Mike Savino

1 week ago | nbcconnecticut.com | Mike Savino

Democratic lawmakers said they continued to get closer on a budget deal Friday as they also juggled other key votes in the final days of the legislative session. Those included a House vote on a bill to give striking workers unemployment compensation, despite a veto threat from Gov. Ned Lamont, and a Senate bill to create an endowment to fund childcare. The childcare expansion was a key budget priority for both Democrats and Lamont.

1 week ago | nbcconnecticut.com | Mike Savino

Democratic lawmakers touted a plan Thursday that they said will help local school districts with special education costs. The bill includes steps intended to make special education more affordable in the future and additional funding to help with costs in the short term. "We want districts to be able to expand their services in house and provide what they can in their school buildings as much as possible," Rep. Maryam Khan (D-Windsor) said.

1 week ago | nbcconnecticut.com | Mike Savino

Sen. Chris Murphy is once again walking across the state, but this year's tour comes amid questions about the federal government, the Democratic party and his own political career. Murphy (D-Connecticut) said the walk is about reconnecting with voters, though. "The things that are dominating the news headlines, like the war in Russia or corruption, they don't rise to the level of what matters to people in these communities," he said during a stop in Sharon on Wednesday.

1 week ago | nbcconnecticut.com | Mike Savino

Budget talks between Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Ned Lamont hit a hurdle with one week left in the legislative session. Lawmakers think they have a solution: adopt a one-year budget and continue talks on the second year in the fall. "A one-year budget, in my opinion, looks more and more likely," Rep. Matt Ritter (D-House Speaker) told reporters Wednesday at the capitol. That would mark a dramatic change, as the state has been adopting two-year budgets for more than 40 years.

1 week ago | nbcconnecticut.com | Mike Savino

The House of Representatives took up legislation Tuesday aimed at increasing affordable housing around the state, despite pushback from municipalities. Democrats said the bill was a compromise to get cities and towns to allow for the construction of more affordable housing as the state seeks to add 100,000 units. "It's a more balanced bill than I think it's being portrayed on Facebook and on individual calls that our members are getting," Rep. Jason Rojas (D-Majority Leader) said.