Category: State News

Fairfield – State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) concerned about the growing chorus of residents suddenly unemployed by the economic upheaval of the Covid-19 pandemic and their frustration on lack of information and claim status wanted accountability and answers from the CT Department of Labor (CT DOL). Hwang joined the entire Senate Republican Caucus in a letter sent to CT DOL Commissioner Kurt Westby, making very specific requests for detailed information surrounding how the agency is handling the sharp surge in new unemployment claims.

 

“Unemployment applications have skyrocketed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic with the Governor’s orders to close all non-essential businesses. I hear every day from constituents who have been trying to get in touch with the CT DOL, are worried about the status of their claim and are depending on a response to be able to provide for themselves and their families,” said Senator Hwang.

 

CT DOL announced on April 15, 2020 that significant computer system upgrades have been made with the goal of speeding unemployment claims processing, the letter asked for an update this week on how those upgrades are working to help constituents obtain the financial assistance they desperately need and have been waiting on for many weeks.

 

“While the necessary tech upgrades are a positive step to improving this situation, that is not enough,” said Senator Hwang. “I have spoken with countless people who are not able to apply for benefits themselves because they are not able to access a computer or the internet. I have others with questions about their claims who need to talk to someone.  What steps are the Department and the administration taking to make this process smoother and more responsive in Connecticut?”

 

Click HERE to read the letter.

The letter included the following asks:

1. A summary of the 60,000 claim test performed on April 15, 2020.
2. How many claims have been processed since the system upgrades were implemented,
3. How many outstanding claims remain.
4. Whether or not the CT DOL remains on track to begin distributing the additional weekly $600 benefit in federal stimulus funds by April 24th.
5. Whether or not CT DOL remains on track to begin the new benefit program for self-employed individuals by April 30th.
6. A timeline for processing claims over the phone.
7. A timeline for being able to address case specific questions over the phone.

 

“We are all facing major changes to our daily lives as we adapt to a new reality during this unprecedented health crisis. It’s a challenging time fraught with fear and uncertainty. It’s imperative that Connecticut’s workers have access to information and personnel handling if, when and how their next paycheck may arrive.  The public health concerns are eclipsed with financial concerns when your return to work is unknown. I offer my services if they are needed in making the necessary changes to get the unemployment system operational, said Senator Hwang. “Transparency, responsiveness and accountability are essential to the process. Working together is the only way to overcome this pandemic health and economic upheaval.”

 

State Senator Tony Hwang serves CT’s 28th District, which includes the towns of Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Westport, and Weston.

 

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#Hartford, CT – Attorney General William Tong issued the following statement in support of Governor Lamont’s executive orders:

“Our Constitution is unambiguous (not open to more than one interpretation)—the Governor has broad authority to protect Connecticut families during a public health emergency. His executive orders have been both lawful and justified and I am behind him 150 percent. We are focused on only one thing—keeping people safe and saving lives. Every action we take serves that purpose, and every order has been appropriate and absolutely necessary.

People are frustrated and impatient. I get that. I want my old life back too. I want businesses to reopen. I want my kids back in school. I want to be able to see my parents and my grandmother.

But none of that matters more than the health and safety of the people of Connecticut. Staying home right now is not only about protecting ourselves as individuals. It is about protecting our front line healthcare workers, our first responders, our food service workers, our delivery drivers and so many others who cannot stay home right now. What we do as individuals impacts everyone around us.

To those gathering in the streets right now and to the elected leaders fomenting these rallies for personal political gain—your actions put us all at risk. It is not just about you.

We need every one of us doing everything we can to give our hospitals the space they need to save as many lives as possible. That is what matters right now. We are in this together and we will get through this together.”

 

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#WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined 12 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin demanding an exemption for direct assistance checks from debt collectors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Families across the nation are in dire need of assistance to pay their rent and put food on the table.

