Connecticut

Unlimited debate, fine; but not abuse

Published

1 year ago

March 18, 2025

“My view on politics in Connecticut right now is we’re at war,” Republican State Sen. Rob Sampson said in a recent interview. “We’ve been operating as if it’s peacetime for too long as Connecticut Republicans.”

As Senate President Pro Tem and Senate Majority Leader, we take no joy to inform readers that one of the Connecticut General Assembly’s most time-honored traditions is under attack in this era of ugly and contentious politics. We refer to the longstanding convention of entertaining unlimited debate.

Some residents may be surprised to learn that the majority party in our state legislature has traditionally and voluntarily committed to an open exchange of ideas for as long as its senators and representatives wish to. Long after the Republican Party began to assault the very foundation of our federal institutions, we have let flexibility and the spirit of good faith debate guide us in the State Senate.

At times, this tradition has resulted in marathon debates that have tested the patience of our members. Anyone who has served in the state Senate has likely watched the early morning sun filter through the chamber’s ornate stained-glass windows after a long night spent arguing over the asserted merits or flaws of a particularly contentious bill or amendment.

It is important to note that Connecticut is not typical in observing this custom. In 2009, the non-partisan Office of Legislative Research reported that only 15 state legislatures did not prospectively set limits on debate to effectively expedite the flow of the legislative calendar.

Here in Connecticut, we have chosen not to utilize tools to curtail debate — though those tools certainly do exist. We have maintained this practice both as a professional courtesy to our colleagues and as a reflection of our desire to ensure that the voices of Connecticut residents represented by the minority party are included in our deliberative process.

It has become difficult, however, to continue extending that courtesy to members of a reduced Republican minority when certain members have not only abused that accommodation but boasted about that abuse in the media.

Last Monday, Sen, Sampson claimed to be “humble” as he told reporter Mike Cerulli that he wielded “tremendous power” over the legislature as it nears the end of its session. The claim was based on Senator Sampson’s presumed capacity to abuse the tradition of unlimited debate in order to defeat Democratic priorities simply by talking until the State Senate ran out of time at midnight on the constitutionally mandated final day of the legislative session. “In many ways, I decide what lives and dies. I really do,” Sampson reportedly said.

While we endeavor to ensure that minority party voters’ voices are heard, Senator Sampson, like all state senators, represents approximately 100,000 Connecticut residents. It is difficult to understand why one senator should be permitted to decide “what lives and dies” for the entire state. Such an unbalanced approach defies the spirit of representative democracy.

It is worth noting that voters have seen fit to expand the General Assembly’s Democratic majorities in each of the last four election cycles. The people of Connecticut have voiced their desire for Democratic programs and policies, and we must honor that trust.

While we remain reluctant to abandon our longstanding commitment to forbearance and accommodation, the senator’s own words demonstrate a hostility to the spirit of cooperation and restraint that underpins such patience. Time will tell if the minority party wants this tradition to live or die.

Martin Looney is President Pro Tempore and Bob Duff is Majority Leader of the Connecticut State Senate.

Source link

Connecticut

Hartford Women’s Track & Field Competes at Connecticut College Over the Weekend – University of Hartford Athletics

Published

11 hours ago

April 12, 2026

Press Room

Hartford Women’s Track & Field Competes at Connecticut College Over the Weekend – University of Hartford Athletics

NEW LONDON, Conn. – On Friday and Saturday, the University of Hartford women’s indoor track & field team competed in the Silfen Invitational hosted by Connecticut College.

Rapid Recap:

Graduate student Kayla Pelletier (Southington, Conn.) continued to impress finishing in first in the javelin throw at a distance of 43.73 meters.

Senior Destinee Majett (Brick Township, N.J. ) won the hammer throw hitting 49.15 meters.

Senior Madison DiPasquale (Wallingford, Conn.) would pick up gold in both the shot put and the discus throw. In shot put she hit 11.86 meters. In discus DiPasquale threw 37.67 meters.

Sophomore Tamara Greene (Hartford, Conn.) added a silver medal in the 100 meter hurdles at a time of 14.80.

Junior Jordan Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) would win the heptathlon event scoring 4593. Freshman Emily Breau (Meriden, Conn.) would come in second with a 3722 score.

Freshman Caroline McGinnis (Windsor Locks, Conn.) was third in the triple jump at a distance of 10.59 meters.

Freshman Jaya Pichay (South Windsor, Conn.) would come in 2nd in the 200 meter at a time of 26.00.

Full Results

Up Next:

The Hawks will head to Storrs to compete in the University of Connecticut Multi Meet on April 17th and 18th.

For the latest information on Hartford Athletics follow the Hawks on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

Source link

Connecticut

WNBA Free Agency: Grading Brittney Griner to Connecticut

Published

23 hours ago

April 11, 2026

Press Room

WNBA Free Agency: Grading Brittney Griner to Connecticut

After the Atlanta Dream made the move to bring Angel Reese in from Chicago, many people wondered what Brittney Griner’s future would look like. The All-Star center moved from Phoenix to Atlanta in 2025 for a new opportunity, and was a big a part of the overhauled team that ended the regular season as the three-seed. Yet, with Brionna Jones and now Reese leading their frontcourt, Griner’s role was about to be significantly reduced.

She’ll now make the move to the Connecticut Sun, joining the franchise for their last season in New England before they make the move to Houston.

Source link

Connecticut

Brittney Griner signs with Connecticut Sun in huge payday

Published

1 day ago

April 11, 2026

Press Room

Brittney Griner signs with Connecticut Sun in huge payday

The Connecticut Sun are making a big splash for their final season.

The team has agreed to a seven-figure contract to bring in Britney Griner, according to Sun sideline reporter Terrika Foster-Brasby.

Griner, a nine-time WNBA All-Star and future Hall of Famer, is one of the most decorated players in the history of the league and will be playing in her 13th season since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2013.

The deal also comes after the WNBA introduced its new collective bargaining agreement, which will — among many other advances — raise players’ salaries, making a select group of them millionaires for the first time since the league’s inception.

The move comes one day following Jackie Young’s reported one-year, $1.19 million agreement to return to the Las Vegas Aces.

Griner, who spent last season with the Atlanta Dream, turned 35 this past October, was a standout on what was a surprising run to the league’s No. 3 seed, with the team finishing 30-14.

The 6-foot-9 center started in her first 25 appearances before being moved to an off-the-bench role.

The Baylor alum came off the bench for her final 14 regular-season showings and all three Dream playoff games.

The Dream were eliminated by the Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever in the first round after opening with a 17-point win in Game 1.

Griner finished the 2025 season with career lows of 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.

Griner spent her first 11 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, establishing herself as one of the best players in league history, starring on the 2014 WNBA Champion team, also led by Diana Taurasi and DeWanna Bonner.

The six-time All-WNBA honoree is also a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, having played for Team USA in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Summer Games, with two World Cup titles in 2014 and 2018.

She was also named to the W25, a list honoring the WNBA’s top 25 players of all time in celebration of the league’s 25th anniversary in 2021.

Source link