Month: May 2017
Senator Osten E-News: Recent Legislative Action
Senator Larson E-News: Jobs for the Disabled Community; 2017 Art at the Capitol a Success
Sen. Gerratana E-news: Important Health Reminders for Parents
Winfield Advocates for Stronger Police Accountability Laws
Winfield Advocates for Stronger Police Accountability Laws

Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven), Representative Robyn Porter (D-New Haven), Representative Chris Rosario (D-Bridgeport), ACLU of Connecticut, and community organizers today called for the passage of legislation that would help restore the public’s confidence in law enforcement by establishing meaningful accountability for police officers who use excessive force.
House Bill 6663 aims to increase government transparency and accountability by establishing a deadline of 15 days for out-of-district prosecutors to complete initial investigations into police uses of force and require police departments to place officers who are under investigation for uses of force on unpaid leave. The bill would also update Connecticut state law, which requires out-of-district prosecutors to only investigate deadly police uses of force, to reflect current practice, in which out-of-district prosecutors also investigate when police seriously injure a member of the public.
“People are concerned about the inevitable clash that comes between communities and police. That fire is already burning; we don’t want it to explode. We want to make sure that the community feels safe and that police are able to do their job. In order to do that, we have to do our job and pass this legislation,” Sen. Winfield, Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee said. “We have to ask ourselves, ‘Is everyone in this state protected, no matter what they look like?’ We have passed bills to put more police into communities, we call the community policing, but at the same time we’ve done nothing to increase police accountability. You cannot put police into the community with all the historical realities that we have, with the fear that’s in some of these communities, and not have accountability.”
The press conference Tuesday was held just one week after the shooting of Jayson Negron, 15, who was killed by Bridgeport police Officer James Boulay on May 9. Days later, video footage of the aftermath of the shooting began circulating on social media, which appears to contradict the Bridgeport Police Department’s earlier statements to Jayson Negron’s family that he had been shot in the head, and that he was not alive when police handcuffed him and placed him face down in the street.
“Is a police department really in a rush to complete an investigation in a timely manner when an officer is assigned to paid desk duty while a 15-year-old is lying face down in the streets with his hands cuffed behind his back? The community is outraged,” Rep. Porter said. “We need to heighten police accountability in communities that are being over-policed and under-protected.”
“Jayson Negron’s death was preventable, not inevitable. Jayson Negron died because of an entire system that has failed to hold police accountable to the communities they are supposed to serve. Connecticut’s legislature has the power to change that system. Yet as some legislators spoke out about the need for police reform after yet another fatal shooting, their colleagues let a bill to fix Connecticut’s police complaint system die in committee,” said David McGuire, executive director of the ACLU of Connecticut. “This failure to act on of one of the most critical justice issues of our time is unconscionable.”
Democratic Leaders Release Updated Budget Proposal
Democratic Leaders Release Updated Budget Proposal
Democratic leaders of the General Assembly today released their updated biennial budget proposal for fiscal years 2018 and 2019. The Democratic proposal does not increase state tax rates. The Democratic proposal invests in Connecticut jobs and critical infrastructure while making responsible budget cuts implementing significant structural changes and efficiencies.
“Confronting Connecticut’s budgetary challenges requires difficult decisions across the board,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). “The proposal offered by Democrats in the Senate and House protects our social safety net and invests in our workforce while implementing important regionalism strategies to save taxpayers $100 million. As Democrats and Republicans return to the negotiating table, it is paramount that we pursue structural reforms so that we can stabilize our budget.”
“This is a fiscally responsible blueprint that recognizes the reality of the need for a more efficient state government, while also investing in a path to the future by helping make our state more affordable, attractive to business, and welcoming to visitors,” said Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz (D-Berlin/Southington). “We look forward to discussing this approach to our budget challenge with the Governor and Republicans, and considering everyone’s ideas on how best we can move our state forward together.”
