Regulation

Some Connecticut residents are using new technology to save money on their eyeglass or contact prescriptions, but a bill pending before the Connecticut legislature threatens to put a stop to their frugality.

Following a move that proved disastrous for independent grocers in Philadelphia, some Connecticut lawmakers and organizations are looking to institute a 1 cent per ounce tax on all sweetened beverages including soda and sports drinks like Gatorade.

Connecticut has too much red tape, and this year lawmakers from both parties are taking action to cut it. Unemployment for people ages 25 to 34 in Connecticut is abysmal, one of the 10 worst states and in close competition with Mississippi. This depressing statistic should motivate reform, especially the need to cut red tape for people starting their careers.

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously overturned Wednesday a New York law that prevented businesses from charging an extra fee for credit card purchases. The ruling could affect a nearly identical law in Connecticut. Merchants in Connecticut and nine other states can only offer customers a "discount" for using cash but can not charge a "surcharge" for using a credit card.

Despite pushing a tax on grocery bags and a state carbon tax due to environmental concerns, Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Branford, voted against allowing electric vehicle makers to sell their products directly to consumers in Connecticut.