State Senator Donald E. Williams, Jr.
January 7, 2009
Williams Re-elected as Senate President
Senate President: “Our job this session is not only to balance the state budget, but to help our citizens balance the family checkbook.”
Senator Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) was re-elected today by his colleagues as Senate President, marking the beginning of his third full term as the highest ranking lawmaker in Connecticut’s General Assembly.
Senator Williams’ family, including his wife and mother, attended the ceremony in the Senate Chambers: the oath of office was administered by Senator Williams’ brother. Moments later, Senator Williams addressed members of the Senate.
“The people of Connecticut have put their trust in us to represent them at this crucial time in our history. As we make our way through the months ahead, we must be worthy of that trust as we confront unprecedented challenges,” said Senator Williams.
Senator Williams continued by outlining his vision for the 2009 legislative session and both the challenges and opportunities that exist. Excerpts of the speech are below:
“Our job this session is not only to balance the state budget, but to help our citizens balance the family checkbook, and provide a pathway out of this economic storm . . . “We must be guided by fairness. We need to remember the single mother who must now take a pay cut, the family trying to scrape together the rent money so they stay do not become homeless, the father who just lost his job and health insurance. They did not cause this economic downturn, but they may suffer worst of all. We cannot shred the safety net for those in the greatest need.”
“If we’re going to be successful, we must take a different approach. This cannot be Democrats versus Republicans, or the Governor versus the Legislature. It’s time for all hands on deck — for all of us to work together. That’s what the people of Connecticut want. To solve these problems we will need every creative mind, and every bold idea.”
“There will be opportunities. We will have the chance to enact important change and reform in state and municipal government. Families throughout the state are stretching every dollar, and finding new ways to save. The state, and cities and towns, must do the same.”
“I predict that when our work is finished, there will not be a single state department, program, or area of spending that has not been changed or touched in some significant way. But if we make the tough decisions required in the short term, and invest in ways that provide jobs for the long term, we will be well positioned to move forward in a year or two when this economic downturn ends.”
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Senator Williams’ |
Listing of Senator Williams’ recent press releases and a Press Kit with official head shots and bio. |
Press Aide Derek Slap |