 

“We ask you to act right away to use Treasury’s rulemaking authority to exempt Americans’ direct assistance payments from private debt collection so that American families can receive critical assistance to help them get through this unprecedented crisis,” the Senators wrote.

 

The Senators continued, “The American people are struggling right now to find ways to navigate the current crisis and keep themselves and their families healthy. They need this assistance more than ever and it is Treasury’s responsibility to act and ensure that every American family who is eligible for the assistance can receive its full benefit. We ask you to ensure that direct assistance checks cannot be garnished for private debt collection purposes.”

 

Joining Blumenthal and Murphy on the letter are Senators Harris (D-CA)  Durbin (D-IL), Sanders (I-VT), Schatz (D-HI), Van Hollen (D-MD), Merkley (D-OR), Murray (D-WA), Jones (D-AL), Whitehouse (D-RI), Baldwin (D-WI), Klobuchar (D-MN), Smith (D-MN).

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Doug Jones (D-AL) today released a proposal to establish a ‘Paycheck Security’ program to cover the wages and benefits of employees of affected businesses and non-profits until the economic and public health crisis is resolved.

“Instead of allowing businesses to go into free fall and trying to pick up the pieces later, we’re proposing a guardrail at the edge of the precipice. Our plan gives workers the steady comfort of a consistent paycheck from an employer they can go back to when the crisis abates. And we’re offering business the ability to hold onto those workers, so they can start up again as easily as possible. If we fail to take aggressive relief measures now, we’ll kneecap our future recovery,” said Sen. Blumenthal.

“The health and economic crisis brought on by COVID-19 is unprecedented in American history. More than 22 million people have already filed unemployment claims, and projections suggest that the unemployment rate could top that of the Great Depression by this summer if Congress does not do more to help businesses and workers stay afloat,” said Sen. Warner. “While Congress quickly took some steps with the PPP program and expanding access to disaster relief loans, these early lifelines will not be enough on their own to prevent more job losses and alleviate the economic uncertainty. It will be much less costly to our economy and our country in the long run if we can offer direct grants to businesses facing heavy losses so that they can keep workers on payroll and benefits through the next several months of this crisis. Otherwise, we could see millions more businesses go bankrupt, leave millions more Americans out of work, and make it that much harder to get our economy going again once we get through this public health emergency.”

“With 22 million Americans filing for unemployment and up to 35 million expected to become uninsured, we are the only wealthy nation on Earth where our people are losing jobs and health care at precisely the moment that they need them the most,” said Sen. Sanders. “This is a man-made crisis. Our job now is to join the rest of the industrialized world and pass the Paycheck Security Act. This is not a partisan issue: People across the political spectrum agree that Congress has got to build upon previous legislation to keep people on their employers’ payrolls and fully restore the wages and benefits of every rank-and-file worker in America during this pandemic.”

“While we’re taking drastic steps to ensure the health and safety of the American people, we must also keep our hard-hit small businesses and their employees financially secure,” Sen. Jones said. “The Paycheck Security Act will put existing infrastructure to work to help companies maintain payroll while cutting the red tape that’s slowing down relief to the American workers who need it most. Folks on both sides of the aisle agree we have to do more at the federal level to help small businesses and their employees, especially as it appears we’ll have a slow, staggered process to get folks back to work. This proposal is a creative solution that we can be implemented quickly to help businesses and workers in Alabama and across the country.”

Under the terms of the Senators’ paycheck security proposal:

• All employers who have suffered a month-over-month drop in revenues of at least 20 percent will be eligible to receive grants covering a portion of payroll and benefits for at least the next six months.
• Grants will cover salaries and wages up to $90,000 for each furloughed or laid off employee, plus benefits, as well as up to an additional 20 percent of revenues to cover fixed operating costs such as rent, utilities, insurance policies, and maintenance.
• Employers and non-profits of all sizes will be eligible if they can verify revenue losses and don’t otherwise have more than 18 months of their payroll available in cash.
• Businesses that have received a Paycheck Protection Program loan or an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, or have otherwise accessed the Federal Reserve 13(3) facilities, will be ineligible, unless they exhaust these other programs or use the Payroll Security Program grant to pay back their existing loans.

