Autumn Driscoll Demonstrators march from St. Josaphat Ukrainian Church in New Britain to CCSU
Labor Secretary Thomas Perez and Press Secretary Jay Carney gaggled during short flight to Connecticut.
Carney again reiterated that the US is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine.
He said what the US has seen is a broad validation of international support for the government of Ukraine and broad condemnation of Russia’s actions.
He said efforts are underway unilaterally and multilaterally to assist Ukraine and respond to Russia’s actions.
He said Russia has an “easy way out” which is to bring UN or OSCE monitors to Crimea so they can independently assess the situation on the ground and ensure the Ukraine people’s rights are being protected.
He said the Ukrainian government needs to make sure that the rights of ethnic Russians in Ukraine are protected. But he said there is no evidence their rights have not been protected.
Carney confirmed that Israel intercepted “a suspected shipment of illicit Iranian arms” headed to Gaza. He said Israeli and US national security advisors, intelligence and military officials have coordinated on this issue.
The White House directed the Defense Department to develop options to take unilateral steps if necessary soon after becoming aware of the movement of the shipment.
He said while US holds nuclear talks with Iran the administration will continue to stand up to Tehran’s actions. “These illicit actions are unaceptable to the international community,” Carney said.
“We continue to have enormous issues with Iran – its sponsor of terrorist organizations, its bad behavior in the region that manifestsitself in many ways. And we continue to take all the necessary steps to address those challenges, but its ntirely appropriate to continue to pursue the possibility of reaching a resolution on the nuclear program.”
UPDATE 12:46 PM
The fashion worn by @rosaselauro that drew the admiring attention of @BarackObama
Students await the arrival of the #POTUS at the Central Connecticut State University campus for a talk on min. wage.
Certainly will w/Gov Malloy“@swannsteph: @jahimes@BarackObama Perhaps you could speak with him regarding MetroNorth as well? :)”
UPDATE 12:26 PM
POTUS walked down the stairs at 12:16 p.m., where a line of greetersawaited him. He stopped to talk to each one individually. Each governor got a handshake and partial hug.
He was greeted by Maj. General Thaddeus Martin, Adjutant General, Connecticut National Guard; Colonel Frank Detorie, Commander, 103rd Airlift Wing; Dannel Malloy, Governor of Connecticut; Deval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts; Lincoln Chafee, Governor of Rhode Island; Peter Shumlin, Governor of Vermont; Pedro Segarra, Mayor of Hartford; andJames Hayden, First Selectman of East Granby.
Hartford Courant@hartfordcourant
Air Force One making its approach. Watch live coverage at http://www.foxct.com/live #POTUS pic.twitter.com/7O5Xoz4Evz
Neil Vigdor Despite a 45% approval in CT, lowest of his presidency, New Britain is friendly turf for #CTPOTUS #POTUS #ctpolitics
I’m in the front row… #speechless@BarackObamapic.twitter.com/7I5LKoNPEP
.@BarackObama boards Air Force 1 en route New Britain, Conn –
POTUS, wearing a dark suit and blue tie, departed Marine One at 11:07 a.m. He boarded Air Force One. Jay Carney, Dan Pfeiffer, Jake Sullivan, Pete Souza and Marvin Nicholson followed.
Labor Secretary Thomas Perez and Reps. Jim Himes, Rosa DeLauro, Joe Courtney, Elizabeth Esty and John Larson were already on Air Force One.
Flight to Hartford is expected to take about an hour. Carney and Perez are expected to gaggle 20 minutes into the flight.
They were rolling at 11:11 a.m.
Obama is traveling to Central Connecticut State University in New Britain today to amplify his call for Congress to raise the hourly rate from $7.25 to $10.10. It’s a major priority for Obama this year, but it’s not clear Congress will go along.
Governors from Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island and Massachusetts will join Obama to lend their support.
Connecticut’s governor signed a wage hike last year that raises hourly wages to $9 next January. He’s also asked state lawmakers to raise it further to $10.10 in line with Obama’s proposal.
Obama will also stop in Boston to headline two fundraisers for the Democratic National Committee.
The trip comes a day after Obama unveiled his 2015 budget proposal.
We’ll be providing coverage throughout the day.
Tyler Sizemore 
Thousands line up — mostly Central Conn. State University students — for #POTUS visit to New Britain
Winter has made travel back and forth to DC dicey for CT House members. This time I think we’ll be ok.
All aboard Air Force 1 @rosadelauro@jahimes @RepJoeCourtney@RepJohnLarson
