Month: March 2018
Sen. Moore E-News: I Support Earned Family Medical Leave, Pay Equity and Raising the Minimum Wage; 10 Essential Health Benefits for Women
Senator Looney’s & Rep. Paolillo’s Amendment Banning Hunting Along Quinnipiac and Mill Rivers in New Haven Wins Environment Committee Approval
Senator Looney’s & Rep. Paolillo’s Amendment Banning Hunting Along Quinnipiac and Mill Rivers in New Haven Wins Environment Committee Approval
Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and State Representative. Al Paolillo (D-New Haven) today announced that the General Assembly’s Environment Committee has passed an amended bill banning hunting in New Haven between I-95 and I-91, designating that area between the Quinnipiac River and Mill River as a state refuge for wildlife. The legislation was developed after area neighbors brought the issue to Senator Looney’s and Rep. Paolillo’s attention during a recent ‘Coffee and Conversation’ hosted by the legislators.
“Hunting in an urban setting, near densely populated neighborhoods, poses a public safety issue and a quality of life issue,” said Senator Looney. “Rep. Paolillo and I were happy to work with area residents and I am grateful that they brought this issue to our attention. As a result of their activism, we are well on our way to solving this problem.”
“The well-being of our residents comes first. Establishing a state refuge for wildlife along the Quinnipiac River will allow us to create synergy with the neighborhood and address residents’ safety concerns. By working closely with key community members and Sen. Looney, we were able to put forth legislation that further protects the homes that line the river and our natural assets,” said Rep. Paolillo.
The bill, Senate Bill 109, An Act Concerning the Protection of Connecticut’s Water, Air and Natural Resources, next heads to the floor of the Senate for further consideration.
Senator Winfield E-News: Earned Family Leave/Pay Equity/Minimum Wage Hike; 10 Essential Health Benefits for Women
Scotland Elementary’s Sixth Grade Class Goes to Hartford to Fight Tobacco
Scotland Elementary’s Sixth Grade Class Goes to Hartford to Fight Tobacco
Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson) testified with the sixth grade class from Scotland Elementary School in support of raising the legal age to purchase tobacco to 21 at the State Capitol Tuesday.
This year, the legislature’s Public Health Committee raised Senate Bill 164, An Act Raising the Legal Age to Purchase Tobacco to Twenty-one. The entire class prepared individual written testimony in support of the bill and three students read their testimonies in front of the committee during the public hearing.
“All across the country, we are seeing the impact our youth can have in changing polices and making a positive impact in their communities. These students from Scotland Elementary are a perfect example of that. They saw a problem and they made their voices heard.” Sen. Flexer said. “I am so proud of their efforts and look forward to continuing working with them to prevent tobacco use throughout our state. Testifying with these students and fighting tobacco use with them was one of my proudest moments as a state senator.”
Mrs. Shcenk’s sixth-grade class invited Sen. Flexer to the Scotland Elementary to the school to talk with her about smoking and its impact on people’s health. The students presented several of their ideas, including raising the smoking age and prohibiting smoking in cars with children, state beaches, near schools, and other public places.Sen. Flexer and the students have since been working together to pass new policies that combat tobacco use.
In addition to raising the age to purchase tobacco, the bill raises the age to purchase electronic nicotine delivery systems (e-cigarettes) to 21. Anyone who turns 18 prior to October 1, 2018 is exempt.
The deadline for the committee to vote on the bill is Wednesday, March 28, 2018.
Senator McCrory E-News: I Support Earned Family Medical Leave, Pay Equity and Raising the Minimum Wage; 10 Essential Health Benefits for Women
Moore Applauds Labor Committee Passage of Earned Family Medical Leave Bill
Moore Applauds Labor Committee Passage of Earned Family Medical Leave Bill
Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) today applauded committee passage of legislation that will help create economic security for women and families across Connecticut. Democrats in the Labor Committee voted to pass Earned Family Medical Leave, Pay Equity and Raising the Minimum Wage.
