Water rate hike request, Medicaid changes: CT politics news
Tong opposes Connecticut Water rate hike
Attorney General William Tong asked state regulators on Thursday to block a proposed $25 million rate increase for Connecticut Water customers, saying his office identified roughly $19 million in unjustified costs in the application.
Tong’s filing with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority also seeks to cut the company’s requested return on equity from 10% to 8.3%. PURA has yet to render a decision on the application.
Connecticut Water estimates the increase, if approved, will raise customer bills by an average of $15.54 a month. The company said the increase is being driven by approximately $145 million worth of investments in water infrastructure.
— John Moritz, Energy & Environment Reporter
Blumenthal concerned about Trump’s posture toward Russia
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal is raising alarm bells about the Trump administration’s recent actions regarding Russia — whether that’s been the easing of sanctions or the diesel deal despite the Connecticut Democrats’ legislation — and what that ultimately means for Ukraine.
“The desire basically is to bleed Ukraine, strong-arm them, into submission and it’s part of a pattern that appears very conscious and purposeful,” Blumenthal said on CNN.
Through one of his committees, Blumenthal opened an inquiry Thursday into SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield technologies to get answers about why Ukraine’s military access to it was downgraded.
— Lisa Hagen, Federal Policy Reporter
A focus on women’s health
President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order meant to “strengthen research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for women and girls through every stage of life.” The order establishes a Women’s Health Division within the National Institutes of Health and creates a White House Women’s Health Task Force.
The executive order mentioned several diseases, including osteoporosis, endometriosis, menopause and fibroids, but did not specifically mention reproductive healthcare.
Monday’s executive order also revoked previous executive actions carried out by former President Joe Biden to advance women’s health research and create a dedicated White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research.
— Katy Golvala, Health Reporter
CT delegation warns of Medicaid changes
Members of Connecticut’s federal delegation held events this week criticizing the Trump administration for policy changes that they say will restrict people’s access to affordable healthcare.
U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy appeared in Hartford on Monday and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro joined advocates in New Haven on Thursday.
Both events highlighted pending changes to Medicaid eligibility going into effect on Jan. 1 that state officials estimate could put over 100,000 Connecticut residents at risk of losing coverage if they fail to comply with new work requirements.
— Katy Golvala, Health Reporter