“We must set a course for a sustainable budget and long-term economic growth,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “This proposal seeks to strike a proper balance by not raising state tax rates, continuing to make key investments in our innovation economy, and finding ways to responsibly deliver significant structural change and the most efficient delivery of state services.”
“There are no easy choices. Our budget reflects the tough choices we have made to create a more efficient government that still works to make Connecticut a great place to live, work and raise a family,” said Rep. Matt Ritter (D-Hartford), House Majority Leader. “This is our starting point as we head to the negotiating table. We are committed to working with Republicans and Governor Malloy to come up with a solution that puts Connecticut on the best possible footing.”
“This budget is a very austere but balanced budget that addresses a lot of the fiscal expectations that have been voiced by the people of Connecticut,” said Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) Co-chair of the Appropriations Committee. “At the same time, this budget works to protect many of the programs and services that the public has told us they want and expect.”
“Given the current fiscal realities, our goal is to sustain Democratic priorities as best we can, such as protecting our most vulnerable residents, maintaining a quality public education system, and investing in job creation,” said Rep. Toni Walker (D-New Haven), House Chair Appropriations Committee. “This takes revenues, and we have offered a number of areas where this can be accomplished, and remain open to other ideas on how best to fund the needs and priorities of our state going forward.”
“Our budget proposal reflects the reality of significantly underperforming revenues and the hard decisions that must be made while avoiding major tax increases,” said Senator John Fonfara, Co-chair of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee.
“We have an opportunity to move our state forward in the face of significant fiscal constraints. Despite those constraints, we have a responsibility to produce a budget that invests in priority areas that advance the economic potential of the state while also serving the interests of the people we are elected to represent,” said Rep. Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford), House Chair Finance Committee. “We are prepared to make the difficult decisions that are expected of us and our budget framework represents how we plan to engage our Republican colleagues and the Governor in charting a way forward.”
Democratic Budget Proposal
5-16-17
No Tax Rate Increases
- This proposal does not increase the Connecticut Sales Tax
- This proposal does not increase the Connecticut Personal Income Tax
- This proposal does not increase Connecticut Corporation Taxes
- This proposal does not repeal the tax exempt status of Connecticut’s non-profit hospitals, recognizing hospitals are not only cornerstones of our healthcare network, but are also some of our state’s largest employers that provide countless community benefits and are critical to local and regional economies
- Reverses the Governor’s complete elimination of the Property Tax Credit and instead joins with the previous Republican proposal to maintain the full credit for taxpayers who have dependents or are elderly
- Makes Connecticut more competitive by phasing out the income tax on Social Security and cutting the Connecticut Estate Tax to the federal level
Responsible Budget Cuts
- This proposal cuts the non-fixed cost portion of the budget by 7.1 percent from FY17 to FY18 (year over year)
- Saves $1.5 billion through union and nonunion state employee givebacks, including furlough days
- This proposal rejects the Governor proposal to transfer liability for the Teachers’ Retirement Benefit to cities and towns
Investing in Connecticut Jobs
- Creates and preserves over 6,000 casino and tourism jobs by authorizing at least one additional casino
- Invests in families and the workforce by creating an Earned Family and Medical Leave program in the State of Connecticut
- This proposal increases Medicaid funding to hospitals by $250 million
- Legalizes the retail sale of marijuana—in keeping with our neighboring states—complying with the wishes of more than 60 percent of our residents, resulting in a yearly revenue gain of nearly $200 million as well as significant economic activity in our state
- Provides predictability for businesses by committing to not raise corporate tax rates or cancel business tax credits
- Overhauls our workforce development system to be more responsive to the needs of businesses, and by providing more comprehensive services to those looking for work This includes increasing partnering with employers to help shape curriculum at our Vo-Tech schools, community colleges and universities
- Protects UConn from the devastating cut previously proposed by the Republicans
- Continues to fund last year’s major jobs and innovation program CT Next to ensure we are building an economy for the future
Significant Structural Changes & an Efficient State Government
- Implements a government consolidation and regionalism strategy to reorganize state and municipal services to save taxpayers $100 million in FY19, including closing regional offices and combining smaller district school superintendents
- Institutes the Budget Predictability Plan, recognizing the need to grow a robust Rainy Day Fund and pay down our long-term obligations.
