Malzberg | Leah Wright Rigueur discusses her new book, "The Loneliness of the Black Republican:
Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School joins Steve to discuss her new book, "The Loneliness of the Black Republican: Pragmatic Politics and the Pursuit of Power"
By: NewsmaxTV
Republican NC Mayor #39;s fight to expand Medicaid continues...
Thom Hartmann talks with Mayor Adam O #39;Neal, Republican Mayor of Bellhaven, NC, Website: http://www.SaveOurHospital.org, about his efforts to save his community #39;s only hospital and to expand Medicaid.
By: thomhartmann
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Republican NC Mayor's fight to expand Medicaid continues... - Video
MANCHESTER A Republican member of the board of directors on Wednesday accused Democrats of stifling a resolution meant to stress the urgent need for action on state-run group homes in town.
"The residents of Manchester deserve action when the public safety of our families is at stake, and I, along with my Republican colleagues, are saddened that the Democratic majority has chosen inaction and paralysis over going on the record," board member Matthew Galligan wrote in a statement.
But Mayor Jay Moran, a Democrat and the board's majority leader, said Galligan's charges are premature and without merit.
A task force that Moran appointed to find solutions to what town officials say is an unfair overabundance of state group homes in town has called for a three-year moratorium on such facilities, a mandate for state notification to towns before group homes are established and better training for group home staff, among other recommendations.
State legislators representing Manchester have introduced two bills, one calling for a state task force to determine equitable distribution of group homes. the other, more narrowly focused on the state Department of Correction, seeking a requirement that the department commissioner notify municipal leaders before residential programs are established.
The recent focus on group homes came after a raucous meeting in October over residents' objections to a group home for convicted sex offenders on Cllinton Street. East Side residents and local leaders criticized the correction department for failing to notify the town when the facility was established in a neighborhood with many single women and children.
The problem, however, is much bigger than one group home, local leaders say. Town police, fire, medical and human services personnel have been dealing with increasing calls to state residential placement facilities, incurring costs that surrounding communities do not share.
A resolution supporting the task force recommendations was on the directors' agenda Tuesday, but the matter was tabled in a 5-4 vote along party lines. Galligan said Democrats shelved the issue without discussion, proving that the bipartisanship Democrats have constantly promoted is a sham.
But Moran said the board's interest in solutions to the problem is still very much alive. In fact, he was ready to support the resolution Tuesday, Moran said, but other board members wanted more time to study the matter and research the proposed bills.
Before tabling the proposed resolution, board members briefly questioned the task force co-chairmen, Police Chief Marc Montminy and Human Services Director Mary Roche Cronin. While all members were generally supportive of the task force recommendations, Democratic board member Lisa O'Neill asked about the legality of the proposed three-year moratorium on group homes. Another Democrat, Rudy Kissmann, said he also would like to hear an opinion from Town Attorney Ryan Barry on the legal issues.
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Manchester Republican Says Democrats Suffer 'Paralysis' On Group Homes
MIDDLETOWN Republican Councilwoman Sandra Russo-Driska said she has submitted a request to her town committee to be the party's candidate for mayor in the November municipal election.
Russo-Driska worked for the city for 30 years and was the city and town clerk for 17 years. She retired in 2013 and opened a boutique on Newfield Street before moving the shop to Main Street last year.
She is serving her first term on the council, and said she's been considering a run for mayor for several months.
"I've been involved for 30-plus years," Russo-Driska said. "I worked for nine different administrations, both Republican and Democrat."
She said in the months leading up to her retirement, "I was going to open my boutique and sail off into the sunset," but said she saw too much negativity in the city.
"The political climate is such that I decided it was a good time to try to make some positive changes," Russo-Driska said.
With months to go still before town committees make official endorsements, potential candidates have already begun exploring a run for the mayor's office.
Mayor Daniel Drew, a Democrat, announced in January that he is running for a third term. Councilwoman Hope Kasper, also a Democrat, said she is considering challenging the mayor in a primary.
Republican Councilman Sebastian Giuliano, who was mayor for three terms until losing in 2011, told The Courant he is also considering another run. He said he would not decide for sure until later in February.
In this year's election, candidates for mayor and common council will be running for four-year terms. Voters last year approved a charter revision to lengthen the terms for both offices from two years to four years.
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Russo-Driska Seeks Republican Nomination For Middletown Mayor
Republican divide over Jeb Bush / Election 2016, Iowa
Republican divide over Jeb Bush Republican hopefuls made their pitch to more than a thousand party activists at the Freedom Summit. David Corn, Amanda Terkel...
By: MSNBC News
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Republican divide over Jeb Bush / Election 2016, Iowa - Video