Lisa Hagen
Federal policy reporterLisa Hagen is CT Public and CT Mirror’s shared Federal Policy Reporter. Based in Washington, D.C., she focuses on the impact of federal policy in Connecticut and covers the state’s congressional delegation. Lisa previously covered national politics and campaigns for U.S. News & World Report, The Hill and National Journal’s Hotline.
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Congress’ defense policy bill will give its annual boost to Connecticut’s defense contractors, suppliers and workforce, including the authorization of full funding for a Virginia-class submarine and partial funding for a second after disputes this year over procurement amid production delays and federal budget caps. -
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is making a final push to pass the Kids Online Safety Act before the end of the year, arguing there is an “urgency” to get it done in the remaining weeks instead of waiting until the next Congress. -
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., will join Senate leadership in the next session of Congress as he looks to play more of a role in redefining Democrats’ messaging after the party suffered major losses in the November elections. -
The report comes as Congress and the Biden administration have sought to prioritize addressing “junk fees” in various industries, including for travel. -
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Sarah Russell to sit on the U.S. District Court in Connecticut as Democrats scramble to install as many of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees as they can before losing their majority and the White House next year. -
Linda McMahon is expected to succeed Miguel Cardona as the head of the U.S. Department of Education. If confirmed, McMahon would take the helm of a department that President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on eliminating and could oversee a major overhaul. -
Democrats, including Connecticut’s delegation, have a long to-do list of priorities they want to get over the finish line before the end of the year. And they have a heightened sense of urgency to try to get as much as they can done before Republicans have uniform control of Congress and Donald Trump returns to the White House. -
The news comes less than two weeks after Murphy easily won a third term to the U.S. Senate. The couple said the decision was made jointly on amicable terms and that they will co-parent their two teenage sons together going forward. -
The bill got a resounding vote, 327-75, that included support from four of the five members in Connecticut’s delegation.
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While Democrats celebrated victories throughout Connecticut, the national landscape looks vastly different after Donald J. Trump and Republicans stormed back into power. That has left the state’s all-Democratic federal delegation to figure out its place in governing with the GOP taking back the White House and U.S. Senate.