- Eliminates eight legislative committees
- Consolidates the Department of Aging into Department of Social Services
- Consolidates the Department of Housing into Department of Economic and Community Development
- Consolidates the Department of Agriculture into Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Consolidates the Office of Higher Education into State Department of Education
- Consolidates the Office of Early Childhood into the State Department of Education
- This proposal modifies and preserves the historic clean election program
- This proposal institutes a bond issuance cap, resulting in a $22 million savings in debt service payments in FY19
- Closes the Southbury Training School
- Eliminates expensive technology licenses by moving government functions to open source technology
- Closes a prison
- Eliminates costly upkeep by selling surplus state property
Investing in Infrastructure
- This proposal paves the way for tolls in Connecticut, assuring the future stability of our Special Transportation Fund by asking out-of-state drivers to pay their fair share of the maintenance of our roads and bridges
- The emerging technology of solar panels near highways presents an opportunity for public-private partnerships that will save taxpayers on road costs and increase the state’s renewable energy portfolio
The Road Not Taken
- If the $2.3 billion shortfall were to be closed entirely by cuts, it would have required cuts of 25 percent to every non-fixed cost line item in the budget in FY18 and 30 percent in FY19
- If the projected $2.3 billion shortfall were to be closed only by tax increases (equally between the sales tax and the income tax) alone it would have required the Sales Tax to go up to 8.05 percent and the Income Tax top bracket to increase to 10.3 percent.
- As noted, this proposal does not increase the Connecticut sales tax rate, however, if the rate were raised from 6.35 percent to 6.99 percent the resulting revenue would be approximately $438 million
Democratic Leaders Release Updated Budget Proposal
Democratic Leaders Release Updated Budget Proposal
Democratic leaders of the General Assembly today released their updated biennial budget proposal for fiscal years 2018 and 2019. The Democratic proposal does not increase state tax rates. The Democratic proposal invests in Connecticut jobs and critical infrastructure while making responsible budget cuts implementing significant structural changes and efficiencies.
“Confronting Connecticut’s budgetary challenges requires difficult decisions across the board,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). “The proposal offered by Democrats in the Senate and House protects our social safety net and invests in our workforce while implementing important regionalism strategies to save taxpayers $100 million. As Democrats and Republicans return to the negotiating table, it is paramount that we pursue structural reforms so that we can stabilize our budget.”
“This is a fiscally responsible blueprint that recognizes the reality of the need for a more efficient state government, while also investing in a path to the future by helping make our state more affordable, attractive to business, and welcoming to visitors,” said Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz (D-Berlin/Southington). “We look forward to discussing this approach to our budget challenge with the Governor and Republicans, and considering everyone’s ideas on how best we can move our state forward together.”
“We must set a course for a sustainable budget and long-term economic growth,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “This proposal seeks to strike a proper balance by not raising state tax rates, continuing to make key investments in our innovation economy, and finding ways to responsibly deliver significant structural change and the most efficient delivery of state services.”
“There are no easy choices. Our budget reflects the tough choices we have made to create a more efficient government that still works to make Connecticut a great place to live, work and raise a family,” said Rep. Matt Ritter (D-Hartford), House Majority Leader. “This is our starting point as we head to the negotiating table. We are committed to working with Republicans and Governor Malloy to come up with a solution that puts Connecticut on the best possible footing.”
“This budget is a very austere but balanced budget that addresses a lot of the fiscal expectations that have been voiced by the people of Connecticut,” said Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) Co-chair of the Appropriations Committee. “At the same time, this budget works to protect many of the programs and services that the public has told us they want and expect.”
