State Feed: Connecticut

Connecticut: Senate candidate gets endorsement of state initiative group

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:44:35 -0400

Connecticut U.S. Senate candidate John Mertens has received the endorsements of two different non-partisan organizations. The Connecticut Citizens for Ballot Initiative, a non-partisan grass roots organization dedicated to bringing Initiative and Referendum to Connecticut, issued a press release today announcing the endorsement.

Read the story from the Independent Political Report

Press Release: Former State Legislator Honored for Work to Bring Initiative Process to Connecticut

Staff — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:00:19 -0400

(LAKE RIDGE, VA) – Today, Citizens in Charge Foundation, a national voter rights group focused on the ballot initiative and referendum process, presented former Connecticut State Legislator John Woodcock with the October 2010 Lilburne Award. John is being honored this month for his ongoing efforts to bring statewide initiative and referendum rights to the citizens of Connecticut.

If you look for facts about California's initiative process, you sometimes find them

Staff — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:45:21 -0400

Bob Englehart of the Hartford Courant has a funny cartoon today. It shows California tied in a knot and says Connecticut voters reject calls for initiative rights because it was the initiative that got the Golden State all screwed up. It’s funny because it is just so wrong: Bob really should have done his homework before he penned it. If he had, he would know that California’s initiative process isn’t to blame for the state’s budget and governance woes.

Super Ballot Box

Staff — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:43:25 -0400

John Woodcock and Connecticut Citizens for Ballot Initiative are trying to bring initiative & referendum rights to Connecticut citizens. John has an op-ed in today’s Hartford Courant that is worth a read:

CT Citizens for Ballot Initiative: Major Newspaper Editorial Supports Ballot Initiative and Referendum

Staff — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:02:55 -0400

Connecticut Citizens for Ballot Initiative would like to share with you the October 3, 2010 Boston Sunday Globe editorial, circulation 400,000, endorsing the Connecticut Citizens for Ballot Initiative’s campaign to bring a statewide initiative and referendum mechanism to Connecticut.

Boston Globe: This Citizen Initiative Thing Might Actually Be a Good Idea

Staff — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:21:33 -0400

The Boston Globe had an editorial yesterday supporting the initiative & referendum process:

VIDEO: Toolbox of Democracy

Staff — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:48:33 -0400

Last week Citizens in Charge held a joint press conference with Connecticut Citizens for Ballot Initiative at the State Capitol in Hartford to release the Connecticut results of our nationwide poll on support for initiative & referendum.

We just posted a video of the event with a mashup of some of the different speakers at the press conference. It’s posted on the website and on our YouTube Channel. Make sure to check it out.

Connecticut: Group spurring referendum process in state

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:08:53 -0400

Should Connecticut voters have the right to vote up or down on major public issues? Half the states in the country have a referendum process, but not Connecticut and a group has been formed to change that. Maybe it’s prompted by the Tea Party’ movement, or maybe it’s just general voter discontent but it appears more and more people like the idea.

Read the story from WTNH 8

Connecticut: Republicans, Independents Back Initiatives

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:25:17 -0400

An unlikely coalition of Independent, Green and Republican party candidates are trying to revive a proposal rejected by voters two years ago: Amend the state constitution to allow ballot initiatives. In a press conference Wednesday, they presented a survey conducted by Pulse Opinion Research that found 65 percent of the 500 state voters surveyed favor allowing ballot initiatives, with 14 percent opposed and 20 percent are not sure.

Read the story from The CT Mirror

Voters Want a Voice and a Vote

Staff — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:02:39 -0400

From the press conference this morning in Hartford, CT here is a writeup on Connecticut News Junkie:

Connecticut: Voters want a voice and a vote

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:09:08 -0400

Buoyed by a poll that says 65 percent of Connecticut voters support initiative and referendum a group of advocates and candidates in favor of the concept met at the state Capitol Wednesday to promote the idea.

Press Conference: Connecticut Citizens Want Direct Say in Government

Staff — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:08:10 -0400

(HARTFORD, CT) – Citizens in Charge, a national voter rights group focused on the ballot initiative and referendum process, along with Connecticut Citizens for Ballot Initiative, will be holding a press conference Wednesday morning in Hartford, CT to release the findings of a statewide poll on support for initiative & referendum rights.

Connecticut Voters Want Initiative Rights

Staff — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:00:17 -0500

Citizens around the country are clamoring for more of a voice in their government. They are tired of being dictated to from Washington, DC and state capitols around the country. Populist sentiment is building, and one state that illustrates that quite well is Connecticut. John Woodcock III is the chairman of the Connecticut Citizens for Ballot Initiative, a group that is pushing to bring initiative & referendum rights to the citizens of Connecticut.

Connecticut: People Deserve a Stronger Voice

Staff — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:18:29 -0500

The following appeared as an op-ed in Monday’s Connecticut Post:

What If Connecticut Had Initiative & Referendum Rights?

Staff — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:18:45 -0400

If Connecticut had state-wide initiative & referendum rights, citizens could hold accountable a government that promised not to raise the state’s tax level above a certain percentage.

Citizens in Charge Foundation President Paul Jacob, recently wrote one of his daily Common Sense columns about Connecticut’s tax troubles and the affect they can have on a state:

Connecticut used to be one of the go-to places for escaping state income taxes.

What If Connecticut Had Initiative & Referendum Rights?

Staff — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:18:45 -0400

If Connecticut had state-wide initiative & referendum rights, citizens could hold accountable a government that promised not to raise the state’s tax level above a certain percentage.

Citizens in Charge Foundation President Paul Jacob, recently wrote one of his daily Common Sense columns about Connecticut’s tax troubles and the affect they can have on a state:

Connecticut used to be one of the go-to places for escaping state income taxes.

Signatures gathered for alcohol petition in Connecticut town

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:39:49 -0400

Active supporters of allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages in town — other than in restaurants — are poised to raise a toast and cheer. The citizens group Wilton for Wine, which advocates permitting package stores here, reports that it believes it has gathered more than enough signatures to place the question on the ballot at this fall’s town election. “We’ve been overwhelmed with how positive the response has been,” said Barbara Bangser, a member of the group, referring to the petition process that has been under way this summer.

Fairfield, CT Referendum Fails to Get Enough Signatures

Wed, 20 May 2009 11:35:38 -0400

Supporters of an effort to put the town’s $139 million school budget to a referendum failed to gain enough signatures. Supporters gained 1,225 of the 1,833 signatures needed to trigger a referendum.

Read the story from the Connecticut Post

Marriage debate prompts calls for initiative process in Connecticut

Thu, 14 May 2009 10:01:56 -0400

A coalition of same-sex marriage opponents and taxpayer groups is trying to persuade voters to approve a state constitutional convention in the hopes of bringing the initiative petition process to Connecticut.

Read the story from Fox News

Mayor plans $5.3 million in budget cuts (Referendum)

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:03:30 -0500

Mayor Melody A. Currey released a budget proposal Thursday that would cut spending by $5.3 million, against the backdrop of what she called “the worst economy since the Great Depression.”

The proposed 2009-10 budget of about $151.4 million also would not raise taxes, keeping the tax rate at 31.67 mills.