The Wheelhouse

Last fall, after United Technologies Corp. announced it would spin off its Otis Elevator and Carrier divisions, then Governor-elect Ned Lamont vowed he would watch the Farmington-based conglomerate "like a hawk" to retain its workforce in Connecticut.

But this weekend's news that UTC would merge with Raytheon Co., and move its headquarters to Waltham, MA., came with little advanced notice to the Lamont administration.

But should it have been all that surprising? Especially given the draw of major economic hubs like Boston, and what some see as a lack of priority by the General Assembly to adequately address the state's relatively stagnant job growth over the past decade?

Today, with Lucy Nalpathanchil from WNPR's Where We Live in the host seat, we assess the political and economic ramifications of UTC's plans. What lessons can the state learn from this latest hit?

We also grade the governor on his ability to herd the General Assembly during the regular legislative session. And we preview the special session likely to be gaveled in later this summer.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last fall, after United Technologies Corp. announced it would spin off its Otis Elevator and Carrier divisions, then Governor-elect Ned Lamont vowed he would watch the Farmington-based conglomerate "like a hawk" to retain its workforce in Connecticut.

But this weekend's news that UTC would merge with Raytheon Co., and move its headquarters to Waltham, MA., came with little advanced notice to the Lamont administration.

But should it have been all that surprising? Especially given the draw of major economic hubs like Boston, and what some see as a lack of priority by the General Assembly to adequately address the state's relatively stagnant job growth over the past decade?

Today, with Lucy Nalpathanchil from WNPR's Where We Live in the host seat, we assess the political and economic ramifications of UTC's plans. What lessons can the state learn from this latest hit?

We also grade the governor on his ability to herd the General Assembly during the regular legislative session. And we preview the special session likely to be gaveled in later this summer.

Support the show.

With more than 24 hours to spare, the legislature's Democratic majorities on Tuesday evening delivered a two-year state budget to Gov. Ned Lamont. It doesn't raise income taxes on the rich, or deplete Connecticut's rainy day fund.

So then, just how does the $43.4 billion plan add up? And how were enough lawmakers brought on board to get it across the finish line?

Today, we dive deep into the budget to get those answers, and address Republican critics' concerns over "pork barrel" spending.

We also look at two curious budget line items. One specifically benefits one of Connecticut's insurance giants. The other exempts the board overeeing a public-private partnership between the state and Connecticut's wealthiest couple from open government and ethics laws. 

And we check out former Gov. Dannel Malloy's latest endeavor: overhauling higher education as chancellor at the University of Maine.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With more than 24 hours to spare, the legislature's Democratic majorities on Tuesday evening delivered a two-year state budget to Gov. Ned Lamont. It doesn't raise income taxes on the rich, or deplete Connecticut's rainy day fund.

So then, just how does the $43.4 billion plan add up? And how were enough lawmakers brought on board to get it across the finish line?

Today, we dive deep into the budget to get those answers, and address Republican critics' concerns over "pork barrel" spending.

We also look at two curious budget line items. One specifically benefits one of Connecticut's insurance giants. The other exempts the board overeeing a public-private partnership between the state and Connecticut's wealthiest couple from open government and ethics laws. 

And we check out former Gov. Dannel Malloy's latest endeavor: overhauling higher education as chancellor at the University of Maine.

Support the show.

It's been a half-century since the torture and eventual murder of wrongly suspected FBI informant Alex Rackney by members of the Black Panther Party. The racial tensions in New Haven that followed when party leaders were put on trial for Rackney's death led to the National Guard patrolling its streets.

In some ways, the city has changed a lot since then. But many of the social problems that provoked New Haven's angst during that period--injustices by police, substandard housing, gentrificaton, and racial disparity--remain unsolved.

This week, we reflect on the Black Panther trials and how New Haven is still recovering as it takes on slumlords, attempts to balance redevelopment and the need for affordable housing, and maintain the community's fragile relationship with law enforcement.

How will those issues play into mayoral races this year in New Haven and other Connecticut cities?

Meanwhile, at the state Capitol in Hartford, lawmakers have only a week left to act on many of the Democratic leadership's top priorities, including paid family medical leave and the creation of a state-subsidized health insurance option.

Will either of those bills join the newly won minimum wage hike at the finish line, or will they pushed off for another session?

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a half-century since the torture and eventual murder of wrongly suspected FBI informant Alex Rackney by members of the Black Panther Party. The racial tensions in New Haven that followed when party leaders were put on trial for Rackney's death led to the National Guard patrolling its streets.

In some ways, the city has changed a lot since then. But many of the social problems that provoked New Haven's angst during that period--injustices by police, substandard housing, gentrificaton, and racial disparity--remain unsolved.

This week, we reflect on the Black Panther trials and how New Haven is still recovering as it takes on slumlords, attempts to balance redevelopment and the need for affordable housing, and maintain the community's fragile relationship with law enforcement.

How will those issues play into mayoral races this year in New Haven and other Connecticut cities?

Meanwhile, at the state Capitol in Hartford, lawmakers have only a week left to act on many of the Democratic leadership's top priorities, including paid family medical leave and the creation of a state-subsidized health insurance option.

Will either of those bills join the newly won minimum wage hike at the finish line, or will they pushed off for another session?

Support the show.

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: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.