The Senators released an extensive white paper detailing eligibility, verification, and other contours of their proposal, which is available here.

“We are headed toward catastrophic levels of unemployment–20% or higher–and we must act to ensure that millions more workers are paid for as long as this crisis endures by making support for employers who keep workers on payroll simpler, faster and more universal. The Paycheck Security Act does just that,” said Richard L. Trumka, President, AFL-CIO.

“The Paycheck Security Act is a bold program of grants, not loans, appropriately scaled to meet the massive challenge facing workers and firms. Equally important, it’s designed to be quickly and efficiently executed,” said Jared Bernstein, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

 

“The Paycheck Security proposal is the right solution at the right time.  It supports workers, keeps businesses afloat, and plays an oversized told in saving the American economy,” said John Bridgeland, former Director of the White House Domestic Policy for George W. Bush. “These Senators recognize that Congress should be supporting employment, not massive unemployment.  We need this smart proposal to be enacted now.”

“The most important thing we can do for workers and our economy is keep as many people as possible connected to their jobs, paychecks and healthcare. The best way to do that is to make it easy for employers to keep payroll running–regardless of whether workers are coming in–and at the same time to rein in the worst corporate behavior. That’s what we did for aviation workers in the CARES Act, and it’s what the Paycheck Security Act would accomplish for tens of millions more workers,” said Sara Nelson, the International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO.

“To prevent another Great Depression, the government must protect workers and businesses while the coronavirus crisis rages. The Paycheck Security Act provides bold and much-needed support to our communities, allowing workers to remain on payroll and covered by their health insurance. It will save millions of jobs and put the United States on track for a faster recovery,” said Gabriel Zucman, Professor of Economics, University of California Berkeley.

 

“Workers and their families are paying the price for going into the current crisis with a weak social insurance system and public safety net. Given this pre-existing weakness, transformative responses to this economic crisis have to be put together on the fly, and the Paycheck Security Act is a bold solution to provide needed relief during the lockdown period of the crisis and would put us in much better position to mount a rapid recovery once the public health all-clear was sounded,” said Josh Bivens, Director of Research, Economic Policy Institute.

 

“The Paycheck Security Act addresses the issue we face head on: government keeps businesses alive and workers paid and safe while our economy is in hibernation. It will save tens of millions of jobs and millions of businesses from destruction. Our people and economy will be able spring back to work as soon as it is safe to do so,” said Emmanuel Saez, Professor of Economics, University of California Berkeley.

 

“We’re thrilled the Senators are seeking long-term grant assistance for businesses harmed by COVID-19 in his proposal for the Paycheck Security Program,” said John Arensmeyer, CEO of Small Business Majority. “This will provide a much more streamlined process that will allow businesses to continue to operate and keep people employed, and it will help the most vulnerable small businesses that have been left behind by the inefficient and underfunded Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The Senators’ proposal addresses the needs of businesses and their employees now and throughout the rest of this crisis, reducing the need to keep going back to Congress for band-aid fixes.”

 

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HARTFORD, CT) – Recognizing that their states have one integrated regional economy, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Delaware Governor John Carney announced Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker is joining the multi-state council to restore the economy and get people back to work. This announcement builds on the states’ ongoing regional approach to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The coordinating group – comprised of one health expert, one economic development expert and the respective chief of staff from each state – will work together to develop a fully integrated regional framework to gradually lift the states’ stay at home orders while minimizing the risk of increased spread of the virus.

 

The council will create this framework using every tool available to accomplish the goal of easing social isolation without triggering renewed spread – including testing, contact tracing, treatment and social distancing – and will rely on the best available scientific, statistical, social and economic information to manage and evaluate those tools.

