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Trump administration says it's halting Harvard's ability to enroll international students; Post-George Floyd, MN communities drive Black wealth building; FL's fluoride ban sparks concerns over dental health; Despite barriers, TN adults want college degrees.

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A deadlocked Supreme Court prevents nation's first publicly funded religious school, House Republicans celebrate passage of their domestic policy bill, and Trump administration sues states for taking climate action.

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Despite lawmaker efforts, rural communities still short of crucial broadband, new Trump administration priorities force USDA grant recipients to reapply, and Appalachia's traditional broom-making craft gets an economic boost from an international nonprofit.

Critics: CT State of State Address Not Bold Enough

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Tuesday, January 10, 2023   

Governor Ned Lamont's State of the State speech addressed numerous issues affecting the state, but some felt it did not go far enough. Lamont spoke about growing the state's workforce to fill vacant jobs, a middle-class tax cut, and rising housing and health-care costs.

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, 66% of Connecticut's extremely low-income renters are severely cost burdened.

Tom Swan, executive director with Connecticut Citizen Action Group, said there are other issues facing the state Lamont should have addressed, one being inequality.

"I think the governor should put forward a proposal to cut poverty in half over the next four years," Swan said. "I think he should make a commitment to getting every child a real equal opportunity through education. I think Connecticut should be a real leader, in terms of climate justice."

Swan added health-care corporations do not need to prioritize profits to make health care affordable. He said the big highlight of the speech was Lamont acknowledging there is a housing affordability problem in the state.

Overall, he remained confident there will be movement on these issues, but he is not sure how much will be done in the course of one year.

While the speech addressed numerous issues plaguing the state, Swan said bolder solutions should be used, including keeping free bus transit and continuing to expand the state's public health program.


"The governor has shown a willingness to do some things in these areas," Swan said. "It's just, I don't think that he's been bold enough and fought hard enough for them. It's more of a caretaker type of approach as opposed to addressing the root problems."

He said Lamont has the political capital to make change happen in bolder ways, and referred to Lamont's 2006 campaign for the U.S. Senate, saying the message was to rock the boat. But, he said, this speech did not advocate for that, and instead stayed the course on statewide issues.


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