Capitol News from State Senator Tom Gaffey

October 2009 Issue

Capitol address
Legislative Office Building
Room 3100
Hartford, CT 06106-1591

On the Web
www.SenatorGaffey.cga.ct.gov

Phone
Capitol: 860-240-0425
Toll-free: 1-800-842-1420

Dear Friend,

Thank you for reading this latest edition of my electronic newsletter, designed to provide timely updates from the Capitol absent the use of any paper and the expense of printing and postage. Please let me know if anyone you know would like to be included on the distribution list.

Heating Assistance Available

home heating graphic There is an undeniable and increasingly frequent autumn chill in the air and that can only mean one thing: the home heating season is upon us. Our state government has many programs in place to help residents overcome some of the hurdles they face. Most programs operate on a sliding scale according to strict income guidelines.

These comprehensive programs are designed to provide across-the-board assistance. Some provide partial reimbursement for energy conservation efforts like weatherproofing and insulation and window upgrades. Others programs offer rebates for homeowners to purchase more efficient boilers and furnaces so that they can reduce fuel consumption and related costs. Still other programs make available direct assistance for the purchase of natural gas or fuel oil.

If you would like more information — for yourself or a loved one — about program specifics and eligibility you are invited to call my Capitol office during regular business hours or visit our Home Heating Assistance Web page.

Take Steps to Avoid Infection by the H1N1 Virus

Flu season is here. Connecticut residents statewide are particularly sensitive to the ongoing threat posed by the H1N1 virus and, quite frankly, all of us ought to be. Health experts nationwide have issued warnings about a potential uptick in cases of influenza caused by the virus, which should not cause alarm, but simply prompt precautions.

children washing their hands Prevention will be the best antidote for a Connecticut outbreak: statewide prevention efforts begin with each of us and our willingness to wash our hands, treat symptoms early and thoroughly, and isolate ourselves and our family members should one of us become ill.

At this writing there is no definitive word on the schedule for widespread availability of flu shots to help immunize residents against the H1N1 virus and outbreaks of more traditional, seasonal influenza. I will join the state Department of Public Health in an effort to notify residents of those details as they become available.

State Funding for Local Education

The Special Session convened earlier this month yielded important legislation for Meriden residents. The city’s per-pupil reimbursement for enrollment at the Edison Magnet School was increased from $3,000 to $4,250, and that will help defray the cost of hosting the school and its regionally based student body.

Furthermore, the city’s per-pupil reimbursement from the state’s Education Cost Sharing grant remains intact at $5,788 per student, including the Meriden students enrolled at Edison.

The bill also includes school construction funding for ongoing work at the H.C. Wilcox vocational/technical high school. A total of slightly more than $60 million was approved for the next phase of construction, which is estimated to cost virtually the same amount. This project will create hundreds of jobs which will help the local economy.

All this is not only good news for local students, who will benefit from a rich, local educational experience, but for Meriden property tax payers, who will benefit from the additional state assistance that’s been secured.