“Given the current fiscal realities, our goal is to sustain Democratic priorities as best we can, such as protecting our most vulnerable residents, maintaining a quality public education system, and investing in job creation,” said Rep. Toni Walker (D-New Haven), House Chair Appropriations Committee. “This takes revenues, and we have offered a number of areas where this can be accomplished, and remain open to other ideas on how best to fund the needs and priorities of our state going forward.”
“Our budget proposal reflects the reality of significantly underperforming revenues and the hard decisions that must be made while avoiding major tax increases,” said Senator John Fonfara, Co-chair of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee.
“We have an opportunity to move our state forward in the face of significant fiscal constraints. Despite those constraints, we have a responsibility to produce a budget that invests in priority areas that advance the economic potential of the state while also serving the interests of the people we are elected to represent,” said Rep. Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford), House Chair Finance Committee. “We are prepared to make the difficult decisions that are expected of us and our budget framework represents how we plan to engage our Republican colleagues and the Governor in charting a way forward.”
Democratic Budget Proposal
5-16-17
No Tax Rate Increases
- This proposal does not increase the Connecticut Sales Tax
- This proposal does not increase the Connecticut Personal Income Tax
- This proposal does not increase Connecticut Corporation Taxes
- This proposal does not repeal the tax exempt status of Connecticut’s non-profit hospitals, recognizing hospitals are not only cornerstones of our healthcare network, but are also some of our state’s largest employers that provide countless community benefits and are critical to local and regional economies
- Reverses the Governor’s complete elimination of the Property Tax Credit and instead joins with the previous Republican proposal to maintain the full credit for taxpayers who have dependents or are elderly
- Makes Connecticut more competitive by phasing out the income tax on Social Security and cutting the Connecticut Estate Tax to the federal level
Responsible Budget Cuts
- This proposal cuts the non-fixed cost portion of the budget by 7.1 percent from FY17 to FY18 (year over year)
- Saves $1.5 billion through union and nonunion state employee givebacks, including furlough days
- This proposal rejects the Governor proposal to transfer liability for the Teachers’ Retirement Benefit to cities and towns
Investing in Connecticut Jobs
- Creates and preserves over 6,000 casino and tourism jobs by authorizing at least one additional casino
- Invests in families and the workforce by creating an Earned Family and Medical Leave program in the State of Connecticut
- This proposal increases Medicaid funding to hospitals by $250 million
- Legalizes the retail sale of marijuana—in keeping with our neighboring states—complying with the wishes of more than 60 percent of our residents, resulting in a yearly revenue gain of nearly $200 million as well as significant economic activity in our state
- Provides predictability for businesses by committing to not raise corporate tax rates or cancel business tax credits
- Overhauls our workforce development system to be more responsive to the needs of businesses, and by providing more comprehensive services to those looking for work This includes increasing partnering with employers to help shape curriculum at our Vo-Tech schools, community colleges and universities
- Protects UConn from the devastating cut previously proposed by the Republicans
- Continues to fund last year’s major jobs and innovation program CT Next to ensure we are building an economy for the future
Significant Structural Changes & an Efficient State Government
- Implements a government consolidation and regionalism strategy to reorganize state and municipal services to save taxpayers $100 million in FY19, including closing regional offices and combining smaller district school superintendents
- Institutes the Budget Predictability Plan, recognizing the need to grow a robust Rainy Day Fund and pay down our long-term obligations.
- Eliminates eight legislative committees
- Consolidates the Department of Aging into Department of Social Services
- Consolidates the Department of Housing into Department of Economic and Community Development
- Consolidates the Department of Agriculture into Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Consolidates the Office of Higher Education into State Department of Education
- Consolidates the Office of Early Childhood into the State Department of Education
- This proposal modifies and preserves the historic clean election program
- This proposal institutes a bond issuance cap, resulting in a $22 million savings in debt service payments in FY19
- Closes the Southbury Training School
- Eliminates expensive technology licenses by moving government functions to open source technology
- Closes a prison
- Eliminates costly upkeep by selling surplus state property
Investing in Infrastructure
- This proposal paves the way for tolls in Connecticut, assuring the future stability of our Special Transportation Fund by asking out-of-state drivers to pay their fair share of the maintenance of our roads and bridges
- The emerging technology of solar panels near highways presents an opportunity for public-private partnerships that will save taxpayers on road costs and increase the state’s renewable energy portfolio
The Road Not Taken
- If the $2.3 billion shortfall were to be closed entirely by cuts, it would have required cuts of 25 percent to every non-fixed cost line item in the budget in FY18 and 30 percent in FY19
- If the projected $2.3 billion shortfall were to be closed only by tax increases (equally between the sales tax and the income tax) alone it would have required the Sales Tax to go up to 8.05 percent and the Income Tax top bracket to increase to 10.3 percent.
