New York Times: BANNING plastic bags has become a popular idea in several cities across the country, but some Connecticut lawmakers say their plan to impose a 5-cent tax on all disposable shopping bags not only would help the environment but would also pull in some cash for a state in deep fiscal trouble. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York has called for a 6-cent “bag tax,” following the lead of many European countries that already charge taxes on plastic bags. A similar plan has been proposed in …