Cut-and-run Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, author of the two largest tax increases in Connecticut history and who refused to talk with Republicans about budget matters for most of his tenure, recently said this: “The Republicans were very proud of producing…

Frank Capra’s 1946 film, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” to be broadcast tonight at 8 by NBC television, is loved most for its personal message of discovery at Christmas: that its hero’s life has been, unbeknownst to him, crucial to his…

Connecticut, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy told a business group last week, is being brought low by its political culture of postponing tough choices. As a result, Malloy said, the state is without the revenue to maintain and improve its transportation…

I dream of “White Christmas” this year. I write of the Irving Berlin classic made famous by Bing Crosby – a sweet, wistful song that holds more power over me with each passing year. According to CBS News, many speculate…

Lately, following the news out of our state and federal governments has been more challenging than ever. It seems that name calling, and maligning one’s political opponent’s character and intent, have nearly replaced any type of respectful dialogue or difference…

Connecticut’s “bipartisan compromise” state budget relieved Gov. Dannel P. Malloy of budgeting by decree, prevented him from moving all school aid from Republican to Democratic towns, and enabled legislators to go home for a while, but it’s still not much…

It would be a grave error to interpose between speakers at the University of Connecticut and their audiences an administrative apparat whose sole purpose is to decide which speakers are acceptable. It still may be possible to learn some lessons…

Poor Al Franken. The Minnesota Democrat was kicked to the curb by a party that, until a few months ago, not only turned a blind eye to sexual misconduct but also lionized serial predators such as Bill Clinton and Ted…

Unions have been on the decline since 1954 – which was their high point in membership as a percentage of the workforce. Today, unions represent 6.4 percent of private-sector employees. Their real strength in membership and funding is the public…

The liturgical year of the Roman Catholic Church begins with the season of Advent on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, “to bring before our eyes the Incarnation of our Lord, the coming of Jesus Christ through Grace” (St. Joseph Daily…

This month marks the 10th anniversary of the passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) and its wildly expansive Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), better known as the ethanol mandate_ President Trump recently paid homage to the RFS, as…

Why doesn’t ageism ever get old? One would think that at a time when we talk about “women’s power,” “gay rights” and “immigrant civil rights,” ageism would be recognized and overturned, too. Chances are, it won’t grow old any time…

Posturing has broken out in the campaigns for the Democratic and Republican nominations for governor of Connecticut. The candidates seem to assume that their primary- election votes will be split many ways, so the outcomes will be determined by single-issue…

How much does character matter in an elected official? And how broadly is character constituted? The suggestion of the recent turmoil in Washington, D.C. – with members of Congress and congressional candidates being accused, investigated, resigning, or urged to resign…

“We have a lot of year-end money left, and we need your help to spend it.” I had been at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for just two months, in September 1980, when that request came to me from…

Like or hate the Republican tax-reform plan, here’s one thing we all can cheer: Beer taxes are going down. According to Business Insider, Senate Republicans included an amendment to their tax plan that “reduces craft brewers’ excise tax from $7…

As Christmas approaches, and I’m out and about doing a bit of shopping, I’m struck by the immensity of the merchandise available and the hordes of shoppers vying with one another. No, this isn’t going to be a diatribe about…

Why can’t we see through walls? This may seem like a childish question, but there actually are a number of sophisticated aspects to this question. In a previous column, I discussed the contextual properties of color, but our ability to…

The phones of House and Senate leaders are ringing off the hook right now, as CEOs and wealthy donors lobby them furiously to lower the top income-tax rate, and insert costly carve-outs into the Republican tax bill to protect their…

Dec. 5 marked an important moment as President Trump made much-needed changes to sweeping land-use designations made under previous administrations. The Trump administration listened to the combined voices of individual citizens, tribal members, small communities and elected officials from the…