Unfortunately, Republicans once again turned their backs on working families and women in Connecticut by voting against these bills.
“It’s time for Connecticut workers to get the financial assistance they’ve earned when needing to take some time off to handle some of life’s many challenges like falling ill, having a child, or caring for a loved one. It’s time for Connecticut women to earn the same pay as her male colleagues. And it’s time for Connecticut taxpayers to end the practice of subsidizing childcare, food, and health care to people who work for companies who earn high profits and pay low wages,” Sen. Moore said.
Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 5387 each provide for up to 12 weeks of paid leave to qualifying employees, at 100 percent of salary up to a cap of $1,000 per week.
Senate Bill 15 and House Bill 5386 would prohibit employers from inquiring about a prospective employee’s previous wages, preventing that employee from inquiring about another employee’s salary, or requiring employees to sign a waiver denying their right to disclose wages.
House Bill 5388 seeks to gradually increase the minimum wage in Connecticut from its current $10.10 to $15.00 an hour over the next three years; after that the minimum wage would be indexed to rise with the rate of inflation.
Sen. Moore E-News: Join me this Thursday in Bridgeport for a Community Conversation on Casinos and Gaming
Senator Bye E-News: Upcoming Community Office Hours
Senate President Pro Tempore Looney: Now is the Time to Legalize and Regulate Recreational Marijuana
Senate President Pro Tempore Looney: Now is the Time to Legalize and Regulate Recreational Marijuana
Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) today submitted testimony to the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee in support of legalization and regulation of recreational marijuana.
Senate Bill 487, An Act Concerning the Legalization, Taxation and Regulation of the Retail Sale of Marijuana and Concerning the Production and Regulation of Hemp, contains specific provisions designed to encourage small business development and promote diversity. The Department of Consumer Protection would be required to adopt procedures and policies to encourage business applications from people who are part of communities that have been disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement. And since drug prohibition has been enforced in a racially disparate manner, to avoid perpetuating the disparity, individuals with an infraction or misdemeanor drug charge would not be disqualified from participating in the marijuana industry. The bill also includes provisions for tiered marijuana cultivator licenses based on the size of the facility or the number of plants.
“It is time we take the rational, common-sense approach to marijuana, as we did with alcohol: regulating and taxing it,” testified Senator Looney. “We need to ensure that Connecticut is not left behind as our neighbors move forward with common sense marijuana policy.”
Maine and Massachusetts approved ballot initiatives in November, 2016 and retail sales north of our border in Massachusetts are expected to begin in July. In May 2017, Vermont became the first state to legalize marijuana not by ballot initiative, but by a vote of its legislature. Rhode Island and New Jersey are seriously considering enacting similar measures.
In his testimony, Senator Looney wrote, “According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 479,000 Connecticut residents used marijuana in 2015—over 13 percent of the state’s population. Other than those who are participants in our medical marijuana program, these users are getting this product from the illicit market, which poses significant dangers. Buyers can be sold marijuana tainted with harmful contaminants, offered hard drugs, or even physically assaulted. If this bill is enacted, consumers could purchase products from regulated stores. Marijuana would be produced by regulated growers and product manufacturers, and would be tested for potency and contaminants. It would also have warning labels and child-proof packaging.”
Senator Looney’s testimony also focused on how legalization can also help Connecticut’s economy, “During 2014, the first year of implementation of Colorado Amendment 64, Colorado’s legal marijuana market reached total sales of $700 million. It is estimated that, in 2015, the legal marijuana industry in Colorado created more than 18,000 new full-time jobs and generated $2.4 billion in economic activity. A recent report projects that, by 2020, the legal cannabis market will create more than a quarter of a million jobs nationally. And these jobs will come with the protections workers deserve, from minimum wage and overtime regulations, to unemployment insurance and social security,” Senator Looney wrote.