- As noted, this proposal does not increase the Connecticut sales tax rate, however, if the rate were raised from 6.35 percent to 6.99 percent the resulting revenue would be approximately $438 million
Senator Moore Announces Winner of 2017 5th-Grade Essay Contest
Senator Moore Announces Winner of 2017 5th-Grade Essay Contest
(L-R) Fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Iannantuoni, mom Rag Gosukonda, student Harini Gosukonda, father Manu Gosukonda, and Senator Marilyn Moore at Monroe Elementary School. (May 12, 2017)

MONROE, CT—Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) today announced Harini Gosukonda is the winner of Senator Moore’s 2017 5th Grade Essay Contest. The subject for this year’s contest was “What would I do to Make My Town a Better Place . . . ” Harini’s essay was chosen out of the entire 5th-grade class at Monroe Elementary School.
“The content of Harini’s essay shows she has the makings of a true humanitarian. Harini wrote of two great ideas to make Monroe better, and both involved helping and sharing,” Senator Moore said. “As a legislator, I want to hear what our young people have to say, I want to involve them, and I want to engage them to be active in our communities. The essay contest is a wonderful way of doing this.”
Harini is a student in Mrs. Iannantuoni’s fifth-grade class at Monroe Elementary School, with a passion for reading and helping others. In her winning essay, Harini wrote about collecting toys for local children’s hospitals and distributing mini-libraries throughout the town.
“I think that encouraging kids to start reading books is important, no matter what age,” Harini wrote in her letter. “To make a ‘mini-library’ you really just need a large box, some books, and an imagination.”
Sen. Moore paid a visit to Monroe Elementary Friday morning, where she met Harini, her parents, and the entire 5th-grade student body inside the school cafeteria. She presented Harini with an official congratulatory citation from the Connecticut General Assembly. Sen. Moore also surprised Harini with her first mini-library and a set of books.
“I hope this is the first Mini Library of many you will see in Monroe,” Sen. Moore said.
“You turned my writing into a reality,” Harini told Sen. Moore.
During her visit to the school, Sen. Moore also encouraged students to read, to come up with new ideas to help their community, and to share those ideas with the world.
“Reading is so important. It will take you places that you’ve never been, it’ll open your mind up to new thinking, and it’ll build your vocabulary,” Sen. Moore said. “And even if you have a small idea, you need to tell someone about it, and work on it, because from that, something can grow.”
Winning Essays at Monroe Elementary:
1st Place: Harini Gosukonda
2nd Place Hannah Fagan
3rd Place Angela King
4th Place Natalie Lieto
5th Place Mia Morelli
6th Place Caitlin Luf
7th Place Olivia Garrity
Windham Legislators Announce Senior and Community Center New Location Approval Plan approved by State Bond Commission
Windham Legislators Announce Senior and Community Center New Location Approval Plan approved by State Bond Commission
State Representative Susan Johnson (D-Windham), State Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson) and State Representative Linda Orange (D-Colchester) applauded the State Bond Commission’s approval today of a change in venue for the planned Senior and Community Center in Windham from 1315 Main Street to 1 Jilson Square.
