Connecticut's cable TV and online public affairs network is ending its coverage of the state government at 5pm after severe budget cuts.

The network has provided gavel-to-gavel coverage of executive, legislative, and judicial branch hearings and meetings since 1999.  Danbury State Representative Bob Godfrey was the lead proponent in creating the network.

The Connecticut Public Affairs Network, which operates CT-N, is blaming a "drastic reduction" in funding and an increasing effort by lawmakers to control the network's coverage.  The executive and judicial branch coverage would be curtailed.

The contract is $2.4 million annually, but lawmakers budgeted just $1.6 million. 

Godfrey told CT News Junkie that the new contract turns it from a news medium into “an in-house propaganda machine for the legislature.”  While it would allow gavel-to-gavel coverage, but not the press conference afterwards.

The budget also cancels bonding to install new high definition cameras to replace stationary video cameras in the legislative hearing rooms, which have been there since the network was created.  18 new cameras were bought two years ago, but the funding to have them installed hasn't been released.