Anne Hughes

Dear Neighbor,

I joined several colleagues and hundreds of Connecticut residents for the Medicaid Day of Action outside the Capitol on Tuesday to protest against a Republican-backed resolution that calls for $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid and other programs. (Click here for the CT News Junkie story.)

Let's be clear. Those cuts are pure insanity. Here's what Medicaid covers:

• Nearly a quarter of American families;
• 40% of births are covered by Medicaid; and
• 30% of people with disabilities.

Cuts to one of the most popular social programs in the U.S. will lead to immeasurable suffering, all so the ultrawealthy can reap the benefit of a tax cut they don't need.

The power lies with the people!

Great news out of the Labor and Public Employees Committee, which voted in favor of a bill (HB 6517, which I co-sponsored) requiring employers to disclose salary ranges on public and internal job postings.

The bill, as I am quoted by CT News Junkie, is designed to stop wasting people’s time. Applicants can go through an extended application and interviewing process -- which can take weeks -- before finding out how much the job pays. 

It also can reduce the gender wage gap -- women still earn about 81 cents for every dollar made by men.

Women are underpaid because of the lack of transparency about what their male counterparts would be offered for the same job. The bill will now go before the full house for review.

As March Madness heats up, here's a reminder not to get too carried away.

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, a nationwide campaign to promote prevention, treatment, and recovery services for problem gamblers.

This year's theme, “Seeking Understanding,” focuses on increasing awareness of problem gambling as a serious but often misunderstood mental health condition.

The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates about 2 million people in the U.S. meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem, while another 4 million to 6 million people experience mild or moderate issues. The cost to the country -- $14 billion annually – is incredibly steep. Yet the ability to place a sports-related bet has never been easier – in most cases just a few clicks on a smartphone.

The lower barriers to place bets and the removal of the social stigma on gambling has had devastating consequences for some. Indeed, one of the most vulnerable demographics to problem gambling are youths. The NCPG and Responsible Play CT cite data that shows more than 75% of college students have gambled in the last year.

There are state and national resources for help.

• Responsible Play CT offers information and a toolkit on problem gambling.
• The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling offers trained helpline specialists who connect callers to free, immediate support & treatment options in Connecticut. Its number is 888-789-7777.
• The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (860-344-2244) offers problem gambling services.
• The National Problem Gambling Helpline is available at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
• The NCPG's problem gambling toolkit can be found by clicking here.