Why the Jones Act’s future is dividing Ned Lamont, Joe Courtney

Why the Jones Act’s future is dividing Ned Lamont, Joe Courtney

Faced with widespread voter frustration over energy costs and limited capacity on pipelines delivering natural gas to Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont pitched an idea to Congress during his annual State of the State address in January: “Rethink the Jones Act.” The remark — which referenced a century-old maritime law that limits trade between U.S. ports to American-made ships — drew little attention from the local press or public at the time. The com…