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State News

ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR LOW-INCOME PATIENTS

Oct 13, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

“My office will not stand idly by while [drug makers] prioritize profits over access to affordable prescription medications and other critical medical services for vulnerable communities. Therefore, I urge [Eli Lilly, Astra Zeneca, Merck, Sanofi, and Novartis] to abandon [their] unilateral and unlawful actions,” Attorney General Tong states in the letters. The 340B Drug Pricing Program requires drug manufacturers to provide discounted drugs to eligible health centers and hospitals, including community health centers, nonprofit and public hospitals, and Ryan White HIV/AIDS clinics. The facilities can either directly provide discounted drugs to low-income patients, or contract with pharmacies to dispense the drugs at a discount. Since 1992, the 340B Drug Pricing Program has been a lifeline to low-income patients and community-based health…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES STATE WILL SUPPORT PUBLIC LIBRARIES WITH $2.6M IN CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDS

Oct 8, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is dedicating $2.6 million of Connecticut’s Coronavirus Relief Funds to support the state’s public libraries as they continue to make health and safety improvements and offer more services to residents amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The governor said the funds will be distributed among 65 libraries across Connecticut based on their size and the number of residents they serve each year, which will allow much of the funding to particularly target those that serve low-income urban and rural communities. The funds are anticipated to be largely used to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies, signage, and furniture. The funding announced today is in addition to the Lamont administration’s ongoing…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS LEGISLATION INCREASING ACCOUNTABILITY AMONG CONNECTICUT’S UTILITY COMPANIES AMID SERVICE DISRUPTIONS

Oct 8, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT – Governor Ned Lamont announced that he has signed legislation that increases accountability among Connecticut’s utility companies by implementing a performance-based incentive system that ensures their earnings and profits are tied to good performance and certain penalties can be enacted amid extensive service disruptions. Under the legislation, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) will be responsible for establishing the system, which will focus on several factors such as safety, reliability, storm response, affordability, the state’s environmental goals, customer satisfaction, communication with municipalities, and equity. The bill also enables PURA to implement an interim rate decrease, low-income rate, and economic development rates that provide consumer relief during the current recession, directs the administration to investigate whether Connecticut’s participation in the wholesale…

State News

UTILITY SHUTOFF MORATORIUM HAS ENDED

Oct 7, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Bridgeport, CT- City of Bridgeport officials are advising residents of updates from Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) regarding the end of the utility shut off moratorium which concluded on September 30, 2020. With the end of this moratorium, utility companies may begin to resume regular collection activities for most customers this month. Residential and commercial customers who need assistance are strongly encouraged to enroll in a COVID-19 payment plan by November 1, 2020 with their utility company. Payment plans can last up to 24 months, with no down payment required and no interest or late payment charges. Any customer enrolled in a COVID-19 Payment Program who is current with their payment terms cannot be disconnected even once the Shut-off Moratoriums…

State News

CREATIVE COMMUNITY TO PROTECT YOUNG VIEWERS FROM TOBACCO IMAGERY

Oct 6, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Hartford, CT– Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 43 attorneys general in urging the creative community to take action to protect young viewers from tobacco imagery in streamed movies and programs. The California and Nebraska-led coalition directed letters to five creative guilds as part of an ongoing effort to reduce youth exposure to tobacco. Last year, a coalition of 43 attorneys general sent letters urging the streaming industry to limit tobacco imagery in their video content. The creative guilds’ assistance and support is critical to stopping the renormalization and glamorization of tobacco use, especially youth vaping. “We know that the more depictions of smoking young people see, the more likely they are to begin smoking and vaping, jeopardizing their health and well-being,” said Attorney General Tong. “Smoking kills thousands of Americans…

