Month: September 2017

Hurricane Relief for Puerto Rico: How to Help Families

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Hurricane Relief

Helpful Info for Hurricane Relief for Puerto Rico

Locating people:

https://google.org/personfinder/2017-maria

Hartford:

Date/Time:

Saturday, September 30, 2017 10:00am – 8:00pm

Event:

Hurricane Relief For Puerto Rico / Hosted by State Rep Angel Arce & The Puerto Rican Caucus

Location:

La Plaza Del Mercado Restaurant, 704 Park St, Hartford, Connecticut 06106

Date/Time:

Sunday, October 1, 2017 12:00pm – 7:00pm

Event:

Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Network / Hosted by Puerto Rico Rises- Connecticut & CT Puerto Rican Agenda

Location:

Center for Latino Progress – CPRF, 95-97 Park Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06106
Agenda:

Fundraiser hosted by the CT Puerto Rican Agenda. For more information, visit their event site at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/778268752346897/

For anyone looking to donate from home, There are three easy ways to do so:

Text UNITY to 41444

Use the donate button at https://hispanicfederation.org/donate/ designate donation to hurricane relief

Mail check to Hispanic Federation with CT-Irma Relief in the Memo section of the check and sent to Hispanic Federation, Connecticut State Office, 175 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Hartford, CT 06106

Date/Time:

Tuesday, October 3, 2017 5:00pm – 1:00am

Event:

CT Restaurant Industry Fundraiser for Puerto Rico / Hosted by LB Muñoz and Rachel Descault
Location:

Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor St, Hartford, Connecticut 06106

Agenda:

$20 suggested donation

5:00 PM – 1:00 AM at Real Art Ways

LIVE MUSIC, SMALL BITES & DOOR PRIZES

Other ways to contribute:

Text UNITY to 41444

Donate directly at hispanicfederation.org/donate/ (designate donation to hurricane relief)

Checks can be made to the Hispanic Federation with ‘CT-Irma Relief ‘in the memo section and brought the night of or sent to Hispanic Federation, Connecticut State Office, 175 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Hartford, CT 06106

New Haven:

Date/Time:

Saturday, September 30, 2017 10:00am – 5:00pm

Event:

New Haven for Puerto Rico Fundraiser (NH4PR) / Hosted by New Haven & Rep. Juan Candelaria (Puerto Rican Caucus)

Location:

ARTE Inc. 19 Grand Ave, New Haven, CT 06513

Agenda:

Gofundme: https://www.gofundme.com/new-haven-for-puerto-rico

ARTE: http://www.arte-inc.com/donations Add note NH4PR
Mail checks to: ARTE Inc., 19 Grand Avenue, New Haven, CT 09513; add note NH4PR
For further information or if you’re interested in volunteering on Saturday, please contact:
Juan Candelaria (203) 645-7905; ARTE INC (203) 787-2783 or arte-inc@comcast.net ; Maritza Rosa (203) 415-2812

New Britain:

Date/Time:

Current – Monday, October 9, 2017

Campaign:

New Britain Leaders’ Campaign to send aid to Puerto Rico

Agenda:

The American Savings Foundation and the Community Foundation are promising to cover all administrative costs related to the fund, ensuring that 100% of donations go to actual hurricane relief.

Prospective donors can learn more at the hurricane relief link at cfgnb.org

Bridgeport:

Date/Time:

Saturday, September 30, 2017 9:00am – 5:00pm

Event:

Puerto Rico Relief / Hosted by Greater Bridgeport United and Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County, Inc.

Location:

East Side Senior Center, 1053 E. Main St., corner of Arctic Street Bridgeport, CT 06608

Date/Time:

Sunday, October 1, 2017 1:00pm – 6:00pm

Event:

Radio telethon to raise money for Puerto Rico

Agenda:

A telethon to be broadcast on Bomba radio, 104.5 FM, will accept cash and provisions to help the people in Puerto Rico, devastated by Hurricane Maria.

During the telethon, CTBPT-United for PR will accept donations of water, medicine, waterproof solar flashlights, sanitary napkins, powdered milk, diapers, wipes, generators and chainsaws. The dropoff point is Sazon Y Mambo, 1691 Main St., Bridgeport.

The telethon and dropoffs are both between 1 and 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1.