 

Governor Lamont announced that Connecticut’s representatives on the group will include Indra Nooyi, who is the co-chair of the nonprofit organization AdvanceCT and former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo; Albert Ko, MD, who is a professor of Epidemiology and Medicine and a department chair at the Yale School of Public Health; and Paul Mounds Jr., who serves as chief of staff in the Office of the Governor.

 

Governor Lamont said, “One thing that’s undeniable is that this virus does not stop at the border of any county, state, or country, but the impact is the same when it comes to our respective economies and healthcare systems. Working as a regional coalition to make the right decisions will lead to the best public health results for all of our residents. We must solve these problems together.”

 

Governor Cuomo said, “We have been collaborating closely with our neighboring states to combat this pandemic through a uniform approach to social distancing and density reduction and it has been working well. Now it is time to start opening the valve slowly and carefully while watching the infection rate meter so we don’t trigger a second wave of new infections. This is not a light switch that we can just flick on and everything goes back to normal – we have to come up with a smart, consistent strategy to restart the systems we shut down and get people back to work, and to the extent possible we want to do that through a regional approach because we are a regional economy. New York is partnering with these five states to create a multi-state council that will come up with a framework based on science and data to gradually ease the stay at home restrictions and get our economy back up and running.”

 

Governor Murphy said, “No one has given more thought or is more eager to restart our economy than I am, but if we don’t get the sequencing right, we put more lives at risk. The only path to a sustainable economic recovery is through a strong healthcare recovery. Then, and only then, do we position ourselves to fully ignite our economy and get the residents of our state back to work while minimizing the danger of this disease. A coordinated, regional approach, informed by a multi-state council of experts, will help us avoid a major setback with potentially disastrous consequences. I look forward to the day when the facts on the ground allow us to ease our restrictions and move our regional economy forward.”

 

Governor Gina Raimondo said, “States are taking the lead as we fight to slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives. I’m proud of the steps we’ve taken, and I’m constantly thinking about what it will take to safely reopen our economy. But we know that this virus does not recognize borders, and it’s clear we need a strong, coordinated regional approach to avoid a second wave of this disease. I’m grateful to my fellow governors for their leadership during this crisis and I’m confident that this new partnership will support our efforts to get Rhode Islanders – and all Americans – back to work safely.”

 

Governor Wolf said, “Our highest priority remains protecting the health and safety of Pennsylvanians. While my administration continues to take critical steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, I also recognize that we must look ahead and take a measured, careful approach to prepare for the future while ensuring that we don’t undo all of our efforts. Pennsylvania will work collaboratively with our partners both in state and in surrounding states to develop a comprehensive strategy that first focuses on health but also addresses the need to gradually restore our economy.”

 

Governor Carney said, “We still have a situation in Delaware that is getting worse. Infections of COVID-19 and hospitalizations are rising. Delawareans should stay home. Don’t go out in public unnecessarily. Don’t visit Delaware unless you need to see a doctor, or care for a family member. You’ll only increase everyone’s risk. At the same time, we need to look forward. We need a consistent approach for moving our states out of this crisis, when that day comes. I’m grateful for the partnership of my fellow Governors in the region. They are all working around-the-clock to prevent surges in COVID-19 cases, protect hospital capacity for the most critically-ill patients, and save lives. We’ll get through this by working together.”

 

Governor Baker said, “The Baker-Polito Administration looks forward to participating in discussions with neighboring states and experts regarding the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Massachusetts also remains focused on efforts to expand testing, ensure hospital capacity and provide the necessary PPE to those on the front lines to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.”

 

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HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced he has signed an executive order that enacts a series of protections for residential renters struggling to pay their housing costs during the COVID-19 emergency, ensuring that they will not be evicted during this nationwide crisis and receive grace periods over the next several months. The order also extends all previously enacted closures, distancing, and safety measures – including for schools, restaurants, bars, retail stores, gyms, and other establishments – through at least May 20, 2020. In addition, it permits food trucks to operate at certain highway rest areas, and also modifies educator certification testing.

