The two liquor retailers who had been openly defying Connecticut laws on minimum prices have backed down on their crusade. Total Wine & More, the first chain to begin advertising illegal discounts, has agreed to raise its prices, and will pay a fine to the state of $37,500.
The company said in reaching the settlement, it made no admission of wrongdoing or liability. Meanwhile, the Department of Consumer Protection continues to investigate Stamford-based BevMax, but that company has also agreed to abide by the minimum pricing laws once again.
Comptroller Raises Budget Concerns
While this year’s state budget is currently projected to be in balance, state comptroller Kevin Lembo said there are still things to worry about. Lembo’s latest letter to the governor’s budget office notes that income tax withholding is in line with forecasts, so far.
But he said the picture will be clearer once quarterly payments due on September 1 are accounted for -- and he’s concerned about the potential effects of volatility on the stock market on a slice of that income tax. He also noted that targets for spending cuts are becoming more difficult to reach.
Port Authority Appointment
Connecticut’s Port Authority has its first executive director. The authority’s board appointed Evan Matthews, who most recently served as port director for the Quonset Development Corporation in Rhode Island. Matthews' role in Connecticut will be to attract more shipping traffic to Connecticut’s deep water ports, increasing revenue and investing in infrastructure improvements.