Date/Time:

Ongoing

Event:

Council of Churches-Convey of Hope / Hosted by Church of God Center of Life

Location:

Church of God Center of Life, 594 Harral Ave Bridgeport, CT

Agenda:

Accepting monetary donation for Convey of Hope

For more information call Pastor Yolanda Hernandez 203-449-4386

Date/Time:

Monday, October 2, 2017 – Friday, October 6, 2017 4:00pm – 8:00pm

Event/Drop Off:

El Flamboyan PR Relief Effort

Agenda:

Accepting monetary donations, water, medicine, flashlights, batteries, baby food, candles, matches, medical equipment, bandages

For more information call Barbie at 203-610-3056

Meriden:

Date/Time:

Sunday, October 1, 2017 11:00am – 7:00pm

Event:

Hurricane Relief Fundraiser / Hosted by D’Zire Dance Studio LLC
Location:

D’Zire Dance Studio LLC, 491 W. Main St. Meriden, CT 06451

Agenda:

Charities that will be given donations from this event will include: Global Giving, Operation USA, Direct Relief, El Paso Community Foundation, Salvation Army, & CT Food Bank.

Will be accepting clothing, Canned fruit/vegetables, tuna, chili, beef stew, chicken, peanut butter, granola bars, breakfast bars, toiletries, paper goods, diapers, mops, mop buckets, brooms, bleach wipes, bleach, garbage bags, bug spray, bottled water.

In addition to accepting donations, food will be available, as well as a community tag sale. All money raised will be donated and split up amongst our charities. If you are interested in bringing tag sale related items please contact Shani Rodriguez (203) 886-9789 and she will be happy to assist you.

Madison:

Date/Time:

Saturday, September 30, 2017 8:00am – 12:00pm

Event:

Help Send Aid To Puerto Rico / Hosted by Madison Youth Football

Location:

Madison Surf Club Parking Lot, 87 Surf Club Rd Madison, CT

Agenda:

Spread the word and join Madison Youth Football and Cheer in working with Medtronic to collect desperately needed supplies.

Items Needed:

Beverages: bottled water and non-carbonated sports drinks
Toiletries: toilet paper, tooth paste, tooth brushes, shampoo, soap, deodorant, wipes
First Aid: bandaids, acetaminophen, antihistamine, triple antibiotic, hydrocortisone
Other: diapers, paper towels, lysol wipes, garbage bags, batteries, bug repellant

Stratford:

Date/Time:

Tuesday, October 2, 2017 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Meeting:

Relief Planning Meeting / Hosted by The Town of Stratford and the Hispanic Heritage Committee

Location:

Birdseye Municipal Complex, 468 Birdseye Street, Stratford

Agenda:

The Town of Stratford and the Hispanic Heritage Committee is holding a planning meeting ahead of fundraising efforts aimed at sending relief to Puerto Rico.

The public is invited to attend at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2, at the Birdseye Municipal Complex, 468 Birdseye Street, Stratford,.

The group is partnering with the Red Cross, where 91 percent of monetary donations go directly to Hurricane Maria victims in Puerto Rico and surrounding islands.
Money collected will go directly to www.convoyofhope.org.

The Stratford Hispanic Heritage Committee has united with Greater Bridgeport United and the Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County to help Puerto Rico.

Simsbury:

Date/Time:

Monday, October 2, 2017 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Event:

“Popover for Puerto Rico” fundraiser / Hosted by Popover Bistro & Bakery

Location:

Popover Bistro & Bakery, 928 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury

Agenda:

Tickets: $25

Featuring food, drinks from Black Hog Brewing and Hartford Flavor Company, music and raffle prizes. All proceeds will go to Unidos Por Puerto Rico.

West Hartford:

Date/Time:

Monday, October 2, 2017 2:00pm – 6:00pm

Event:

Hartford Baking Company will donate 10 percent of its sales from Oct. 2 to 6 to Americares Hurricane Maria Relief Fund

2 Locations:

625 New Park Ave, West Hartford, CT

965 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT

Date/Time:

Monday, October 2, 2017 & Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Event:

Savoy Pizzeria & Craft Bar will donate 10 percent of its Oct. 2 and 3 pizza sales to Puerto Rico hurricane relief

Location:

32 Lasalle Road, West Hartford, CT

Senate Majority Leader Duff: Don’t Slash Green Jobs

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Senate Majority Leader Duff: Don’t Slash Green Jobs

Norwalk, CT—Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and Tom Wemyss founder of Norwalk-based PurePoint Energy a leading solar power provider to residential, agricultural, and commercial property owners throughout Connecticut, today raised the alarm about damaging cuts made to Connecticut’s solar industry in the Republican budget passed earlier this month.

“The Republican budget slashes funding to the Connecticut Green Bank, which has created thousands of jobs in Connecticut—including jobs right here in Norwalk,” said Sen. Duff, a former chair of the General Assembly’s Energy Committee. Green energy is a big driver of Connecticut’s economy. No is not the time to cut investments in a growing industry. That’s why I support the Governor’s veto.”

“Stripping half of the Connecticut Green Bank budget has a much bigger impact on Connecticut than $26 Million,” said Wemyss. “The Connecticut Green Bank has shown that for $1 they spend it brings in $8 in private investment. This raid will reduce investment in clean energy by $208 Million Dollars!

“There are two big incentives driving the residential solar industry: the Federal Investment Tax Credit and the Connecticut Green Bank incentives and financing. The Tax Credit will go away in 2019. The next couple years are critical to continue the great work we’ve done and set the state up for long term success.

“My company has grown and continues to grow as a result of the leadership, financing programs and stability we have seen in the Connecticut solar market.”

The Green Bank has mobilized $1 billion total dollars into Connecticut’s clean energy economy using public-private partnerships. This investment has created 13,000 total jobs (job-years of activity), mostly with local energy improvement contractors. Over 220 megawatts of clean, renewable energy have been generated through these projects. If the Green Bank is de-funded, Connecticut will likely see a migration in contractor and project activity to other states.

The Republican budget, makes multiple cuts to the Connecticut Green Bank. The budget reduces funding for the Green Bank by $13 million in FY 18 and another $13 million in FY 19. It also diverts $10 million in RGGI Auction Proceeds, one of the key funding sources for the Green Bank, in FY 18, and another $10 million in FY19. This amounts to a net reduction of $46 million to clean energy and energy efficiency programs over the biennium (Sect. 75, Lines 2911-2915).

About the Connecticut Green Bank

The Connecticut Green Bank was established by the Connecticut General Assembly on July 1, 2011 as a part of Public Act 11-80. The Green Bank’s success in accelerating private investment in clean energy is helping Connecticut create jobs, increase economic prosperity, promote energy security and address climate change. In 2017, the Connecticut Green Bank received the Innovations in American Government Award from the Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center for Democratic Governance and innovation for their “Sparking the Green Bank Movement” nomination. For more information about the Connecticut Green Bank, please visit www.ctgreenbank.com.

Sen. Larson Counters Republican Claims on Crumbling Concrete Bill Agreements

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Sen. Larson Counters Republican Claims on Crumbling Concrete Bill Agreements

On September 23, The Hartford Courant reported that Republican Senate Leader Len Fasano disputed the notion that many Democratic proposed on the crumbling concrete bill had bipartisan support earlier in the year, particularly the proposed $12 surcharge on homeowner insurance policies.

However, legislative records clearly show that Republicans did in fact support the $12 surcharge, and supported many other Democratic proposals regarding crumbling concrete.

“For months, Democrats worked with Republicans to come up with a bipartisan bill that addresses the crumbling foundations issue currently affecting hundreds, if not thousands, of Connecticut homeowners. We had a comprehensive plan, we had agreements with Republicans, and when I looked at their budget and saw they didn’t follow through on those agreements, it truly made me angry,” Sen. Larson said. “Now they’re flipping this around saying they never made these agreements. Well, it’s a good thing we keep voting records and meeting minutes in the legislature to show what really happened.”

A History of Republican Support for SB 806

href=”https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2017&bill_num=806″ target=”_blank”>Bill history here:

SB 806 AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CRUMBLING FOUNDATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND ASSISTING HOMEOWNERS WITH CRUMBLING FOUNDATIONS.

To authorize municipalities to establish a program to provide grants to eligible owners of residential buildings for the purposes of repairing or replacing the faulty or failing concrete foundations of such residential buildings and to fund such program by issuing bonds and accepting donations. Introduced by: Public Safety and Security Committee

3-15-17 Public Safety Committee Meeting

  • Bill was amended by Senator Miner (R- Brookfield) adds language including an annual $12 surcharge [LCO 5434As amended by Amendment B (offered by Sen. Miner)]; passed on a voice vote (See meeting below)
  • Bill was passed out of committee with a vote of 19-6. Republicans Voting Yes: Guglielmo, Witkos, Miner, Vail, Sredzinski, Zupkus, Dauphinais, Ohler, Siegrist, Skulczyck

3-15-17 Public Safety Committee Meeting minutes

S.B. No. 806, moving on to the committee bill that addresses the crumbling concrete foundation issue, Sen. Larson asks for a motion. Motion: Rep. Verrengia Second: Rep. Orange. Discussion involves many of the committee members agreeing how large a problem this is and how important it is these people are helped.

Chairman Larson recognizes Sen. Miner (R-Brookfield) with the understanding he has an amendment. A voice vote is asked for after some discussion and the amendment passes.

Sen. Guglielmo (R-Stafford) says there will be over a billion dollars of damage by the time this is through. No commercial buildings have been affected yet but people have paid for their taxes, insurance and some are even homeless now. He says he is generally not a big government guy but we help hurricane people, why not this?

Rep. Fishbein (R-Cheshire)says he is sympathetic but does not believe this is a state or public safety issue. He mentions his own home being under water, as many peoples are but he’s not asking for help. He says Rep. Davis on Judiciary wanted a foreclosure committee and concludes the state does not have the money to fix this so he cannot support this bill.

Rep. Boyd (D-Brooklyn) says he is not a fan of big government either, but since he represents many of the towns being affected by this, he feels we need to help them in some way and not throw up our hands and do nothing. He thinks the feds need to come to the table and it should be a team effort.
Rep. Rovero (D-Killigly) says his job as a state rep is not to spend money but this needs to pass as it is a heartbreaking situation.

Rep. Skulczyck (R-Griswold) says he understands Rep. Fishbein’s issues but that this is out of control, and after 2 A.G.’s have looked at this, we can’t keep kicking the can down the road. He thinks we need to work with the federal government and CROG.

Rep. Dauphinais (R-Killingly) says she also is sympathetic but if we bail them out then we should bail out the cities going bankrupt and who own homes there. She does not feel more burden should be put on the taxpayers.

The Chair calls for a roll call vote: The motion passes 19 yea, 6 nay. – proposed JFS language from PS Committee

3-23-17 OFA Fiscal Analysis for LCO No. 6832, File Copy No. 301, Senate Calendar No.: 174

graph

Municipal Impact: See below

Explanation
This amendment strikes sections 1, 11, and 12 of the underlying bill and the associated fiscal impact of those sections. The amendment results in the fiscal impact outlined below.

Section 1 of this amendment will result in an annual revenue gain of $11.8 million from the $12 surcharge on each homeowner’s insurance policy, renter’s insurance policy, condominium unit owner’s insurance policy or a master policy that is required to be purchased by a condominium association. This funding will be deposited into the Crumbling Foundations Assistance Fund created by the bill.

Section 501 allows municipalities to waive building permit fees to repair crumbling foundations. This could result in a revenue loss of up to $100,000 annually to each municipality, depending on the number of homes that are repaired under the program. The revenue loss to the state is expected to be minimal.

Section 502 makes clarifying and conforming changes which have no fiscal impact.

5-17-17 Senate Chamber

  • Senate Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A 6832
  • Bill was referred to FIN, REV, BONDING where it died

Sen. Moore Honors Trumbull Residents with “Integrity” Award

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Sen. Moore Honors Trumbull Residents with “Integrity” Award



Photo of Senator Moore

Senator Moore with the 2017 Trumbull Intergrity Award recipients at Trumbull Town Hall, Thursday, September 28, 2017. (L-R) Dr. Matthew Wheeler, Jennifer Gillis, Paulette Mack, Senator Marilyn Moore, Jeffrey Kunkel, Brian Gillespie (son of Edward Gillespie) and Michael Silva.

TRUMBULL— Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport, Trumbull, Monroe) hosted the 2017 Trumbull Integrity Awards at Town Hall Thursday evening where she honored five town residents making a positive impact on the community through their work and volunteer efforts.

“A person of integrity personifies a state of incorruptibility, soundness, and completeness,” Sen. Moore said. “Throughout the town of Trumbull, this is a quality that resonates in our residents.”

Sen. Moore’s Trumbull Integrity Award identifies and honors individuals whose integrity stands out in their community and echoes throughout. This year, the honorees were Edward Gillespie, Jennifer Gillis, Paulette Mack, Jeffrey Kunkel, Michael Silva, and Dr. Matthew Wheeler. Honorees were selected by the Trumbull Rotary Club and Trumbull Mothers Offering Mothers Support (MOMS).

Here’s what they wrote about each nominee:

Ed Gillespie —Nominated by Trumbull Rotary Club
Ed Gillespie is the Executive Director of BizMark, the B2B marketing and communications firm he founded 12 years ago. Ed grew up in the Bronx NY, attended the University of Virginia and later earned his master’s degree from New York University. His career started in financial services, including six years at Citicorp, before he moved to advertising at agencies including Burrell Communications Group, Omnicom and BizMark. Ed believes his life outside of the office is way more important than work. He currently serves as the Vice President of the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, a Christian non-profit that serves the homeless, hungry and addicted. He just finished a term as President of the Trumbull Rotary Club and actively serve at his church, Crossroads Community Church. Ed lives in Trumbull, CT with his wife Eileen and three grown children, Brian, Meaghan and Erin.

Jeffrey Kunkel—Nominated by Trumbull MOMS
Jeff Kunkel runs Trumbull Helps, which has a mission to help residents of local Trumbull communities. This group has grown from organizing food drives (although this is still a large and important part of the group) to offering assistance to residents asking for help, providing meals at Bridgeport Rescue Mission, and supporting high school theater productions. Jeffrey regularly organizes food drives, fundraisers and serves/cooks food for the Bridgeport Rescue Mission and the Trumbull Food Pantry. Jeff is a Trumbull father and grandfather. He runs building services of Southern Connecticut. During storms, he has offered to shovel snow for elderly neighbors. He organizes events to pray the rosary, walking events around the mall. Jeff is a person who unites the community of Trumbull in friendship and fellowship and inspires and motivates others to help and support causes greater than themselves.

Michael Silva—Nominated by Trumbull MOMS
Michael Silva helps to run Trumbull Helps, which has a mission to help residents of local Trumbull communities. He is affectionately known in the community as “Bacon Mike,” because of his love of bacon and food. This group has grown from organizing food drives (although this is still a large and important part of the group) to offering assistance to residents asking for help, providing meals at Bridgeport Rescue Mission, and supporting high school theater productions. Michael frequently hosts food drives at his house. He helps to run a semi-annual bacon egg and cheese fundraiser with donations going to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. Michael is always very positive, is the first so say hello when he sees you, and is always spreading positivity when you see him in person and on social media. His positivity is contagious. He has two children who are in the Trumbull Public School system. He has high moral standards and adds tremendous value to the community.

Dr. Matthew Wheeler Nominated by Trumbull MOMS
Dr. Matthew Wheeler, also known as Mr. Matt to the children and parents, has been a preschool coordinator at Trumbull Early Childhood Education Center for the past nine years. The reason he is nominated by MOMS Club is because he is more than just a preschool coordinator; he truly goes above and beyond what is required. He is in constant communication with parents. He makes home visits to help with kids sleeping, eating, parenting and much more. On his own time, he delivers presents to under-privileged children for the holidays. He makes sure that those that are having financial difficulties have Thanksgiving meals. At all events the PTO and Father’s Club sponsors, Mr. Matt is always there, smiling and socializing with the parents and students and doing more than just your typical director. Parents always feel comfortable calling him and discussing anything that involves their children. Caring for people comes natural to him, as he was an EMT for 22 years in a previous career. Mr. Matt is a genuinely kind and compassionate person who makes our community better.

Jennifer Gillis and Paulette Mack- Nominated by Stern Village resident Patricia Carter
Jennifer Gillis works at the Senior Center at 23 Pricilla Place in Trumbull as an Outreach Social Worker. Paulette Mack works at Stern Villave, 200 Hedgehog Circle in Trumbull Housing as a Resident Service Coordinator. For these jobs you need to be a people person to do these jobs correctly and they both do. All the other items below is what makes them so “special” at their work:

  • Both are good listeners
  • Both are soft spoken
  • Both are comfortable to be around
  • Both are kind and caring with a mix of a lot of understanding
  • Both are great problem solvers
  • Both of them make you feel “special” when talking with you
  • Both of them work great with seniors and the disabled
  • They both give 100 percent plus which doing their jobs

We all believe in them and they are their when we need them. They always call you back too!

Senator Moore congratulates all the award recipients and encourages them to continue to serve Trumbull and surrounding communities with love and integrity.

Statements from Senate President Pro Tempore Looney and Majority Leader Duff Regarding Gov. Malloy’s Veto of the Republican Budget

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Statements from Senate President Pro Tempore Looney and Majority Leader Duff Regarding Gov. Malloy’s Veto of the Republican Budget

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) today issued the following statements on Governor Malloy’s veto of the proposed Republican state budget:

“The governor points out in his veto message all of the ways in which the Republican budget is inadequate and why it is not a solution to our problems, just as Democrats have been saying in the nearly two weeks since the Republican budget was passed,” Sen. Looney said. “The Republican cuts to higher education alone undermine Connecticut’s future in exactly the area where we should be investing. Connecticut’s businesses and economy need a highly educated workforce, and the Republican budget undermines that need, especially with respect to the Republican elimination of the Roberta B. Willis state scholarship program, which will jeopardize access to higher education for 15,000 Connecticut students.”

“The Republican budget hurts middleclass families in Connecticut, it hurts seniors, and it hurts students. It should have been vetoed,” Sen. Duff said. “I support the veto because the Republican budget increases taxes and fees by a billion dollars, it increases spending, it defers pension payments at a time when we are trying to catch up with decades of deferred pension payments, and—most importantly—the Republican budget is not balanced. The Republican budget also fails to create the real structural change that they have long-touted, as evidenced by their $6 billion in budget deficits in the three years immediately following this biennial budget.”

Republican Budget Facts:

  • The Republican budget raises over one billion dollars in new taxes and fees, including $688 million in new hospital provider taxes, despite Republican claims that their budget does not raise taxes. Hospital taxes Sect. 87, 944-960
  • The Republican budget cuts UConn by $309 million, the state university and community college system by $93 million, and eliminates scholarships for nearly 15,000 students. Scholarships Sect. 150, Lines 5490-5523; letters from Presidents Herbst and Ojakian
  • The Republicans debated their budget on the Senate floor for nearly an hour before their budget was even filed or made public. Senate Clerk’s Office, CTN
  • The Republican budget contains a secret tax on 44,000 teachers statewide for an average of $1,500 a year. Sect. 152-153
  • Has built-in budget deficits of $1.24 billion in 2020, $2.13 billion in 2021, and $2.8 billion in 2022, totaling $6.2 billion over three years. OFA Summary page 27
  • Takes $660 million from cities and towns via the Municipal Revenue Sharing Account. Sect. 84
  • Changes or cancels $485 million in state bonding authorizations; local taxpayers will have to pay for these local projects. Sects. 330-500
  • Reduces required state employee pension contributions by $322 million in 2018-19 in anticipation of securing higher pension co-pays from SEBAC in 2027. OFA Summary page 3
  • Raises income taxes by $153 million on about 200,000 state residents (living in every city and town) who receive the EITC income tax credit. Sects. 51, Lines 1999-2012; Sect. 74, Lines 2889-2910; OFA Summary page 9
  • Eliminates the automobile mill rate cap, increasing local property taxes by $39 million on residents and $25 million on businesses in 20 Connecticut towns. Sects. 35, 84-85, 973
  • Kills green jobs and stifles an emerging market by taking $46 million from the Connecticut Green Bank and other clean energy and environmental initiatives. Sect. 75, Lines 2911-2915
  • Institutes $20 million in new “government agency fees”. Sect. 86
  • Increases business costs $5 million by making them pay more for criminal background checks. Sect. 57, Lines 2118-2131
  • Raises ticket prices by $4 million at The XL Center, Dunkin Donuts Stadium, Harbor Yard in Bridgeport and the New Britain Bees baseball stadium by taking away the current admissions tax exemption at those facilities. Sect. 55, Lines 2067-2112
  • Charges $3.4 million in new land record filing fees. Sect. 58

Statements from Senate President Pro Tempore Looney and Majority Leader Duff Regarding Gov. Malloy’s Veto of the Republican Budget

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Statements from Senate President Pro Tempore Looney and Majority Leader Duff Regarding Gov. Malloy’s Veto of the Republican Budget

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) today issued the following statements on Governor Malloy’s veto of the proposed Republican state budget:

“The governor points out in his veto message all of the ways in which the Republican budget is inadequate and why it is not a solution to our problems, just as Democrats have been saying in the nearly two weeks since the Republican budget was passed,” Sen. Looney said. “The Republican cuts to higher education alone undermine Connecticut’s future in exactly the area where we should be investing. Connecticut’s businesses and economy need a highly educated workforce, and the Republican budget undermines that need, especially with respect to the Republican elimination of the Roberta B. Willis state scholarship program, which will jeopardize access to higher education for 15,000 Connecticut students.”

“The Republican budget hurts middleclass families in Connecticut, it hurts seniors, and it hurts students. It should have been vetoed,” Sen. Duff said. “I support the veto because the Republican budget increases taxes and fees by a billion dollars, it increases spending, it defers pension payments at a time when we are trying to catch up with decades of deferred pension payments, and—most importantly—the Republican budget is not balanced. The Republican budget also fails to create the real structural change that they have long-touted, as evidenced by their $6 billion in budget deficits in the three years immediately following this biennial budget.”

Republican Budget Facts:

  • The Republican budget raises over one billion dollars in new taxes and fees, including $688 million in new hospital provider taxes, despite Republican claims that their budget does not raise taxes. Hospital taxes Sect. 87, 944-960
  • The Republican budget cuts UConn by $309 million, the state university and community college system by $93 million, and eliminates scholarships for nearly 15,000 students. Scholarships Sect. 150, Lines 5490-5523; letters from Presidents Herbst and Ojakian
  • The Republicans debated their budget on the Senate floor for nearly an hour before their budget was even filed or made public. Senate Clerk’s Office, CTN
  • The Republican budget contains a secret tax on 44,000 teachers statewide for an average of $1,500 a year. Sect. 152-153
  • Has built-in budget deficits of $1.24 billion in 2020, $2.13 billion in 2021, and $2.8 billion in 2022, totaling $6.2 billion over three years. OFA Summary page 27
  • Takes $660 million from cities and towns via the Municipal Revenue Sharing Account. Sect. 84
  • Changes or cancels $485 million in state bonding authorizations; local taxpayers will have to pay for these local projects. Sects. 330-500
  • Reduces required state employee pension contributions by $322 million in 2018-19 in anticipation of securing higher pension co-pays from SEBAC in 2027. OFA Summary page 3
  • Raises income taxes by $153 million on about 200,000 state residents (living in every city and town) who receive the EITC income tax credit. Sects. 51, Lines 1999-2012; Sect. 74, Lines 2889-2910; OFA Summary page 9
  • Eliminates the automobile mill rate cap, increasing local property taxes by $39 million on residents and $25 million on businesses in 20 Connecticut towns. Sects. 35, 84-85, 973
  • Kills green jobs and stifles an emerging market by taking $46 million from the Connecticut Green Bank and other clean energy and environmental initiatives. Sect. 75, Lines 2911-2915
  • Institutes $20 million in new “government agency fees”. Sect. 86
  • Increases business costs $5 million by making them pay more for criminal background checks. Sect. 57, Lines 2118-2131
  • Raises ticket prices by $4 million at The XL Center, Dunkin Donuts Stadium, Harbor Yard in Bridgeport and the New Britain Bees baseball stadium by taking away the current admissions tax exemption at those facilities. Sect. 55, Lines 2067-2112
  • Charges $3.4 million in new land record filing fees. Sect. 58

Senate President Pro Tempore Looney: Republican Budget Slams Hamden Taxpayers

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Senate President Pro Tempore Looney: Republican Budget Slams Hamden Taxpayers

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) today took issue with Senator George Logan (R-Ansonia) for making false and misleading statements at a press event in Hamden earlier today. Senator Logan falsely claimed that the Republican budget passed by the General Assembly on September 15th does not raise taxes.

In fact, the Republican budget raises Hamden residents’ car taxes in from 37mills to 45 mills for a total of $3.2 million. Statewide, the Republican budget raises car taxes by $64 million.

Additionally, the Republican budget increases the financial burden by $153 million on low- to moderate-income working people across CT by slashing the Earned Income Tax Credit, which currently helps 2,770 people in Hamden for a total of $1.4 million a year.

The Republican budget institutes a secret tax on teachers raising taxes on 44,000 teachers statewide for an average of $1,500 per year, including over $1 million for Hamden teachers.

The Republican budget also targets college students from low-income by cutting funding and scholarship opportunities to public and private colleges, including the elimination of a scholarship that helps 234 Hamden students with $594,000 this year alone.

“Republicans are purposefully misleading the press and the public,” said Senator Looney. “For months, Republican legislators have been claiming that their budget doesn’t raise taxes. They’ve made that claim to newspaper reporters, on TV, on talk radio, in mailers to the public, in social media posts—you name it. And it’s clearly false. Just look at the nonpartisan OFA analysis. The Republican budget raises taxes on Connecticut residents— it always has by reducing the Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor and by doing away with the motor vehicle property tax cap. Yet, despite all of these facts, Republicans continue to falsely claim their budget is some sort of no tax increase budget. It’s not. It never was. These are glaringly false statements by Republicans.”

Last week, when questioned repeatedly by the media, Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano acknowledged that the Republican budget raises taxes.

Sen. Gerratana E-news: Republican Budget Raises Taxes, Makes Devastating Cuts to Education & Jobs Programs

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Sen. Fonfara: Startupbootcamp Launches InsurTech Accelerator in Hartford

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Sen. Fonfara: Startupbootcamp Launches InsurTech Accelerator in Hartford

Program accepting applications from startups; will provide resources to help insurance-focused technology startups grow

innovation places

Senator John Fonfara (D-Hartford), who was instrumental in designing and passing a comprehensive law to help Connecticut embrace the innovation economy, joined Mayor Luke Bronin to announce a globally recognized business accelerator, Startupbootcamp, are launching an insurance technology accelerator in Hartford, in partnership with Travelers, The Hartford, and Cigna. The Hartford InsurTech Accelerator is designed specifically to rapidly scale insurance-focused technology startups. The program, which is now accepting applications, has been established to attract new talent and technology to Hartford, one of the world’s leading insurance centers, and will provide entrepreneurs with the support, resources, and industry and investor connections they need to help grow their business.

