A key lawmaker in the Connecticut General Assembly is embracing a White House proposal to loosen restrictions on tolling federal interstates. Rocky Hill state Representative Tony Guerrera-- a co-chairman of the legislature’s Transportation Committee-- says that tolls are the answer to Connecticut’s declining gas tax revenues. He said it would also allow the state to reduce its high taxes on gasoline.
A bill that attempts to make it easier for charitable organizations in Connecticut to raise money from bazaars and raffles is heading to the governors desk. The House of Representatives voted unanimously this week in favor of the legislation, which allows charitable groups to apply directly to the Department of Consumer Protection to hold a raffle or bazaar.
Older Adults Sign Up for Health Plans
Newly released data show the majority of Connecticut residents who signed up for private health insurance plans through the state's exchange are 35 and older. The Health and Human Services department issued figures on Thursday that show 68 percent of more than 79-thousand new enrollees in those plans are 35 to 64, while 24 percent are 18 to 34 years old.
Connecticut Residents Would Like to Leave the State
About half of Connecticut residents, 49 percent, would like to leave the state. A nationwide Gallup poll has found only Illinois had a higher percentage of respondents, 50 percent, who answered yes to the question: Regardless of whether you will move, if you had the opportunity, would you like to move to another state, or would you rather remain in your current state? The poll found that 12 percent of people are struggling with the high cost of living in Connecticut.
Waterbury Astronaut Delivering UConn Address
University of Connecticut alumnus Rick Mastracchio will deliver this year's graduation address to the school of engineering in person. Although he’ll orbiting the globe on May 10th-- on the International Space Station-- UConn has arranged for the 54-year-old astronaut give to the speech from space. His recorded address will be shown on the video boards at Gampel Pavilion to about 5,000 people.
