Category: State News

#Bridgeport CT–Today  State Senator Tony Hwang, The CT Community Nonprofit Alliance (The Alliance) & The Kennedy Center and held a press conference in the Gallery of the Maggie Daly Arts Cooperative (MDAC), 1042 Broad Street, Bridgeport, to talk about how the state can avert devastating cuts to human service programs and save $1.3 billion over the next five years.

The majority of Connecticut’s human service programs are provided by nonprofit, community-based agencies like the Kennedy Center, that contract with the state. The State also provides some services for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health and substance abuse treatment at significantly higher costs.

The Alliance is Connecticut’s statewide association of community nonprofits, which serve over 500,000 people each year and employ almost 14% of Connecticut’s workforce.

For details regarding the cuts to the Kennedy Center see: https://kennedyctrorg.presencehost.net/updates/  . The Alliance represents more than 500 nonprofit organizations across all categories, from Health and Human Service programs to Arts and Culture.  For more information on their mission and goals see: http://ctnonprofitalliance.org/about-us/

#HARTFORD, CT– Governor Dannel P. Malloy is urging the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to table consideration of any new alignment of tracks on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) through Connecticut and instead focus its investments – which he says are long overdue – on maintaining the corridor in a “state of good repair.”

In a letter delivered to the FRA, Governor Malloy says that that the State of Connecticut will support the agency’s impending Record of Decision – the next step in the program that will spell out investment priorities for the rail corridor – on the premise that it will:

• Identify specific investments that will achieve a state of good repair and enhance performance of the NEC;
• Eliminate any specific  “alternative alignments”;
• Has the support of all appropriate U.S. Department of Transportation agencies, not just the FRA; and
• Articulates a simplified environmental approval process for critical projects.

The Governor is also urging the FRA to expedite approval of the many projects already in progress so there is no doubt that these near-term investments can proceed without delay.  Further, he is recommending that the Northeast Corridor Commission lead the development of a service development plan partnering with all states in the corridor, as well as AMTRAK, the FRA and the Federal Transit Administration.

(Press Release)

This news report is made possible by:

Hartford, CT – Senate and House Democratic leaders, legislators and advocates held a press conference today to call for senior tax relief by exempting Social Security income from the state income tax.

The General Assembly’s Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee will hold a public hearing tomorrow to consider several proposed bills on the topic including Senate Bill 6 An Act Exempting Social Security Income from the Personal Income Tax and House Bill 5587 An Act Concerning a Tax Exemption for Seniors’ Social Security Benefits.

“Exempting Social Security income from the state income tax could save Connecticut’s seniors up to $45 million a year,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). “Providing seniors with increased financial security will help them remain in their homes and generate economic activity.”

“Connecticut is a great place to live, work and raise a family, so it should also be a great place to retire and enjoy the culture and quality of life we are known for,” Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz (D-Berlin/Southington) said. “How we treat our seniors says a lot about us as a society, and we should do what we can to help them better afford to stay where they wish.”

“As our state’s population ages, this legislation will make it easier for seniors to continue to live in Connecticut, be near their families and stay in the state that they know and love,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “Connecticut already offers a high quality of life for seniors. Passing this legislation will send a strong message that Connecticut is the right place to retire and enjoy your golden years.”

“Connecticut should stop taxing Social Security income for seniors,” House Majority Leader Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) said. “We are one of only 13 states that tax Social Security benefits – let’s make it 12.”

Connecticut is one of 13 states that impose some form of state tax on Social Security income. Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia also tax Social Security benefits.

“We need to give our senior citizens a break,” said Rep. Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford), who is Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee co-chair. “Most states do not tax a person’s Social Security benefits, and this bill would give our seniors the help they deserve in retirement. It would help them to be able to stay in Connecticut instead of moving to other states, such as Florida, where Social Security is not taxed and property taxes are often much lower.”

“AARP is interested in exploring any and all proposals that make Connecticut a more friendly place to live and retire independently,” said AARP State Director Nora Duncan. “This is a popular proposal that would impact many positively, and it should be a part of the larger budget considerations, along with support for important programs that help vulnerable seniors age-in-place.”

Over the last several years, Democrats in the General Assembly have led passage a number of laws making Connecticut a great place for seniors to live.

In 2015 the General Assembly passed the CARE Act to require hospitals to provide instruction and support to home caregivers when their loved ones are released from the hospital, thus promoting aging in place by improving care transitions and preventing costly hospital readmissions. In 2016, Connecticut became the first state to expand the CARE Act to patients leaving nursing homes.

In 2015, Democrats successfully led the effort to combat the financial exploitation of Connecticut seniors through the passage into law of SB 1005, AA Protecting Elderly Consumers from Exploitation. This legislation – which received unanimous bipartisan support in both chambers – provides greater protections for our seniors against financial abuse.

Additionally, Democrats led passage of legislation protecting seniors from vague nursing home contracts. The law requires that nursing homes clearly inform residents and their families of the duties, responsibilities and liabilities placed upon them under the residency contract. Misunderstanding the contract can lead to unpaid bills and significant legal or financial ramifications.

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman today added their voices to the growing number of citizens across Connecticut urging lawmakers to adopt legislation joining the state to a national compact that would elect the President of the United States by a national popular vote.

The legislation is having a public hearing today in the General Assembly’s Government Elections and Administration Committee.

Governor Malloy said, “Last November, our country saw one of the largest disparities in the popular vote since its founding.  If we as a nation want to increase voter turnout, we need to not only combat attempts at voter suppression and gerrymandering, but we must also sign onto this compact creating a coalition of states that will award all of their electoral votes to the candidate chosen by the people.  Every American deserves to have their vote counted equally for the highest office in the country.  A citizen’s vote from one state should not be worth more than that of another citizen who lives in a different state.  An equal vote for every American citizen, regardless of which state they happen to live in, is the fairest and most democratic way to go.”

