Connecticut Politics Week in Review: Vaccinated residents can ditch masks May 19, Gov. Ned Lamont says

With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcing Thursday that fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks indoors in most cases, Gov. Ned Lamont was quick to announce that Connecticut will enact the same standards as soon as next week. Some neighboring states, like New York and New Jersey, are still reviewing the CDC's announcement and have not moved as quickly as Connecticut.

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The big story

Vaccinated Connecticut residents can ditch masks May 19: Adhering to revised guidance from CDC, Lamont said fully vaccinated state residents will no longer need to wear masks in most indoor spaces beginning May 19, the same day he had previously announced plans to lift most remaining coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses and gatherings. "Technically speaking, we've got to change our executive orders," the governor said. "But I think you can relax a little bit." Masks will still be required on public transportation and in high-risk spaces such as nursing homes, schools and hospitals, state officials said. The vaccination status of those who are not wearing masks will not be checked or verified. "I like to think people know what the rules are and they'll follow them." Businesses would still be able to require customers to wear masks, but it would no longer be a requirement enforced by the state. The move comes as more than 70% of Connecticut adults have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and the state's new daily coronavirus cases and hospitalizations have been dropping rapidly. There were 222 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Thursday, the lowest number the state has seen since Oct. 21.

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Lamont's emergency powers extended again: The emergency powers Lamont has wielded since March 2020 to combat the coronavirus pandemic have been extended again, this time through July 20. Democrats in the General Assembly who supported the extension said it was necessary for Lamont to maintain his authority to oversee the continuing COVID-19 vaccine rollout as well as handling federal coronavirus relief funding flowing into the state. Republicans objected, saying it was time for the legislature to reassert itself after Lamont has effectively governed by executive order for 14 months. "I think we've weathered the worst part of the storm," said Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield. "I don't think it's necessary at this point in time." But supporters of the extension countered it would be unworkable to have the legislature make timely decisions in an ongoing pandemic. "The executive can do something immediately or overnight," Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney, D-New Haven, said.

UConn president stepping down June 30: Thomas Katsouleas will step down as president of UConn less than two years after taking the job, the Courant learned Thursday. Katsouleas submitted a letter of resignation to the board of trustees in March but the university was waiting until the semester ended and commencement was over to announce the news. He will remain at the university as a highly paid professor, taking advantage of a provision in his contract that allows him to resign as president but remain on the faculty at a salary equal to the highest base faculty salary at the university, about $339,000. Katsouleas had the support of Lamont but his relationship with the trustees had grown strained, officials said. "It wasn't a perfect fit with the board there," Lamont said. "That's all. I love the guy." The university plans to name an interim president next week as it begins its search for Katsouleas' permanent successor.

Nursing home strike averted with pay boost for workers: Thousands of nursing home workers at 26 facilities across the state had planned to strike Friday morning over pay and other issues, but a deal negotiated with help from the Lamont administration and agreed to Thursday averted the work stoppage at the 11th hour. The agreement will boost hourly wages for most nursing home workers to a minimum of $20 and includes money for insurance, pensions and wellness programs. The workers, who were on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic caring for the elderly and sick, currently earn between $12 and $15. The state is not a party to the contract negotiations between unions representing the workers and the homes, but it plays a key role because most of the funding for nursing home patients comes from state and federal Medicaid dollars. The package will cost state taxpayers about $135 million.

State employees must return to offices July 1: Lamont notified state employees who have been working from home since the coronavirus arrived in Connecticut that they are expected to return to their offices by July 1 while those who serve customers must report back a month early on June 1. "In line with businesses across the state, it is time for us to plan for our new normal working environment," the governor wrote in a memo to the employees. He said it was possible more state employees would be allowed to telework in the future as they have been for the past 14 months. Josh Geballe, the state's chief operating officer, said during a Thursday news conference that officials have been pleased with how productive state workers have been working from home. About one-third of state workers -- including state troopers, correction officers and others have been reporting to work throughout the pandemic.

More bond rating upgrades as Connecticut's finances improve: Three Wall Street credit ratings agencies have upgraded Connecticut's bond ratings as the state's financial picture improves. The upgrades from S&P Global Ratings, Kroll and Fitch come on the heels of an upgrade from Moody's Investors Service in March. The higher ratings mean investors have more confidence in Connecticut's finances and the state can borrow money at lower interest rates. "These upgrades by S&P Global, Kroll, Fitch, and Moody's are independent, third-party validations that our administration is putting Connecticut on the right track," Lamont said. The state's last bond rating upgrade came more than 20 years ago. When he took office in 2019 Lamont put Connecticut on a "debt diet" of reduced borrowing and warned against raiding the state's rainy day fund that is now projected to grow to about $4 billion when the fiscal year ends next month.

Odds and ends

Bob Ward, who served 22 years in the state House of Representatives including a dozen as House Republican leader, died May 9 at his home in North Branford. He was 68. "Bob Ward was a true gentleman and the nicest person you could meet in politics -- qualities not always seen in this business today," the current House Republican leader, Rep. Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said. After retiring from the legislature in 2006 Ward became commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles and later the Republican state auditor. ... Len Fasano, the former Senate Republican leader in the General Assembly, is returning to the Capitol in one of two appointment positions overseeing the legislature's nonpartisan legal staff. The part-time position pays about $55,000 a year. "It gives me an opportunity to come back to a place I love," he said at a confirmation hearing Monday. Fasano decided against seeking reelection in 2020 after 18 years in the legislature. ... Simsbury First Selectman Eric Wellman will not seek reelection in November after two terms in the town's top elected office. Wellman, a Democrat, is planning to remain on the board, but not in the top post. "With a new job and a young family, it's time for my service to Simsbury to continue as a regular board member," he said. ... Gage Frank, the manager of Justin Elicker's successful 2019 mayoral campaign where he defeated incumbent Toni Harp, is leaving his post as Elicker's chief spokesman to take the same job with state Treasurer Shawn Wooden. "This is honestly a bittersweet moment for me," Frank wrote in an email to city hall colleagues published by the New Haven Independent. "I am going to truly miss working with you all, fighting for the rights of our residents, solving issues in the community, and carrying the task of creating an equitable City where everyone can have the opportunity to actualize their fullest potential, and thrive." ... Craig Stevenson resigned as chairman of the East Hartford Democratic Town Committee after being featured in a YouTube video shot by a vigilante group that seeks to expose sexual predators, according to local legislators. Stevenson is also the subject of a police investigation. No charges have been filed against him. "While a police investigation is necessary, what appears to take place in the video does not represent the values of our community," reads a statement signed by Sen. Saud Anwar, House Majority Leader Rep. Jason Rojas, Rep. Jeff Currey and Rep. Henry Genga.

Russell Blair can be reached at rblair@courant.com.

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