 

Protections granted to residential renters during COVID-19 crisis

 

Governor Lamont’s order – Executive Order No. 7X

– includes a provision taking the following actions to protect residential renters during the public health crisis:

 

·       All landlords are prohibited from issuing a notice to quit or beginning eviction proceedings before July 1, 2020, except for serious nuisance, such as physically harming another tenant or the landlord.

·       For rent due in April 2020, landlords must grant tenants an automatic, 60-day grace period for payment, instead of the existing 9-day grace period.

·       For rent due in May 2020, landlords must grant a 60-day grace period for payment upon the request of tenants. Under this provision, a tenant must notify the landlord that they have lost a job, lost hours, or otherwise lost revenue or faced significantly increased expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

·       If a tenant has a paid security deposit of more than one month’s rent, the tenant can apply all or part of that excess to April, May, or June rent. Under this provision, the tenant must notify the landlord that they have lost a job, lost hours, or otherwise lost revenue or faced significantly increased expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“During this crisis, these protections will allow residents to stay safe at home while prohibiting landlords from charging late fees or interest for nonpayment and provide a buffer for the next couple of months,” Governor Lamont said. “Residential renters need to have added safeguards during times of emergency like this – they have rights and we will see to it that they are protected.”

 

Last week, Governor Lamont announced

that his administration reached an agreement with over 50 credit unions and banks in Connecticut to offer mortgage relief to homeowners during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in Executive Order No. 7S

, provided temporary relief regarding upcoming municipal tax payments. Homeowners should contact their lender to discuss accessing mortgage forbearance.

 

Extension of all previously enacted closures, distancing, and safety measures through May 20

 

Also under today’s executive order, the deadlines for all closure, distancing, and safety measures enacted to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 that are contained within previously enacted executive orders are extended through at least May 20. This applies to the following provisions:

 

·       Executive Order No. 7D, Section 2, imposing limits on restaurant, bar, and private club operations

·       Executive Order No. 7D, Section 3, closing on-site operations at off-track betting facilities

·       Executive Order No. 7D, Section 4, closing operations at gyms, sports, fitness, and recreation facilities and movie theaters

·       Executive Order No. 7F, Section 1, closing large shopping malls

·       Executive Order No. 7F, Section 2, closing places of public amusement

·       Executive Order No. 7H, Section 1, imposing safety and distancing measures for workplaces and non-essential businesses

·       Executive Order No. 7N, Section 1, prohibiting social and recreational gatherings of more than five people

·       Executive Order No. 7N, Section 3, restricting retail operations

 

Food trucks permitted to operate at certain rest areas to provide meals to truck drivers and other essential workers

 

In addition, today’s executive order lifts restrictions on commercial activity in Connecticut highway rest areas and permits food trucks to set up in these locations with the goal of feeding hungry truckers and other essential workers during the pandemic. The directive comes in the wake of recently rescinded federal prohibitions against the commercialization of rest areas nationwide, freeing the states to provide additional necessities.

 

Governor Lamont reiterated his directive that everyone should “Stay Safe, Stay Home” and restrict themselves to essential travel only. Truck drivers, he said, have no choice but to be out on the road making critical deliveries and pick-ups.

 

“These truck drivers are keeping Connecticut moving and are providing critical necessities to our state during this national crisis,” Governor Lamont said. “We need to make it as easy as possible to keep them fed around the clock.”

 

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) maintains seven rest areas on Interstates 84, 91, and 95. They are open 24/7, year round. They have food and beverage vending machines and restrooms, but no other travel services. They are distinct from the service plazas on I-95, 91, 395, and Route 15, which have gasoline, restaurants, convenience stores, and other amenities. The rest areas accepting food trucks are located in Danbury on I-84; Wallingford and Middletown on I-91; and North Stonington on I-95.