State News

Governor Asks For Disaster Relief

Oct 3, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – Members of Connecticut Congressional Delegation today sent a letter to President Donald Trump to urge him to grant Governor Ned Lamont’s request for a major disaster declaration following as a result of the damage caused by Tropical Storm Isaias. “The significant outages and damage caused by the storm placed additional burdens on our state and local agencies, volunteers, and first responders at a time when they continue to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – putting some of our most vulnerable populations at risk. Federal assistance is critically necessary in order to facilitate full recovery from the storm,” wrote the delegation members. The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Representatives…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS BILL TO FACILITATE PROCESSING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS DURING UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION

Oct 3, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#HARTFORD, CT – Governor Ned Lamont today signed legislation that will provide municipal election officials with the option of having more time to begin the process of verifying absentee ballots that have been received for the upcoming general election. The use of absentee ballots is anticipated to significantly increase for the November 3, 2020 election due do the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The bill the governor signed today allows local election officials to open the outer envelope used in absentee ballots and verify the legitimacy of the inner envelope beginning on Friday, October 30 at 5:00 p.m., rather than 6:00 a.m. on Election Day, as was previously required. The inner envelope, which contains a voter’s submitted ballot, still cannot be opened…

State News

SENATOR APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF TAKE BACK OUR GRID ACT

Oct 2, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

State Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) is applauding the passage of the "Take Back Our Grid Act" following a lengthy discussion on the Senate floor today. Senate Democrats voted to pass the "Take Back Our Grid Act," vital legislation seeking to change how Connecticut's utilities are run. Most importantly, LCO 4202, "An Act Concerning Emergency Response by Electric Distribution Companies and Revising The Regulation of Other Public Utilities," seeks to hold utility companies accountable for their actions and practices, additionally adding further oversight and restitution for customers who suffer extended power outages. "Utility companies such as United Illuminating and Eversource should be held accountable for how they respond to severe power outages across the state," said Sen. Moore. "It's a shame that we did not learn…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF THE STATE’S SHARED WORK PROGRAM TO HELP EMPLOYERS NAVIGATE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PANDEMIC

Sep 30, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

MIDDLETOWN, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that as companies continue navigating the impact of the ongoing, global COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Connecticut will be expanding its Shared Work program, which helps businesses in the state prevent layoffs by allowing them to temporarily reduce employee hours and use partial unemployment benefits to supplement lost wages. The program will be expanded beginning the week of October 5, 2020. To highlight the expansion, the governor today visited Pegasus Manufacturing, a 133-year-old design and engineering firm located in Middletown that is participating in the program, which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Labor. He was joined by Labor Deputy Commissioner Daryle Dudzinski and representatives from the company. “COVID-19 is impacting businesses…

State News

Governor Calls Special Session

Sep 28, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

The governor’s special session call includes the consideration of legislation on the following policy areas: 1. Establishing a performance-based regulation to hold the state’s electricity, gas, and water companies accountable for the critical services they provide to customers; 2. Ensuring local officials may administer absentee ballots in a secure and orderly manner during the November 2020 general election; 3. Authorizing school construction projects; 4. Updating the state’s Transfer Act; 5. Aligning Connecticut’s hemp program with federal law and providing opportunities for hemp growers and manufacturers in the state; 6. Updating the state’s environmental justice law to require public notice and community benefit agreements in certain circumstances; 7. Providing greater protection for employees in occupations engaged in construction on certain non-residential building, heavy, or highway works projects in…

ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR LOW-INCOME PATIENTS

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES STATE WILL SUPPORT PUBLIC LIBRARIES WITH $2.6M IN CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDS

GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS LEGISLATION INCREASING ACCOUNTABILITY AMONG CONNECTICUT’S UTILITY COMPANIES AMID SERVICE DISRUPTIONS

UTILITY SHUTOFF MORATORIUM HAS ENDED

CREATIVE COMMUNITY TO PROTECT YOUNG VIEWERS FROM TOBACCO IMAGERY

Governor Asks For Disaster Relief

GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS BILL TO FACILITATE PROCESSING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS DURING UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION

SENATOR APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF TAKE BACK OUR GRID ACT

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF THE STATE’S SHARED WORK PROGRAM TO HELP EMPLOYERS NAVIGATE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PANDEMIC

Governor Calls Special Session

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