Governor Ned Lamont on Tuesday grudgingly accepted the increasingly irrefutable reality that highway toll legislation won't pass before the regular session wraps up on June 5.

Instead, he said he's devoting his next two weeks to what may be an even bigger challenge: working out a compromise with progressive Democrats over the state budget.

Proponents of legalizing the recreational use of marijuana also acknowledged this week to not having the support, even among Democratic lawmakers, to go forward this session. Some are now contemplating a way to put the issue to the state's electorate as a constitutional amendment.

How long could that take? Can a toll plan be revived in a special session later this year? Will the budget talks go into overtime as well? Those are questions we address today.

We also examine Connecticut's response to laws passed by Alabama and other states to ban or sharply curtail abortion.  

Support the show.

State Attorney General William Tong says his office has diagnosed an aggressive cancer eating away at America's healthcare system.

According to Tong, it's triggered by scheming executives at many of the largest pharmaceutical companies illegally working together to artificially inflate the cost of generic drugs. Forty-three other states are joining the effort spearheaded by Connecticut's AG to litigate drugmakers into a court-ordered treatment plan.

It's hardly the first lawsuit targeting the skyrocketing price of prescription medicine. This week, we make a diagnosis of our own on whether the evidence compiled by Tong's team of attorneys is damaging enough to make a dent into those costs.

We also size up the latest measures by Gov. Ned Lamont to push his highway toll plan over the finish line this legislative session.

But what about sports betting, which if made legal could be a much faster revenue generator for the state than tolls? Lamont's not giving us much hope on that happening anytime soon.

And we raise concerns over troubling attempts to intimidate the news media, both here and abroad, including a recent episode in Bridgeport that left a Hearst Connecticut Media reporter in handcuffs.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State Attorney General William Tong says his office has diagnosed an aggressive cancer eating away at America's healthcare system.

According to Tong, it's triggered by scheming executives at many of the largest pharmaceutical companies illegally working together to artificially inflate the cost of generic drugs. Forty-three other states are joining the effort spearheaded by Connecticut's AG to litigate drugmakers into a court-ordered treatment plan.

It's hardly the first lawsuit targeting the skyrocketing price of prescription medicine. This week, we make a diagnosis of our own on whether the evidence compiled by Tong's team of attorneys is damaging enough to make a dent into those costs.

We also size up the latest measures by Gov. Ned Lamont to push his highway toll plan over the finish line this legislative session.

But what about sports betting, which if made legal could be a much faster revenue generator for the state than tolls? Lamont's not giving us much hope on that happening anytime soon.

And we raise concerns over troubling attempts to intimidate the news media, both here and abroad, including a recent episode in Bridgeport that left a Hearst Connecticut Media reporter in handcuffs.

Support the show.

The regular session of the Connecticut General Assembly adjourns at the stroke of midnight four weeks from tonight.

So far, none of the biggest policy goals identified early on by majority Democrats have made their way to the governor's desk for his consideration.

Not electronic highway tolls. Not legalizing recreational marijuana. Not sports betting. Not paid family and medical leave.

Even increasing the state's minimum wage, which the House of Representatives may take up later on Wednesday, has turned into a tougher battle than many expected.

This week, we take stock of the hurdles in front of these bills. And we ask what happens if none of them make it over the finish line.

We also plunge into the increasingly fierce debate over school immunization requirements. With recent measles outbreaks, is it time to end an exemption based on religious objections?

And if Connecticut is going to scrap its "Still Revolutionary" tourism campaign, what slogan should take its place? We toss around some ideas.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The regular session of the Connecticut General Assembly adjourns at the stroke of midnight four weeks from tonight.

So far, none of the biggest policy goals identified early on by majority Democrats have made their way to the governor's desk for his consideration.

Not electronic highway tolls. Not legalizing recreational marijuana. Not sports betting. Not paid family and medical leave.

Even increasing the state's minimum wage, which the House of Representatives may take up later on Wednesday, has turned into a tougher battle than many expected.

This week, we take stock of the hurdles in front of these bills. And we ask what happens if none of them make it over the finish line.

We also plunge into the increasingly fierce debate over school immunization requirements. With recent measles outbreaks, is it time to end an exemption based on religious objections?

And if Connecticut is going to scrap its "Still Revolutionary" tourism campaign, what slogan should take its place? We toss around some ideas.

Support the show.

For all the recent attention bestowed on Democratic Party progressives, there's new evidence so-called centrists aren't going to just fade away.

Not with former Vice President Joe Biden taking a commanding early lead over the many 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls running to his left. National polls released Tuesday cast Biden well ahead of Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and others vying for the party's nomination.

In Connecticut, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont scored his own early victory this week over progressives in the legislature clamoring for him to raise taxes on the state's wealthiest residents. The General Assembly's Finance Committee is backing away, at least temporarily, from a 2 percent capital gains tax hike for top income earners.

With weeks, if not months, of state budget negotiations, still ahead, there's plenty of time for liberals in the legislature to wrestle back momentum. The same thing goes in the presidential race.  The question is where should they pick their battles.

This week, we set out to gauge where the true center lies in Democratic Party politics on issues ranging from taxes  to healthcare.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For all the recent attention bestowed on Democratic Party progressives, there's new evidence so-called centrists aren't going to just fade away.

Not with former Vice President Joe Biden taking a commanding early lead over the many 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls running to his left. National polls released Tuesday cast Biden well ahead of Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and others vying for the party's nomination.

In Connecticut, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont scored his own early victory this week over progressives in the legislature clamoring for him to raise taxes on the state's wealthiest residents. The General Assembly's Finance Committee is backing away, at least temporarily, from a 2 percent capital gains tax hike for top income earners.

With weeks, if not months, of state budget negotiations, still ahead, there's plenty of time for liberals in the legislature to wrestle back momentum. The same thing goes in the presidential race.  The question is where should they pick their battles.

This week, we set out to gauge where the true center lies in Democratic Party politics on issues ranging from taxes  to healthcare.

Support the show.

This hour, we look at how successful Governor Ned Lamont's first hundred days were, and what his plans are to create a "cost-efficient, user friendly" government. Meanwhile, he's at odds with fellow Democrats over a proposed controversal tax increase on the state's wealthy residents.

Also, more allegations against Purdue Pharma - that the company and its owners promoted deadly opioid addiction. Attorney General Willam Tong says the allegations "demostrate callous indifference" with how the pharmaceutical executives approached their work.  

And we look at two officer-involved shootings in Connecticut.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, we look at how successful Governor Ned Lamont's first hundred days were, and what his plans are to create a "cost-efficient, user friendly" government. Meanwhile, he's at odds with fellow Democrats over a proposed controversal tax increase on the state's wealthy residents.Also, more allegations against Purdue Pharma - that the company and its owners promoted deadly opioid addiction. Attorney General Willam Tong says the allegations "demostrate callous indifference" with how the pharmaceutical executives approached their work.  

And we look at two officer-involved shootings in Connecticut.

Support the show.

Stop & Shop employees continue to strike in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, prompting some customers to fill their grocery carts elsewhere. 

An anti-toll rally draws an underwhelming crowd in Hartford, despite receiving promotion from several influential radio hosts (and we're not talking about Colin McEnroe here).

And while state lawmakers debate religious exemptions for vaccines, a third measles case is confirmed in Connecticut.

This hour, we talk through some of the week’s top stories.

We also consider how a “no-drama” personna is helping Congresswoman Jahana Hayes.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.