 2012
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
Selectmen David Campbell and Jerry Nielsen endorse Terrie Wood for re-election to her seat in the state House of Representatives; and Rowayton resident Gil Kernan also writes a letter supporting Wood.
To the editor: Terrie Wood's four years as Darien’s state representative has unquestionably proven she is the right person for the job. As selectmen, we consistently admire how she works with us and understands the issues facing our town and our state. Terrie works tirelessly as an advocate for Darien while looking out for the future of Connecticut. She has built strong bi-partisan relationships with her fellow representatives and has gained their respect and admiration. As local business owners we know she is looking out for us. Terrie is fair, rational and is good at building consensus. She is working hard at working with the Legislature to making our state a more attractive place to do business. Terrie understands how important it …
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
With complaints but hardly any outright opposition, the Darien Representative Town Meeting passed the next fiscal year's town budget, raising the mill rate from $12.20 per $1,000 of assessed value to $12.68, a 3.93 percent increase.
The Representative Town Meeting on Monday passed a $120.2 million budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year beginning July 1, a 4.6 percent increase which will raise taxes by 3.93 percent. The RTM approved a mill rate increase from the present $12.20 (per $1,000 of assessed value) to $12.68. In a series of unanimous or nearly unanimous votes, the RTM voted for the budget as recommended by the Board of Finance, including its recommended operating budget of $79,984,182 for education. The budget increased 4.8 percent, or about $3.6 million. The Finance Board had made slight cuts to the Board of Education's proposed budget and no cut to the $40,250,354 town-side operating budget proposed by the Board of Selectmen, which rose by 3.74 percent. That …
US Senate hopeful and Greenwich resident says she is severing ties with the party because Gov. Dannel Malloy and Rep. Chris Murphy are "lying to the people to pander to the ultra conservative branch of the Jewish community."
U.S. Senate hopeful and Greenwich author Lee Whitnum announced today that she is leaving the Connecticut Democratic Party but will continue to run for retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman's seat in the upcoming November election on a yet-to-be determined ticket. In an emailed statement, Whitnum said she was severing ties with the party because Democrats Gov. Dannel Malloy and U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy are "lying to the people to pander to the ultra conservative branch of the Jewish community." "I've had enough, I'm leaving the Connecticut Democratic Party," Whitnum said. "I can't be in a party where the two of the highest representative in the party namely Governor Malloy and Congressman Murphy lie to the people about the real reason why we went to …
And, Himes meets with Greenwich students during their class trip to DC.
BLUMENTHAL: The senator recently expressed some concerns about Lieberman's cybersecurity bill, which needs 60 more votes to move, according to Politico.com. He said the definitions of the bill must be "narrowed" and safeguards "strengthened" when it comes to the type of data that the government would be privy to. LIEBERMAN: The senator told CNN's "State of the Union" that the Senate Homeland Security Committee has scheduled a May 24 public hearing regarding the prostitution scandal involving U.S. military and Secret Service agents in Colombia. HIMES: On their annual class trip to Washington, DC, students at Central Middle School in Greenwich got a chance to meet and chat with Himes. "I always enjoy visiting with young people from my …
Monday, May 14, 2012
The Board of Education and the Darien Junior Football League are both asking the Planning & Zoning Commission for permission to turn on the lights at town football fields for more nights, and the league is asking for higher lights.
A request by the Darien Junior Football League to raise its night lighting from 20 to 30 feet should not result in more glare for nearby homeowners—and in some ways it may even reduce it, according to league officials. Neighbors living near both Holahan Field, behind Town Hall, and the Darien High School playing fields have complained in the past about the lights used by the high school and the football league for early-evening practice. The Planning and Zoning Commission has restricted use of the lighting to certain times and to no more than 20 feet above the playing fields. Now, with their three-year permits expired, both the league and the school district are going before the planning board to get renewals. This time, each also is …
And, Blumenthal announces $5.5 million in funds from FEMA for West Hartford.
BLUMENTHAL: West Hartford is the first community in Connecticut to receive approval from FEMA for reimbursement of clean-up costs in the wake of October's snowstorm, according to Patch. Blumenthal, Sen. Lieberman and First District Congressman John Larson, announced Thursday that West Hartford will receive $5.5 million reimbursement from FEMA for debris removal. "West Hartford well deserves this reimbursement for the hard hit from last year’s October snowstorm — a hard hit in financial costs as well as damage and debris," stated Blumenthal in a release announcing the reimbursement. "I’m pleased that this money helps make West Hartford whole for the hard work and sacrifice in the wake the storm." LIEBERMAN: Following a classified briefing…
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Watch the last stages of town gov't review and approval of the new budget before the big RTM debate and vote on Monday evening (live coverage starts 8 pm)
Darien’s Town Government Television station, TV79, will air a special program, the Darien League of Women Voters’ recent panel discussion “Local Media’s Role in Democracy”. The April 27 event at Darien’s Town Hall featured the editors of The Darien News, Darien Times, Darien Patch, Daily Darien and Darien TV79. Panelists explained the way they cover local news, their letters to the editor policy and answered attendees’ questions. The 90 minute program will air starting Friday May 18 and air at various times each day for one week. Check the TV79 website ( www.darienct.gov ) for exact dates and times. Airing this week… Click on the blue AGENDA or VIDEO links above to see the document or video program. Planned coverage in the week …
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Saturday, May 12, 2012
And how to keep them from doing so.
Yes, we are number one. Connecticut residents work longer to cover their tax burden for the entire year than residents of any other state nationally, per a nonprofit organization called the Tax Foundation. This distinction is in large measure why Nutmeggers fly south in great numbers: Lower income taxes. Lower housing costs. Lower state and local taxes. Confirming this fact is a 2009 study from the Yankee Institute for Public Policy, a Connecticut based, fiscal think tank. Connecticut lost an estimated 325,526 residents between 1991 and 2008, according to study. Where do they move? States that benefit most from migrating Nutmeggers are Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. What is common about these states? …
Jim Cameron
5:49 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
If you missed any of the 2+ hour meeting, tune in Darien TV79 where it will be replayed starting on Friday. more ›