Conn. Senate passes temporary TARP bonus tax, GOP says bill hurts state's pro-business image AIG bonus payments controversy - United States - Tax - Business - Accounting

A bill that would impose an extra tax on bonuses paid to Connecticut employees of investment banks and insurers that received federal bailout aid during the economic crisis has passed the state Senate.

The Senate has passed a package of reforms that aims to help Connecticut improve its application for the second round of funding under President Barack Obama's Race to the Top education competition.

WASHINGTON Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's independent bid for the U.S. Senate is prompting comparisons to Sen. Joe Lieberman's 2006 election, when the Connecticut Democrat bucked his party after losing a primary and successfully ran as an independent.

A Kansas Senate committee on Friday endorsed a $417 million tax package that would nearly eliminate an expected shortfall in the 2011 state budget.