 

Food truck operators interested in participating will need receive approval from CTDOT by filling out a permit application and emailing it to CTDOTCOVID@ct.gov. Operators must have a state-issued Department of Public Health permit to prepare and serve food. Spaces for the food trucks will be marked off at each of the rest areas, and signage will be included strongly encouraging social distancing.

 

Modifications made to educator certification testing

 

Finally, today’s executive order also modifies state statutes to authorize the commissioner of the Department of Education to temporarily defer any requirements regarding certification testing for educators as he deems necessary to address the impact of COVID-19 risks.

 

 

**Download: Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7X

 

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#HARTFORD, CT) – On Tuesday morning, Governor Ned Lamont will participate in a special board meeting  of the Partnership for Connecticut. The board will consider proposals and take necessary action to secure 60,000 laptops for Connecticut high school students consistent with the Equitable Access Program approved by the board on March 23. In order to maintain social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting will be held via conference call. Members of the public are invited to listen.

WHERE: To listen to the meeting, dial 631-992-3221 and use access code 179421823#

 

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WASHINGTON, DC] – With millions of Americans turning to video conference platform Zoom to stay connected amid the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) called on the company to provide clear answers about its consumer data privacy rules and safety practices.

 

“The millions of Americans now unexpectedly attending school, celebrating birthdays, seeking medical help, and sharing evening drinks with friends over Zoom during the Coronavirus pandemic should not have to add privacy and cybersecurity fears to their ever-growing list of worries,” Blumenthal wrote in a letter to Zoom CEO and Chairman Eric Yuan. “Zoom has a troubling history of software design practices and security lapses that have posed significant risks to the privacy and safety of its users.”

Blumenthal demanded answers from Zoom about its handling of personal data, pointed out numerous security lapses and troubling software design practices, and asked for assurances about how the company protects its users from the abuse they encounter on the platform by April 14, 2020.

The full text of the letter is available here

 

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WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined a group of their colleagues in a letter sent to each of the major domestic airlines, urging every company to issue full cash refunds to all customers who cancel their flights during the COVID-19 crisis, and to American citizens who encounter flight cancellations while stranded in countries that implemented travel restrictions. This request comes in the wake of Congress passing an unprecedented bailout for the airline industry, including $25 billion in loans and loan guarantees for passenger air carriers.

Although most domestic airlines have taken some steps to temporarily waive coronavirus-related change and cancellation fees, travelers who cancel their flights are finding that they will receive only airline credits, not cash refunds. Unfortunately, these travel vouchers do the public little good in this time of emergency, when Americans need money now to pay for basic necessities. Many Americans have also experienced expensive flight cancellations by commercial airlines – without reimbursement – as they sought to return to the United States from countries that implemented travel restrictions in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Letters were sent to the following companies: Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines.

“The ongoing pandemic is placing enormous financial strain on millions of Americans, and families need cash to pay for essentials such as food, housing, and medical care,” wrote the senators. “In light of this pressing need and the unprecedented bailout — to the tune of $25 billion — that the airline industry just received from Congress, we believe your company has a moral responsibility to provide real refunds, not travel vouchers, to consumers, and to support State Department efforts to repatriate any American citizens trying to come home.”

 

Copies of the letters to the airlines can be found HERE.

The letter was also signed by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Penn.).

The lawmakers ask the airlines to respond to questions that include:

• What is the estimated total value of all travel vouchers and credits you have issued during the coronavirus pandemic?
• What is the estimated total number of flights that your airline cancelled during the COVID-19 crisis, including flights cancelled due to travel restrictions implemented by countries globally?
• Will your airline commit to providing full cash refunds to travelers who cancel their flights during the coronavirus outbreak, including refunds in lieu of travel credits to those who have already received but not used those credits during this pandemic?
• Will your airline commit to providing full cash refunds to any travelers who experienced flight cancellations due to COVID-19 travel restrictions implemented globally?
• Will your airline commit to working with the State Department to expedite commercial flights – at an affordable price – for all Americans who remain stranded abroad?

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