Lt. Governor Wyman said, “Residents must trust that they have a voice in choosing our elected leaders – it’s the foundation of our democracy.  Young people going to the polls for the first time should come away inspired that they helped steer their nation and shape their future.  Voting is a fundamental responsibility and one of the highest forms of civic engagement.  Every vote should count.”

(Press release)

This report is made possible by:

WASHINGTON – The United States Navy on Wednesday awarded U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) with the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, the “highest form of public service recognition bestowed by the Department of the Navy to civilians who demonstrate outstanding service of substantial and long-term benefit to the Navy, Marine Corps, or Department of the Navy as a whole.” Murphy was presented the award by the Navy’s Chief of Legislative Affairs, Rear Admiral James T. Loeblein, on behalf of Acting Secretary of Navy Sean Stackley.

“This is a huge and completely unexpected honor. With all that our sailors and Navy families have given to Connecticut and our country, I should be the one giving them an award,” said Murphy. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for our brave Navy men and women. I spent a weekend aboard the USS Hartford under the Arctic last year, and I’ll never forget the professionalism and expertise I saw in those sailors. I will keep fighting in Congress, and especially on the Appropriations Committee, to make sure that our men and women have the best ships, submarines, and equipment in the world.”

HARTFORD – State Rep. John Frey (R-111) is seeking to relieve Connecticut of a massive burden to its state budget by proposing two bills that will address the massive costs of state employee pensions that have increased exponentially each year.  The first, H.B. 6087, would ensure that state employees’ pensions are based only on stated income.  The second, H.B. 6292, would eliminate state pensions for elected officials in Connecticut.

“By now, everyone knows that Connecticut has a major fiscal problem and that it has stalled its economy,” said Rep. Frey.  “Governor Malloy calls it our ‘new economic reality, but there’s nothing new about it.  Unfunded pension liabilities owed by the state total more than three times the state budget.  If we want to seriously explore how to get Connecticut out of this mess, we need to stop thinking about new ways to tax people and start tackling the quagmire of these unfunded liabilities.  We really don’t have a choice but to make significant changes.”

Rep. Frey noted that past decisions pushing off making payments have caused pension costs to grow uncontrollably, with annual contributions to state employees’ and teachers’ pensions more than doubling since 2010. Unfunded pension obligations currently equal three times the 2016-17 state budget.

“Pensions should be based only on stated income, just like most other public sector workers, without counting longevity pay, mileage reimbursements and overtime,” Rep. Frey said.  “Currently, employees’ pensions are calculated based on the three years they made the most income, which includes a lot of overtime, travel perks and fringe benefits.  H.B. 6087 would make state employees’ pensions more affordable by more accurately reflecting their salaries.”

As for lawmakers’ pensions, Rep. Frey stressed that elected officials proudly serve as part-time employees.  “It doesn’t make sense for part-time employees to participate in a pension program,” he said.  “A salary and mileage reimbursements for elected officials make sense because of the demands of the job, but it makes no fiscal sense for them to receive pensions or for their years of service in the legislature to count towards a pension if they eventually go on to hold a full-time state job.”

“This bill is unlikely to be popular among many of my colleagues, but it’s the right thing to do and it addresses this problem without raising taxes,” Rep. Frey added.  “Too many seemingly minor perks and ambiguous aspects of service in state government are driving us into the ditch.  I think my fellow legislators need to take a hard look at the budget and accept that this is where the most savings can come from.”

#HARTFORD – State Rep. Gail Lavielle (R-143) has introduced a bill the General Assembly that would require legislative approval in order to increase rail or bus fares.  This would alter the current system, where the Department of Transportation (DOT), an executive branch agency, can act unilaterally under the governor’s authority to increase mass transit fares.  The General Assembly’s Transportation Committee has scheduled a public hearing for Lavielle’s bill, HB 5773, this Monday, January 30, at 11:00 A.M. in the Legislative Office Building (LOB) in Hartford.

“Last year, commuters were subjected to new rail and bus fare hikes that brought them absolutely no benefits, and they were justifiably upset,” said Rep. Lavielle.  “This bill would protect commuters by creating a more deliberate and public process for imposing fare increases. Although the bill would not prevent any future fare hikes, proposals would be subject to floor debate and public vote, and would make legislators accountable for their votes to increase mass transit fares.”

On December 1 of last year, the DOT announced a Metro-North fare hike after the governor required the agency to make substantial cuts to its budget. 

Added Rep. Lavielle, “The increase represented neither service improvements nor rising costs, but was, rather, a means of making commuters pay for a deficiency in the overall state budget.”

Rep. Lavielle formed a group of legislators who worked together to circulate a petition on the morning trains and online. Along with the petition, they submitted a concrete proposal to the governor and legislative leadership for an alternative to the fare hike that would have generated revenues without imposing new obligations on commuters or taxpayers. While the legislature could have voted to approve an alternative source of revenue, majority legislative leaders, who had no obligation to intervene, were unresponsive. In that situation, Rep. Lavielle’s legislation would have required the legislature to be actively involved in the fare increase decision.

Concerned residents may testify at the public hearing at the LOB in Hartford this Monday at 11:00 A.M. Alternatively, they may submit written testimony at tratestimony@cga.ct.gov. All written submissions should include the author’s name and town, and mention “HB5773” in the subject line.

(State Rep. Gail Lavielle Press Release)

This report is made possible by: