Month: February 2018
General Assembly’s Four African American Women Legislators Set to Nominate Margaret Morton to CT Women’s Hall of Fame
General Assembly’s Four African American Women Legislators Set to Nominate Margaret Morton to CT Women’s Hall of Fame
Senator Marilyn Moore, Rep. Toni Walker, Rep. Robyn Porter, and Rep. Patricia Miller Call for more women of color to get involved in government service
In celebration of Black History Month, African American women legislators in the Connecticut General Assembly will be nominating Margaret E. Morton, the first African American woman to sit in the state legislature, to the CT Women’s Hall of Fame. During the press conference, legislators will also highlight contributions of African American women in Connecticut and call on more women of color to get involved in government service.
Thursday, February 22, 2018; 1:00 p.m.
Legislative Office Building Room 2D
300 Capitol Ave., Hartford CT
Sen. Moore E-News: Be Heard: Public Comment on Proposed Bus and Rail Fare Increases
This Saturday, Sen. Looney and Rep Paolillo to Host Coffee and Conversation
This Saturday, Sen. Looney & Rep Paolillo to Host Coffee & Conversation at Forbes Ave. Dunkin Donuts
This Saturday, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney will be joined by Rep. Al Paolillo, Jr. for a Coffee and Conversation event to hear from constituents in a casual setting. Whether you have questions or concerns about education, neighborhood safety, economic development, or health care, their offices can help.
Saturday, February 17, 2018; 10 AM to 12 PM.
Dunkin’ Donuts at 189 Forbes Avenue in New Haven.
Senator Larson E-News: Earned Family Medical Leave Passes First Legislative Hurdle
Earned Family Medical Leave Clears First Legislative Hurdle
Earned Family Medical Leave Clears First Legislative Hurdle
Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) today praised the Labor Committee’s vote to draft Senate Bill 1, “An Act Concerning Earned Family and Medical Leave,” the first procedural hurdle needed to pass earned family and medical leave into law.
Once again, passing an earned family and medical leave law is one of the top priorities of Democratic state senators this year.
“Today marks the first step toward Connecticut passing a strong earned family medical leave law,” said Senator Looney. “Working families should not have to face the prospect of economic ruin when presented with serious family needs such as caring for a newborn, a spouse, or their parents. The inability of employees to take paid time off to care for loved ones or themselves can leave them with no choice but to abandon family members in their time of need, or to neglect their own health.”
Because it is so necessary and beneficial to our modern workforce, Democrats will work with employees and employers to fight for sensible earned family medical leave legislation.
“The United States is well behind the rest of the world when it comes to earned family medical leave policies,” said Senator Duff. “In fact, Papua New Guinea and the United States are the only countries in the world without paid family leave. If Connecticut wants to retain young people, attract top talent and grow the middle-class, passing an earned family medical leave bill will give Connecticut a competitive advantage and send a message that our state values its workers and is a great place to live and raise a family.”
Earned Family Medical Leave Clears First Legislative Hurdle
Earned Family Medical Leave Clears First Legislative Hurdle
Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) today praised the Labor Committee’s vote to draft Senate Bill 1, “An Act Concerning Earned Family and Medical Leave,” the first procedural hurdle needed to pass earned family and medical leave into law.
Once again, passing an earned family and medical leave law is one of the top priorities of Democratic state senators this year.
“Today marks the first step toward Connecticut passing a strong earned family medical leave law,” said Senator Looney. “Working families should not have to face the prospect of economic ruin when presented with serious family needs such as caring for a newborn, a spouse, or their parents. The inability of employees to take paid time off to care for loved ones or themselves can leave them with no choice but to abandon family members in their time of need, or to neglect their own health.”
Because it is so necessary and beneficial to our modern workforce, Democrats will work with employees and employers to fight for sensible earned family medical leave legislation.
“The United States is well behind the rest of the world when it comes to earned family medical leave policies,” said Senator Duff. “In fact, Papua New Guinea and the United States are the only countries in the world without paid family leave. If Connecticut wants to retain young people, attract top talent and grow the middle-class, passing an earned family medical leave bill will give Connecticut a competitive advantage and send a message that our state values its workers and is a great place to live and raise a family.”
Sen. Bye Voices Support for Student Access to Financial Aid
Sen. Bye Voices Support for Student Access to Financial Aid
At a public hearing today in the Legislative Office Building, state Senator Beth Bye (D-West Hartford) voiced her support for a bill that would allow
undocumented students who are accepted at state universities to apply for the college financial aid that their student tuition and fees help fund.
“It’s not fair the way the financial aid program is structured right now. It’s not fair that students who pay into a fund don’t have to access to that same fund. The bill we heard today will fix that,” Sen. Bye said. “I am so proud to stand with Connecticut students on this issue. We want these students in Connecticut, we want them enrolled in Connecticut universities and learning and enhancing our state’s workforce.”
Today, the Higher Education and Employment Committee heard several hours of public testimony in support of House Bill 5031, “An Act Equalizing Access to Student-Generated Financial Aid.” Sen. Bye serves as Senate Co-Chair of that committee.
Beginning in the fall semester of 2019, the bill would make undocumented students eligible to apply for and receive the student financial aid that is set aside at that college or university. The student would also be required to submit an affidavit stating that they have filed an application to legalize their immigration status.
The bill will likely be scheduled for a committee vote later this session. While more than 60 people testified in support of the bill today, no one testified in opposition.
Senate President Pro Tempore Looney: Connecticut Senate Dems Will Stand By Connecticut’s Dreamers
Senate President Pro Tempore Looney: Connecticut Senate Dems Will Stand By Connecticut’s Dreamers
Following his testimony to the Higher Education Committee, Senator Looney joined students from Wilbur Cross High School calling for the expansion of access to institutional financial aid for Connecticut students regardless of their immigration status.
Long-time champion for equalizing education access for Connecticut’s Dreamers, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) today issued the following statement:
“This is priority of the Senate Democratic Caucus. The Senate Democrats are once again committed to standing with Connecticut’s Dreamers, and will propose legislation expanding access to higher education. These are our kids. They are Connecticut’s future. Our state stands as a beacon of fairness, justice, and equality while some regions of our country appear to be taking a different path. Offering institutional financial aid to students regardless of immigration status is yet another sign of Connecticut’s commitment to fairness and equality.”
In 2011 and again in 2015, the Connecticut General Assembly, led by Senator Looney and his Democratic colleagues passed legislation granting and increasing access for undocumented students who meet specific criteria to pay in-state tuition at Connecticut’s colleges and universities.
Osten Votes to Draft Earned Family and Medical Leave Legislation
Osten Votes to Draft Earned Family and Medical Leave Legislation
State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) today joined a Labor Committee voice vote to draft Senate Bill 1, “AN ACT CONCERNING EARNED FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE,” the first procedural hurdle needed to modify Connecticut’s existing family sick leave law to allow for paid family and medical leave.
Passing an earned family and medical leave law is one of the top priorities of Democratic state senators this year; a similar effort last year to allow eight weeks of paid family and medical leave passed out of committee but was not raised for any further votes.
“This bill honors families and honors the working members of those families, and its passage would put Connecticut in competition with surrounding states that already offer these types of family benefits, and more,” said Sen. Osten, who is Senate Vice-Chair of the Labor Committee. “If we are serious about retaining and growing our millennial workforce and competing with the Bostons and the New York Cities of the world, we have got to offer paid family and medical leave to our citizens. Otherwise we will continue to lose our young people to other regions of the country.”
Specific language of the bill will now be written and then debated at a public hearing at a date yet to be determined.