Should strikers get jobless benefits?
The state’s labor committee has sent a proposal to the Senate; here’s why it’s a source of debate
Sen. Julie Kushner, D-danbury, and Sen. Rob C. Sampson, R-wolcott, sit elbow-to-elbow at Labor and Public Employees Committee meetings, amiably sharing a single microphone as one explains why the other is wrong.
In her third term as co-chair of labor, Kushner is a retired UAW executive who ceaselessly pushes the panel to the edge of progressive politics and policy. Sampson, a small-government conservative, is her foil.
The committee this week sent to the Senate bills celebrated by Kushner and bemoaned by Sampson. One would provide unemployment benefits for strikers after two weeks on the picket line.
“To me, it’s an absurd notion on its face,” said Sampson, the ranking Senate Republican on the committee. “People are voluntarily walking off the job.”
Her position well-known, Kushner did not bother to debate in committee. She knew she had the votes to send the measure to the Senate, where a similar bill passed last year at her urging and died without a vote in the House.
“I’m not going to change his mind. So the debate isn’t really necessary,” Kushner said. “I feel pretty confident that my constituents and working families in Connecticut understand why I’m fighting for them. And I’m not concerned that I have to win every argument with Sen. Sampson.”
The labor committee is perhaps the most partisan in the General Assembly, a venue where the prerogatives of management regularly collide with the demands of labor. And the differences embodied by Kushner and Sampson could not be sharper.
“I love this committee for that reason,” Sampson said. “There’s no gray area. You either believe government is the answer, or you believe that government should play a limited role and protect people’s rights so they can come up with their own answers.”
As the Senate co-chair and ranking Senate Republican, Kushner and Sampson sit together at the head of a semi-circular table. A microphone at the end of a gooseneck sits between them, yanked back and forth when they argue.
“It’s never personal,” Kushner
said. “And I appreciate that, because I think that is a healthier relationship, even though we couldn’t be further apart in our thinking about how we should operate as a state, as a society. At the same time, we can have that conversation without the vitriol — in most cases.”
Sampson offered a similar view. “She’s proud of where she stands on the issues. And so am I,” Sampson said. “We have a very friendly dialogue. I don’t like being on the losing side all the time. But that’s, you know, part of being in Connecticut.”
Tracy Morgan: Morgan has had several TV series, movies and stand-up specials since “30 Rock” ended a decade ago, but to many fans, he is still Tracy Jordan from the comedy-show-within-a-comedy-show “TGS.” Morgan, who endured years of rehab following a multi-car crash in 2014, regularly hits the stand-up circuit and has made the Funny Bone at the Shoppes at Buckland Hills (194 Buckland Hills Dr. Suite #1054, Manchester) his club of choice in Connecticut. He is there again on Feb. 24 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and Feb. 25 at 6:30 and 9 p.m. A few of the performances are already sold out. $48. hartford.funnybone.com.
Paula Poundstone: The monologist, radio quiz show panelist, author, occasional political commentator and podcaster has two shows in Connecticut in the coming weeks at Infinity Hall Hartford on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. ($55$79; infinityhall.com) and March 9 at the Sacred Heart Community Theater in Fairfield ($38-$48; shucommunitytheatre.org). Paula Poundstone came up during the comedy craze of the 1980s, standing out from the overwhelming wackiness of the time with her reasoned, more intellectual stand-up.
Trevor Noah: Trevor Noah left his anchor post at “The Daily Show” this past December after announcing his departure barely two months earlier. One of the reasons for leaving was so he could do more stand-up tours. Connecticut has seen more of him than many other states thanks to its proximity to the New York City studios where he worked for the past seven years. Noah’s also branched out to produce news shows and podcasts, and, of course, he’s the author of the bestselling memoir “Born a Crime.” His appearance on March 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Palace Theater at 61 Atlantic St. in Stamford is part of the theater’s annual gala fundraising party, so the tickets may seem a bit steep at $95-$360. palacestamford.org.
Sam Morill has a movie credit to kill for: He played a stand-up comic in the horrific comic book movie “The Joker.” He also does stand-up in real life and is doing an all-ages show on March 9 at 8 p.m. at College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., New
Sam Morrill:
Haven. $35-$45. collegestreetmusichall.com.
Marlon Wayans: Marlon Wayans has gone from the “Scary Movie” movies of the ’90s, to the Netflix hit “The Curse of Bridge Hollow” and the online virtual reality series “Oh Hell No with Marlon Wayans.” In March, he’ll be guest-hosting “The Daily Show” for a week. On March 10 at 8 p.m., he’s at Foxwoods Resort Casino’s Great Cedar Showroom, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket, on his “Microphone Fiend” tour. $39-$59. foxwoods.com.
David Spade: David Spade was on “Saturday Night Live” from 1990-95, a legendary era in the show’s long history. Spade’s castmates included Chris Farley (with whom he starred in the hit movies “Tommy Boy” and “Black Sheep”), Adam Sandler, Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Norm Macdonald, Julia Sweeney, Dennis Miller and many others. He moved on to a slew of movies and such long-running sitcoms as “Just Shoot Me” and “Rules of Engagement.” Currently, he and Carvey co-host a fascinating podcast about “SNL” called “Fly on the Wall.” He also appeared in the all-star postshow discussion following the airing of Norm Macdonald’s posthumous Netflix special “Nothing Special.” Spade is at Foxwoods’ Great Cedar Showroom, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket, March 11 at 8 p.m. $53-$93. foxwoods.com.
Impractical Jokers: “Impractical Jokers” has been a hit on TRUTV
for nine seasons, and its 10th season is airing on both TRUTV and TBS. This is the first season without founding joker Joe Gatto. The troupe started as an all-purpose comedy team called The Tenderloins, then began to specialize in hidden-camera practical jokes. The Impractical Jokers regularly do live tours as well and are returning to the Oakdale Theater, 95 S. Turnpike Road, Wallingford on March 11 at 7 p.m. $39-$323. livenation.com.
Robert Klein: Robert Klein attended the Yale School of Drama (now the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale) and while still studying there entered the then-new world of improv sketch comedy by joining the now-world-famous Second City company. This led to Broadway comedy revues, plays and musicals, movies and a groundbreaking series of live comedy albums that influenced a generation of stand-ups. Now in his 80s, Robert Klein is still providing wry commentary on modern life. He’s at Sacred Heart University Community Theatre, 1420 Post
Road, Fairfield, on March 18 at 8 p.m. It’s a make-up show for a postponed November gig. $40. shucommunitytheatre.org.
Pinky Patel: Pinky Patel is the midwestern Indian-born mom who’s become a Tiktok sensation talking about everyday annoyances and stuff she just finds funny. Her jokes have gotten millions of hits online, which led her to the live stage. Her “Who Dhis?” tour stops March 24 at 8 p.m. at the Ridgefield Playhouse, 8 East Ridge, Ridgefield. $35-$50. ridgefieldplayhouse.org.
Nick Offerman: Since making it big as Ron Swanson on “Parks and Recreation,” Nick Offerman has kept busy as an actor but also as a podcaster, bestselling author and prolific narrator of audiobooks — not just his own but novelists from Mark Twain to George Saunders. That grizzled voice can be heard on March 25 at 8 p.m. at Foxwoods’ Great Cedar Showroom, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket. $32-$55. foxwoods.com.
Kathleen Madigan: Considered one of the top female comics of her generation, Kathleen Madigan appears to be constantly on the road and has entertained Connecticut countless times. She returns on March 31 at 8 p.m. to Foxwoods’ Great Cedar Showroom, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket. $34.75-$59.75. foxwoods.com.