Connecticut

May 7, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today submitted written testimony to the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee urging Congress and the President to lift an import tariff on ethanol and temporarily waive the federal Renewable Fuel Standards to ease the vise-like pressures of spiraling gasoline and food prices.

“Connecticut families and businesses are getting bruised by the soaring cost of everyday necessities like gas and groceries,” Governor Rell said. “One major factor in this unhappy duet is the price of corn – demand for the crop as a source of ethanol is competing fiercely with demand for corn as food, additives in products such as soft drinks and animal feed.    » read more »

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has announced that - days after he and U.S. Sen. Rosa DeLauro called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to investigate the potential threats related to artificial turf - the agency has agreed to investigate.

Soccer players: Photo by Zach Stern (CC)    » read more »

May 2, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today visited the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain to raise awareness about a new program that screens veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan for brain injuries.

A Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or MTBI, can cause a wide range of symptoms. Problems such as memory loss, headache, insomnia and irritability can all be traced back to MTBI, yet they can often go undiagnosed because there is no obvious wound.    » read more »

April 29, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today directed all Executive Branch agencies to immediately begin cutting back on the use of state-owned vehicles, saying the staggering increases in the price of gasoline that are forcing Connecticut families to cut back on their driving are having the same impact on state government.

Toyota Camry mileage: Photo by Ted Kau (CC)    » read more »

April 24, 2008 -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal will testify before a congressional committee later today in Washington D. C. supporting a measure to prohibit mail shipments of cigarettes and other tobacco products. If passed, the bill would effectively end sales of cigarettes and tobacco products over the Internet.

Cigarette butts: Photo by The Other

The nation's private delivery services -- including United Parcel Service, Federal Express and others -- already have a voluntary ban on shipment of cigarettes and other tobacco products.    » read more »

Commends Actions of Firefighters in Combating Brush Fires

April 25, 2008 -- As dry weather conditions persist and the state’s forest fire danger continues to be elevated, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today reminded residents of the current restrictions on burning brush on their property.

Forest fire: Photo by waterboi_atx

The Governor said that even if a property owner has received a permit from a local Open Burning Official to burn brush, the property owner can not do so within 100 feet of a grassland or woodland when the state’s forest fire danger is high.    » read more »

April 21, 2008 -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, in formal testimony today, called again for a prohibition against drug company gifts and other benefits provided to doctors that may improperly influence health care decisions.

Pharmaceutical drug companies spend more than $11 billion annually to market prescription drugs - most of it directed at health care providers.

Pills: Photo by e-magic (CC)

Research has repeatedly found that such gifts influence health care provider decisions.    » read more »

Leads Nation’s Governors in Calling for National Climate Policy

April 18, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today led more than a dozen Governors from across the country in signing the Governors’ Declaration on Climate Change at the 2008 Conference on Climate Change at Yale University.    » read more »

April 16, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell will welcome governors from across the country on Friday to a conference on global warming and to sign a Declaration on Climate Change. The historic conference and signing will take place at Yale University in New Haven on Friday, April 18.

Global warming protest signs: Photo by Casey Bisson (CC)    » read more »

Calls For Mandatory Rules

April 15, 2008 -- "These measures leave hedge funds in a regulatory black hole.

"This plan is one small step when giant strides are needed. The Treasury Department's proposals for greater transparency and risk disclosure must be mandatory or they are meaningless.

Skyscrapers: Photo by Michael Aston (CC)

"Non-binding best practices or voluntary guidelines are an imaginary fence -- and virtual farce: They stop nothing.    » read more »

April 14, 2008 -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Gina McCarthy announced today that they are seeking an order against two disputing companies whose inaction and ongoing dispute is allowing PCB contamination to jeopardize Bridgeport Harbor and Long Island Sound.

Long Island Sound sunset: Photo by Paul Aloe (CC)

The state has requested a temporary injunction against The Sergy Company LLC and Magnetek, Inc.    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today issued the following statement after the New York Department of State denied a coastal consistency permit for the Broadwater liquefied natural gas platform proposed for Long Island Sound:

“‘We did it!’

LNG tanker at night: Photo by chablis2008 (CC)

“Those are the words I used when we won the fight to save our sub base, and I have to tell you – it feels great to use them again today.

“We did it! We did it! We did it!

“Of course, we had a little help from our friends in New York.    » read more »

April 9, 2008 -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, in a brief filed today, urged the federal court to strike down an illegal rule change by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that could severely restrict access to a highly successful state-federal children's health insurance program.

Blumenthal filed the amici curiae brief jointly with the Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, in coordination with Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Michael Starkowski.    » read more »

April 9, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she strongly supports federal legislation co-sponsored by Connecticut U.S. Sens. Christopher Dodd and Joe Lieberman that would strip the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of its authority to site liquefied natural gas terminals and return that power to the states.

LNG burner: Photo by John Bullas (CC)    » read more »

Nearly 1.4 Million New Customers Traveled on Connecticut’s Commuter Rail Service; Ridership Also Up During First Two Months of 2008

April 8, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that rail ridership increased by nearly 1.4 million new riders on Shore Line East and New Haven Line rail service in 2007.

New Haven Line schedule: Photo by churl (CC)

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) today released its annual rail ridership report for the calendar year 2007 and first two months in 2008, marking across-the-board increases.    » read more »