Connecticut's unemployment rate is at a 17-year low. The state has stockpiled $1.2 billion in its budget reserve fund. But it's still not in a position to go on anything resembling a spending spree.Not with state Comptroller Kevin Lembo warning lawmakers against counting on a repeat of last year's spike in tax collections. Job gains in 2018 also were not nearly as robust as initially reported. And no one can rule out the possibility of an economic downturn lurking around the corner.

This week, we take stock of the positive, and less than positive, indicators of the state's fiscal health, and what they could mean for forthcoming state budget negotiations.

Also factoring into the equation is federal funding. President Donald Trump issued his budget proposal this week. While it may be good news for Connecticut's defense industry, it's distressing to those relying on Medicare, Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. We look at who stands to gain and lose the most.

And we discuss renewed calls for a public option health plan, bills to ban plastic bags, and the unfolding college admissions scandal that includes Yale University.

<p>Connecticut's unemployment rate is at a 17-year low. The state has stockpiled $1.2 billion in its budget reserve fund. But it's still not in a position to go on anything resembling a spending spree.</p>
<div id="div-gpt-ad-medium_2" class="ad ad-medium" data-google-query-id="CLW__OW6_-ACFcbbwAodFDcA7w">
<div id="google_ads_iframe_/132595048/wnprnews_medium_3_0__container__" style="border: 0pt none;">Not with state Comptroller Kevin Lembo <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/03/08/lembo-warns-ct-is-not-guaranteed-another-april-tax-bonanza/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warning lawmakers</a> against counting on a repeat of last year's spike in tax collections. Job gains in 2018 also were <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/03/08/ct-unemployment-falls-to-3-8-despite-anemic-jobs-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not nearly as robust</a> as initially reported. And no one can rule out the possibility of an economic downturn lurking around the corner.</div>
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<p>This week, we take stock of the positive, and less than positive, indicators of the state's fiscal health, and what they could mean for forthcoming state budget negotiations.</p>
<p>Also factoring into the equation is federal funding. President Donald Trump <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/03/11/trump-budget-would-boost-virginia-class-sub-production-cut-social-safety-net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued his budget proposal</a> this week. While it may be <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/03/12/pentagon-says-boost-in-eb-subs-sikorsky-copters-needed-to-maintain-readiness/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">good news for Connecticut's defense industry</a>, it's distressing to those relying on Medicare, Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. We look at who stands to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/politics/trump-budget-2020/?utm_term=.12ce5e009eae" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gain and lose</a> the most.</p>
<p>And we discuss renewed calls for a <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/03/07/connecticut-legislators-unveil-public-option-for-health-insurance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">public option health plan</a>, bills to <a href="https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-bags-bottles-environment-hearing-20190311-xci224w7anhkfjmkej6el3upbm-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ban plastic bags</a>, and the unfolding <a href="https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Yale-soccer-coach-implicated-in-college-admission-13682117.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">college admissions scandal</a> that includes Yale University.</p>

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

<p>If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, <em>The Wheelhouse</em> walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.</p>

Connecticut's best journalists come out of the political trenches every Wednesday to join us on WNPR's weekly news roundtable The Wheelhouse.

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