your March 17, 2023
☕️ Morning Coffee
& Politics was
served up by
Melissa Ozols

GOOD MORNING!

Public Safety Committee Approves Bill Requiring Police To Provide A Reason For Traffic Stops

The clock was ticking toward the Public Safety Committee’s Thursday deadline to pass bills and as the panel neared the end of its 39-item agenda, Sen. Herron Gaston stood from the table, made for the exit and dialed a colleague. “Hey,” he said, “I need you to come vote.” Read it here!

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sponsored by the Connecticut Hospital Association

Say No To Policies That Devastate Connecticut Hospitals And Patient Access To Healthcare

Since the spring of 2020, hospitals have seen challenge after challenge. Today hospitals face workforce shortages, increasing financial pressures, and are treating sicker patients. Proposals that result in severe reductions to hospitals will only make it harder to support and grow the healthcare workforce and limit patient access to care. The math doesn’t work. Learn more at ProtectCTCare.org

State Rep. Comey Charged With DUI After Rollover Crash In Hartford

State Rep. Robin Comey, a Democrat from Branford, was handcuffed by police Thursday during a field sobriety text following a rollover crash on Capitol Avenue in Hartford. House Democrats confirmed Comey was involved in the crash and was taken into Hartford police custody. Read it here from Fox 61

'Die-in' Leads to Extension on Home Care Worker Benefit

Personal Care Attendants have until April 7 to apply for a health insurance stipend, under an agreement reached Thursday. Only about 30 of the 1,500 workers who may qualify received the benefit after it was initially negotiated last year. Read it here!

House to Consider Raising Inmate Pay to at Least $5-$10 Per Week

Incarcerated workers in Connecticut prisons make as little as 75 cents a day under current conditions. A  legislative panel on labor policies unanimously approved a proposal Thursday that would increase pay to $5-$10 per week. Read it here!

Podcast: Joe Courtney On The Trilateral Defense Agreement Between 3 Countries

This week the Connecticut East Podcast speaks with U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney about the new AUKUS submarine deal between the U.S., Australia, and the United Kingdom and what it means for Connecticut. LISTEN here!

LOB ACTIVITIES, MEETINGS & EVENTS
TODAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL

PUBLIC HEARING - Appropriations and Human Services committees, 10 a.m., followed by committee meetings, LOB Room 1E and Zoom Hearing Agenda Meeting Agenda Watch

PUBLIC HEARING - Judiciary Committee, 10 a.m., LOB Room 2C and Zoom Agenda Watch 

PLANNING and DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE meeting, 10 a.m., LOB Room 2B and Zoom Agenda Watch

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE meeting, 1 p.m., LOB Room 2D and Zoom Agenda Watch

EDUCATION COMMITTEE meeting, 1 p.m., LOB Room 2E and Zoom Agenda Watch

OFF SITE

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal will join Alison Weir of the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center at 11 a.m. at 265 Church St., Suite 201, New Haven, to announce legislation to hprotect men and women who served in uniform by reinstating criminal penalties for unaccredited claims representatives who charge unauthorized fees while helping file disability claims. Criminal penalties were eliminated from the statute nearly 20 years ago.

At 12:30 p.m. in Room 1A at the LOB in Hartford, Sen. Blumenthal will join health care advocates to call on the Biden administration to limit the availability of junk health care plans.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy will host his annual St. Patrick’s Day breakfast at the Cheshire Senior Center, 240 Maple Ave., Cheshire at 8 a.m. where he will introduce a resolution to designate March 2023 as Irish-American Heritage Month and honor the contributions of the Irish-American community. He will be joined by U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, Cheshire Town Manager Sean Kimball, and state Rep. Jack Fazzino.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

FREE FINANCIAL WORKSHOP SERIES – Fiscal Dynamics is offering a series of free adult workshops and talks on finance, including:

• Advanced Parenting Tips-Teaching Kids about Money: March 29;

For more info and to register, visit Fiscal Dynamics here or call (860) 677-1753.

CONNECTICUT BUSINESS DAY 2023 is Tuesday, April 4 at The Bushnell. Breakfast/Networking starts at 9:45 a.m. and the event runs from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. To Register

SHARE YOUR EVENT HERE! Drop us a line and we'll promote your event affordably.

CREAM & SUGAR

Banking System Stress Tests

Check out today's editorial cartoon here!

Opinion: Shocking New Data Shows We Can't Stop Fighting Hate

Opinion writer John L. Micek says that if you ever needed a reminder that we can’t turn a blind eye to hate, new data from the Anti-Defamation League should more than do the trick. White supremacist propaganda hit an all-time high across the country in 2022, even as antisemitic propaganda more than doubled from the year before. Read it here

This week's op-eds:

Opinion: Route 1 By Any Other Name Would Be As Deadly

For most of us, walking is the most natural form of movement and earliest move toward personal independence, taking our first steps after being on this planet for only a year. Kerri Ana Provost weighs in.

Opinion: Protests at Connecticut College Show Students’ Resolve

Opinion writer Susan Bigelow says she is thrilled to see Connecticut College students protest in an effort to force change, not just because she cares about higher education, but because she's an alum. She just wishes her own generation had been as committed. Read Susan's latest right here!

Opinion: Protests at Connecticut College Show Students’ Resolve

Opinion writer Susan Bigelow says she is thrilled to see Connecticut College students protest in an effort to force change, not just because she cares about higher education, but because she's an alum. She just wishes her own generation had been as committed. Read Susan's latest right here!

Opinion: Connecticut Lawmakers Block Pro-worker Reforms

Guest opinion writer Michael Costanza asks us to imagine someone walking into your workplace and telling you that from now on, he is the only one who may speak for you, no matter how poorly he treats you and your colleagues, and you have to pay him for the privilege. Read it here!

Opinion: Respect And Compromise Make Appearances In Discussion Over Aid-In-Dying Bill

Opinion writer Susan Campbell says the long and emotional public hearing and committee meeting on the medical-aid-in-dying bill was missing something that maybe it hadn't been missing in the past... Read it here!

GOVERNOR & LT. GOVERNOR'S DAY

Gov. Lamont will visit Boehringer Ingelheim in Ridgefield for a signing ceremony of an executive order to form a panel to develop recommendations on how Connecticut can make its childcare system more accessible, equitable, and affordable. The governor will be joined by Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Early Childhood Commissioner Beth Bye, state legislators, childcare providers, parents, and advocates at 10:30 a.m. at the Apple Blossom Children’s Learning Center at Boehringer Ingelheim, 900 Ridgebury Road, Ridgefield.

PUBLIC POLICY JOBS

HEALTH POLICY ASSOCIATE: This position works with the Senior VP, Policy to assist in the development and ongoing evaluation of the organization’s policy positions, support the development and implementation of a research agenda, work with and support the policy needs of the government relations team, support the education of CHA staff involved in analyzing advocacy strategy, and assist in the development of communications materials. ➤ For more information and to apply

CAPITOL REPORTER: CTNewsJunkie is looking for experienced, savvy news reporters to cover politics and public policy at the state Capitol in Hartford on a freelance basis. Pay varies by length of story and complexity. ➤ Send a brief cover letter, your resume, 4-5 writing samples, and 3 references to Doug Hardy at doug@ctnewsjunkie.com. (No calls. No outreach via social media. Use the email address provided. Thank you.)

SHOUT OUTS

Happy birthday wishes to Irving W. Washington, Glen McDermott, Kelly Ramsey Fuhlbrigge, and Chill Will Griggs!

Don't forget to email ctnewsjunkie@gmail.com if you have a shout-out for a friend or colleague.