Legislative Session Coverage – CT Mirror

Submitted by gabbydeben t3_10gb8p2 in Connecticut

Hi everyone! My name is Gabby and I’m with the CT Mirror, a news outlet focused on Connecticut politics and policy. We have a group of reporters covering the Connecticut General Assembly’s 2023 Legislative Session, which kicked off earlier this month. Some of the topics they cover include housing, health, justice, economic development, budget issues, and the environment — all specific to Connecticut.

As the Mirror’s audience engagement specialist, I’m hoping to chat directly with Connecticut residents about the topics that matter to you and what you’d like to see us cover in the future. Please reach out and/or comment below to let me know what you care about!

In the meantime, if you’re interested in reading our coverage, our stories can be found here: ctmirror.org. All of them are free to read (no paywall!) We also have daily, weekly and bimonthly newsletters, and we’re on Instagram and Twitter @CTMirror.

If you’re interested, our coverage of the 2023 Legislative Session will live here: https://ctmirror.org/tag/2023-legislative-session/

And you can sign up for our weekly politics newsletter here: https://ctmirror.org/ct-mirror-politics-newsletter/. It will be out on Friday afternoons beginning Feb. 3!

~Gabby

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[deleted] t1_j51s97o wrote

[deleted]

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gabbydeben OP t1_j51vghz wrote

Definitely! Connecticut is a very car-dependent state, which can be costly to those who own a car and very limiting to those who don't (not to mention harmful for all the other reasons you mentioned above).

We actually took a deep-dive into the rise in deadly car crashes in CT about a year ago: https://ctmirror.org/2022/02/06/connecticut-traffic-deaths-fatalities-dui/.

Additionally, one of our contributors writes a weekly opinion column centered around transportation issues. He founded the CT Commuter Action Group and is a big proponent of public transit, especially trains: https://ctmirror.org/talkingtransportation/.

I'll pass your note along to our urban and regional issues reporter :)

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HubcapMotors t1_j5237d0 wrote

Like another commenter, I'm interested in any efforts to reduce car dependence. Through mixed use zoning and densification, bike infrastructure, mass transit funding and infrastructure (especially trains and light rail).

But also, given the recent Eversource hikes and apparent fragility of our electrical grid in CT, I'd super appreciate any investigation of ties between Eversource, their lobbyists, their regulators, and elected officials.

I keep hearing how there's a revolving door and family or political ties that allow for enormous dividend payouts and executive pay, and little in the way of rate relief or grid maintenance or grid hardening.

Are there such connections? Who is getting campaign donations from whom, and to what effect? Is anyone on the take? Are there any legislative efforts to take the grid under state or local control? Or to build more green energy capacity to put downward pressure on rates?

Thank you for asking, and for potentially shedding some sunlight on this mess.

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gabbydeben OP t1_j52f3l9 wrote

Hi! Energy service/costs have been a huge issue in Connecticut lately, as you know — we've covered it, though certainly not to the extent it deserves. Happy to pass along some of these questions.

In the meantime, our energy & environment reporter took a deep dive into the rate hikes we've been seeing. The piece can be found here: https://ctmirror.org/2023/01/03/ct-energy-winter-shortage-natural-gas/.

Also, a story we published today notes that Eversource and Avangrid (whose subsidiaries include United Illuminating) each donated $25,000 to Lamont's inaugural ball. As the story notes, "Underwriting inaugural balls long has been deemed by state ethics lawyers as a permissible gift to the state, exempt from bans on personal gifts to state officials or restrictions on contributions to campaigns for governor or other state offices." — but it feels worth mentioning either way. Here's the full story: https://ctmirror.org/2023/01/19/ct-ned-lamont-inaugural-ball-funding-donations/.

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SnakeFang93 t1_j541lb7 wrote

Lack of affordable housing and resistance from some towns/ counties to develop it

Single use family homes become more and more few and far between as supply is low and demand is high. Rents soar and mortgages and interest skyrocket.

What can be done, if anything?

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Financial-Tough-250 t1_j5cs1jn wrote

the state can build public housing/ rehab vacant properties instead of relying on private developers to include small amount of affordable units in new developments, the state can stop giving tax incentives to developers building luxury apartments/ condos.

a recession is coming/ already here, who will be able to afford all the luxury units being built?

Democrats are too scared to challenge the status quo.

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gabbydeben OP t1_j5689mc wrote

Hey! This is another issue we've seen a lot of interest in — our fantastic housing reporter, u/GinnyMonk1, has covered affordable housing in Connecticut. The General Assembly is likely to take up legislation surrounding housing and zoning in 2023, as she reported earlier this month: https://ctmirror.org/2023/01/05/ct-legislative-session-housing-evictions-zoning-homelessness/.

One state law passed three decades ago — commonly referred to by its statutory reference, 8-30g — was designed to encourage affordable housing development in CT's suburban communities. An "explainer" on 8-30g can be found here: https://ctmirror.org/2022/10/18/ct-8-30g-affordable-low-income-housing-rent-cost-of-living/.

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QuestorPS7 t1_j56m2h8 wrote

A state-sponsored single payer health option and/or Husky4All.

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gabbydeben OP t1_j5kqnmd wrote

Hi! And apologies this message is so late :)

CT's HUSKY expansion for kids of any immigration status took effect recently, and advocates are calling for another expansion that would include residents of all ages and immigration status. Legislators have signaled they're open to debating the idea, as this story mentions: https://ctmirror.org/2023/01/10/ct-husky-medicaid-insurance-coverage-children/.

Our health reporter will definitely be keeping an eye out for any updates!

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Financial-Tough-250 t1_j5alvbi wrote

Very important wish it would happen, doubtful because CT politicians are indebted to insurance industry.

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QuestorPS7 t1_j5asied wrote

They can’t be afraid of the insurance lobby. It’s also nonsense because the state will likely contract with private health insurance companies to administer the coverage.

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Financial-Tough-250 t1_j5crdyd wrote

I like the proposals by Recovery for all coalition... I am doubtful they will pass. they will be watered down and the Democrats will act like they actually did something for the working class. The unions and "progressives" are too aligned with Democratic Party-- same people who worked to get millionaire Lamont elected are too scared to really push for meaningful policy that will address income inequality in our state and tax the rich.

same with Lamont and Dems taking credit for the Husky for immigrants campaign.

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