“The power to get things done is not in government; it’s with talent. Talent does not see boundaries, it does not see mill rates; it only sees opportunity. Talent goes where it sees those opportunities and it advances it,” Sen. Fonfara said. “The people in this room represent that talent. We have a lot of talent in this community, we have a lot of talent in this state, and this is about putting that talent together and having a force behind it so that we can compete anywhere. This is one step, I believe, in many that will not only return Hartford, but return the state of Connecticut to the glory that it deserves.”

Earlier this year Hartford and East Hartford won a CTNext Innovation Places grant to encourage entrepreneurship in three of our core industries—insurance, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare. Founding local partners of the InsurTech Accelerator are Cigna, The Hartford, Travelers, and CTNext. Additional corporate partners include USAA and White Mountains. The InsurTech Accelerator is part of Hartford InsurTech Hub, an initiative that was conceived of by a diverse set of executives from Hartford-area insurance carriers and other related firms, City of Hartford staff, and several other community stakeholders. Opportunities to help spur more InsurTech innovation activity in the region were identified by this group, and action against these goals was catalyzed by investment from CTNext: Connecticut’s Innovation Ecosystem.

Each year, 10 to 12 startups will be accepted into the three-month intensive accelerator program in Hartford, and will receive an initial cash grant of $25,000, co-working space for each startup team, and access to Startupbootcamp’s global network of mentors and investors. To be eligible for the program, entrepreneurs must have a working prototype and have secured startup funding from other sources ranging from $150,000 to $500,000.

“This is exactly the type of public-private partnership we wanted to catalyze through our Innovation Places program,” said Glendowlyn Thames, Executive Director of CTNext. “We are thrilled to see the East Hartford/Hartford Innovation Place Initiative, one of the winning communities, so quickly leverage the program’s resources and work in partnership with the private sector to ultimately create new jobs, grow tax revenue and establish itself as a next-generation hub of innovation within the insurance industry.”

“Startupbootcamp is a global brand name in innovation and entrepreneurship, and their decision to launch their first InsurTech accelerator in North America here in Hartford is really significant for our City and for the State of Connecticut,” said Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin. “Today’s announcement is the direct result of the strong partnership we’ve been building between our insurance companies, our educational institutions, and the City of Hartford. Working hand in hand with the private sector, our goal is to make Hartford the capital of insurance innovation, and the launch of this InsurTech accelerator is a big part of that strategy. Our focus on InsurTech is just one part of a broader effort to make Hartford a center of innovation, not only in the insurance sector, but also in advanced manufacturing and healthcare—areas where the Greater Hartford region has tremendous strength. I’m grateful to all of the partners who came together to make today’s announcement possible.”

Applications are now open for the InsurTech Accelerator, startups are encouraged to apply here.

About Hartford InsurTech Hub

The InsurTech Accelerator, powered by Startupbootcamp, is the first component of Hartford InsurTech Hub, an initiative established in 2017 by Hartford insurance companies, the City of Hartford, and CTNext. Focused on addressing the need for attracting new technologies and talent in insurance and technology into the City of Hartford and the local ecosystem, the program partners include Cigna, The Hartford, Travelers, CTNext, USAA and White Mountains. It will stretch its reach to other cities in Connecticut to create a thriving spirit of collaboration and innovation between our partners, entrepreneurs and investors, while leveraging Startupbootcamp’s global network of capabilities and a structured delivery approach. For more information, visit: http://hartfordinsurtechhub.com/

About Startupbootcamp InsurTech

Launched in 2015, Startupbootcamp InsurTech is the leading Insurance accelerator that focuses on identifying globally-located disruptive and collaborative insurance and technology innovations, and the only program of its kind to attract a wide variety of industry support from multiple international players. Based in London, Startupbootcamp InsurTech is part of Startupbootcamp, the award-winning global network of industry-focused accelerator programs. With 20+ programs in Europe, Asia, North & South America, MENA & Africa, selected startups gain access to the most relevant mentors, partners and investors in their industry. For more information visit: http://www.startupbootcamp.org

For more information about Hartford InsurTech Hub and the accelerator program, visit: www.hartfordinsurtechhub.com.

Senator Larson E-News: Republican Budget Raises Taxes, Makes Devastating Cuts to Education and Jobs Programs

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