Capitol News from State Senator Anthony Musto

August 2009 Issue

Capitol address
Legislative Office Building
Room 2100
Hartford, CT 06106-1595

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

Phone
Capitol: 860-240-0558
Toll-free: 1-800-842-1420

From federal stimulus-funded work on the Merritt Parkway to back-to-school readiness, there’s a lot going on around the 22nd District. In this month’s Capitol News, I’ll give you a brief update on the battle for a state budget and details on a couple of upcoming events to mark on your calendar.

Anthony Musto

Making Smart Cuts: Bureaucracy, Not Senior and Children’s Services

As legislative leaders and the governor’s office continue to negotiate a two-year budget for the State of Connecticut, the state is operating on monthly executive orders from Governor Rell that the General Assembly has no say in. Under these orders, vital programs that serve seniors, veterans, children and the unemployed have all been cut to the detriment of many individuals and families in our state.

While progress has been made, Governor Rell has not only been reluctant to meet with leaders but also has restored Democratic cuts to government bureaucracy while continuing to devastate our Family Resource Centers, public libraries, Dial-a-Ride services for seniors and the disabled and funding for Life Star services. While we do have to make cuts to our budget, I believe that they must be smart cuts that don’t jeopardize our working families and seniors.

For more information about the budget process and how the budget is built, visit the Senate Democrats online Guide to the State Budget.

A Clearinghouse on Services for Seniors and Veterans

seniors There are a lot of services and programs out there for seniors and veterans, but it can sometimes be difficult to access them. This year, Senator Edwin Gomes and I are pleased to present the Greater Bridgeport Seniors & Veterans Expo at the Ralphola Taylor Community Center in Bridgeport on Wednesday, September 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

This fair will offer one-stop information on services that are beneficial to veterans, seniors, their families and their caretakers and will feature organizations including the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, Operation Fuel and the Office of the Healthcare Advocate.

Also on hand will be the state Department of Social Services Rx-Xpress Medicare Bus — which offers health assistance, outreach information and referrals and eligibility screening — and St. Vincent’s Medical Center’s Mobile Mammography unit, which operates by appointment only. For an appointment with the mobile mammography unit, please call 203-576-5500.

Give the Gift of Life

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. Each day, the American Red Cross must collect approximately 650 units of blood to meet the basic needs of patients in Connecticut hospitals, which is why I am a regular blood donor.

On Wednesday, September 16, I will be donating blood in Bridgeport at the Jewish Center for Community Services blood drive, where the American Red Cross will be collecting blood donations from 1:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. It doesn’t take much time, it costs nothing and it can help save the lives of surgery and cancer patients, accident victims and those suffering from major illness.

I encourage you to consider joining me on September 16 in giving the gift of life. To donate blood and platelets, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. For more information on blood donation with the American Red Cross, visit the Connecticut Blood Services Region online. To sign up for donation, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or go to www.givelife.org.