Connecticut

New Estimates Put 2010-11 Shortfall at $7.95 Billion

April 20, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that her budget office – using the most up-to-date numbers on income taxes and other revenues – now estimates the current year’s budget deficit has increased to about $1.056 billion. In its monthly letter to the state Comptroller, the Governor’s budget office also released new estimates of the deficit for the next two fiscal years, putting the shortfall over the biennium at $7.95 billion.    » read more »

April 18, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state Labor Department is updating its records for unemployed individuals who have exhausted the 33 weeks of federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) and are eligible for the 13 weeks of Extended Benefits (EB).

According to Governor Rell, eligible claimants will automatically receive the additional 13 weeks of EB unemployment benefits. Those claimants who were among the first to begin receiving EUC08 are this week exhausting their 33 weeks of emergency benefits, with the first payable week of EB to begin the week ending April 18.    » read more »

Auctions Main Revenue Component of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

April 18, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she is allocating $14 million the state earned from the regional auctions of emission allowances to state, municipal, private and nonprofit agencies that promote energy conservation and help fund clean and renewable energy programs.

The auctions are the key component of the landmark Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiatives (RGGI), a consortium of Northeastern 10 states working together to cut air pollution, improve energy efficiency and develop clean energy. Under Governor Rell’s leadership, Connecticut was one of the first states to join the historic program.    » read more »

Urges Unemployed Connecticut Citizens to Take Advantage of Reduced Insurance Costs

April 17, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she has signed legislation that will greatly reduce the cost of health insurance for Connecticut citizens who have been laid off from small businesses and want to continue their coverage under the federal “COBRA” law.    » read more »

Governor Directs OPM to Compile List of Administrative Options

April 14, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that because of steadily declining tax revenues and a growing budget deficit for this fiscal year, she has directed her budget office to immediately provide her with a list of administrative actions she can undertake to reduce the deficit.

“The State of Connecticut is simply running out of cash, and with two months remaining in this fiscal year, we are also running out of time,” Governor Rell said. “With no deficit mitigation plan on the horizon from the Legislature, it is up to me to make the difficult choices to find any and all savings in this administration.    » read more »

April 13, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that Connecticut has applied for $12.6 million in federal stimulus grants to help fund four projects that will restore fragile marine and costal habitats, protect aquatic species and improve recreational fishing opportunities across the state.

The projects are:

· Removal of the Springborn Dam on the Scantic River in Enfield

· Construction of a fish passage at the Tingue Dam on the Naugatuck River in Seymour

· Construction of a fish passage at the Rainbow Dam on the Farmington River in Windsor

· Restoration of tidal wetlands along the lower Connecticut River in the towns of Chester, East Haddam, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Lyme and Old Saybrook    » read more »

Says Misguided Project Is “Down for the Count”; U.S. Dept. of Commerce rules in favor of N.Y. action to deny approval

April 13, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today hailed a federal decision on the proposed Broadwater liquefied natural gas platform as a “knockout” blow for the project.

“With the U.S. Department of Commerce now upholding an action by New York state to deny a coastal consistency approval for Broadwater this misguided project is now down for the count. The words of the Secretary of Commerce speak loud and clear and deliver a decisive verdict: that the national interests served by Broadwater do not outweigh the adverse impact it would have on coastal waters.”    » read more »

March 26, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state is proposing to use over $2 million in federal stimulus funding and required state funds match for a wide range of programs to prevent violence against women and to help law enforcement prosecute sexual assaults and domestic violence.

Among other advances, the money would enable domestic violence shelters to be staffed 24 hours a day, fund a training program to address dating violence among teens and pay for medical experts trained to help sexual assault victims cope with the experience and trained to collect evidence necessary to prosecute their attackers.    » read more »

Health Care Company to Move to CityPlace; Relocation Will Create Up To 200 Construction Jobs Over Next 12-18 Months

March 24, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that UnitedHealth Group will keep its more than 2,000 employees in the nation’s insurance capital, moving its Hartford offices to CityPlace at 185 Asylum Street.

The relocation itself is expected to create an additional 150 to 200 construction-related jobs over the next 12 to 18 months.    » read more »

Funds To Strengthen State Initiatives in Clean Energy, Resource Conservation and Green Collar Jobs

March 24, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state has officially applied to receive nearly $39 million in federal stimulus funds for energy programs by assuring the U.S. Department of Energy that Connecticut will adhere to stipulations outlined in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.    » read more »

March 23, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state’s Recovery Working Group unanimously approved nearly $163 million in federal stimulus transportation projects to create jobs on statewide bus and rail projects and enhance pedestrian and bicycle access.

“These statewide projects, both large and small, have one thing in common – they need hard-working men and women of Connecticut to make them a reality,” Governor Rell said. “The federal stimulus act is giving us a chance to rebuild our economy and improve the quality of life in our state. I commend members of the Recovery Working Group for their swift decision today to move these projects along and put people back to work.”    » read more »

Three New Green Technology Initiatives Will Lower Emissions, Create Jobs

March 22, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection will receive $1.73 million in federal stimulus money for three initiatives to reduce the amount of harmful emissions from diesel engines in Connecticut.

The three initiatives are a program to retrofit emission systems on state-owned diesel vehicles, a truck-stop electrification project to reduce diesel truck idling and a project to replace a high-emitting diesel locomotive engine with a low-emission power system.    » read more »

March 20, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that AIG has provided the Department of Consumer Protection with contract documents – in accordance with a subpoena issued Thursday – relating to the $165 million in bonuses given out by its financial products division.

On Wednesday, Governor Rell ordered Commissioner Farrell to issue the subpoena to AIG as part of an investigation into how the company’s bonuses might be voided. AIG had cited Connecticut law in saying the bonuses were required by contract.    » read more »

Consumer Protection Commissioner Issues Subpoena for AIG Contracts, Details on Employees in Effort to Void Bonuses

March 19, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that a subpoena for documents relating to the bonuses paid to AIG managers with federal bailout funds will be issued today by Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. of the Department of Consumer Protection. An attorney for AIG has advised the Commissioner that he would accept service this afternoon.

The subpoena is for contract documents, employee names and titles, job descriptions and other employment information.    » read more »

Urges Congressional Delegation to Adopt New Legislation; Orders Investigation Under Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act

March 18, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today wrote to the Connecticut Congressional delegation urging that new federal legislation be adopted to amend the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) -- the law that provided federal bailout money for insurance giant AIG. The amendment would “explicitly prohibit the use of such funds for payment of bonuses, perks or salary increases to managers or employees” of all companies that have or will receive funding under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).    » read more »