The Commission had previously awarded funding in 2013 for the purchase and reconstruction of the Main Street building owned by the Access Community Action Agency for use as a Senior and Community Center. Today’s approval was requested by the town of Windham and Sen. Flexer and Reps. Johnson and Orange. It clarifies that the existing funding can be used toward the same purpose, but at the Jilson Square location.
“I am thrilled that the State Bond Commission approved the change in location for the senior and community center in Windham,” said Sen. Flexer. “This project is another example of a good investment for our community, particularly in this area of our downtown. There are critical investments that are being made by the state, the town, local businesses and philanthropists up and down Main Street. These combined efforts will continue to revitalize our downtown and create a very bright future. The Senior and Community center will be a much needed and welcome addition to Windham.”
“We’ve worked hard to secure the funds for the center, and today’s approval means that we have cleared the last major hurdle before construction can begin,” Rep. Johnson said. “A new Senior and Community Center will be a great resource for Windham residents and build on previous investments to revitalize the downtown area. I’d like to thank Governor Malloy and the Bond Commission for the previously awarded funding and for now allowing that grant to be used toward the new location.”
“The Senior and Community Center will be a great asset to Windham residents as it provides a central location for groups to gather, activities to be held, and for residents to enjoy themselves,” Rep. Orange said. “I’m appreciative that the Bond Commission has approved the change in venue for this center and am thrilled that residents will soon be able to use all the services the center is planned to offer once constructed.”
The Town of Windham learned in December of 2016 that the Agency had elected to sell the Main Street property to a different buyer. The former Jilson Square Cinema building was chosen as the new location for the center soon after.
The Town Council has purchased the former cinema and authorized the remodeling of approximately 10,000 square feet of the space.
The project is estimated to cost $3,250,000 in total. The town will contribute $1,906,365, with $1,343,635 of the cost covered by the state funds.
Moore Welcomes $5.14 Million in State Funds to Repair Ox Brook Dam
Moore Welcomes $5.14 Million in State Funds to Repair Ox Brook Dam
Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) today welcomed $5.14 million in state funds to rehabilitate an abandoned dam in Elton Rogers Park in Bridgeport’s North End. For years, the safety and welfare of the city’s residents has been jeopardized by the chronic flooding along the Ox Brook tributary.
The State Bond Commission Friday approved $5.14 million in funding to address the flooding issues by rebuilding an eroded earthen dam, originally built almost one hundred years ago, to protect the surrounding lands from flooding.
“Residents near Elton Rogers Park have been eagerly waiting for these upgrades that will alleviate their neighborhood’s flooding issues,” said Sen. Moore. “I am glad I was able to work with my fellow Bridgeport legislators to secure state funds to rebuild the eroded dam so it can once again protect the surrounding homes from water overflow.”
“The Bridgeport legislative delegation has worked tirelessly to bring this project to fruition. Together, we have worked to protect our citizens and the homes they have established in Bridgeport’s North End,” State Representative Jack Hennessy (D-Bridgeport) said. “I especially want to thank State Senator Marilyn Moore for her constant support to safeguard Bridgeport homeowners.”
This flood control project is the first significant step toward ending flooding in the North End. Through this project, several thousand feet of piping and channel will be constructed to dramatically reduce the volume of flooding in and along Ox Brook in Bridgeport.
This flood control project stands to benefit more than 500 properties—both homeowners and local business owners—that are affected by the downstream flooding of the Ox Brook tributary.
Beginning in Elton Rogers Park, the brook runs across Main Street from the Brookside Shopping Center, and flows southwesterly toward the Rooster River.
During a 100-year flood, an event that has a 1 percent chance of occurring in any given year, approximately 225 houses, associated garages and two commercial buildings would be flooded along the two miles of brook. Residents have seen flood levels reach heights of 36 inches in their front yards. Others have had their land eroded by flooding waters, depleting their property values.
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is actively working with the city to facilitate this project. In June 2012, $260,000 was bonded to finance design services to construct a dam for flood control purposes. With the design phase completed, the project, which is estimated to create 40 temporary jobs, now moves to the construction stage. Legislators are hoping to break ground next spring.