Month: May 2019

Senator Needleman Joins Senate Passage of Early Voting Amendment, Expresses Disappointment in Broad Republican Opposition

HARTFORD – Despite broad and severe Republican opposition, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) today joined majority Democrats in the state Senate passage of a resolution that could ultimately allow for early voting in Connecticut.

House Joint Resolution 161, “Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the State Constitution to Allow for Early Voting,” passed the Senate on an almost entirely partisan 23-13 vote. The Republican-influenced vote margin now means that, if approved by voters at statewide referendum, the issue of early voting would have to be voted on again by the next legislature to be elected in November 2020, and if approved, would not take effect until the 2023 election – more than four years from now.

“I joined Secretary of the State Merrill last month at a forum on early voting because I believe in empowering the public with every tool at our disposal,” said Sen. Needleman. “It is incredibly disappointing that my colleagues in the Senate do not support early voting’s benefits. They decided voters would rather wait in long lines on Election Day than visit a polling place in the days prior on their own schedule. They decided it’s fine for voters dealing with work, childcare, transportation issues and other challenges to simply become discouraged and stay home instead of gaining additional freedom to cast their ballots. Regardless, I am happy we were able to move this legislation forward, and will continue to fight to support it.”

The House joint resolution seeks to amend sections of the state constitution to allow for early voting; that is, voting outside the normal 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. time period on Election Day.

Democrats are trying to have Connecticut join the other 40 U.S. states and the District of Columbia in offering some form of early voting to its busy state residents. Connecticut is one of only 10 states in America that doesn’t have any provision for early voting.

Senator Needleman Lauds Democratic Budget’s Full Funding Of Education Cost Sharing Formula For Colchester

State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) today lauded the Democratic state budget approved by the Appropriations and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees earlier this month, citing specifically its full funding of the Education Cost Sharing formula. This ensures retention of current support given to education systems across the state, preserving current quality of education in communities like Colchester.

The budget’s full allocation to the Education Cost Sharing ten-year funding formula preserves current education quality throughout the state. That funding is required under the ten-year phase-in adopted by the General Assembly in 2017. In addition, the budget invests further in magnet and charter schools, after school programs and maintains funding for nurses at private schools.

“The Appropriations Committee putting forward a budget proposal that maintains the current Education Cost Sharing formula phase-in of ten years provides communities like Colchester, which are seeing a significant decrease in the grant, time to prepare,” said Colchester Board of Education Chairman Bradley Bernier. “While Colchester is actively pursuing additional opportunities to share services with our neighbors, something we have been doing within our Town for years, we have found that the process takes time. The commitment by Appropriations to follow the current formula will allow us to maintain the efficiencies that we have in place as we look to expand our opportunities for alternative revenue.”

“Our children can’t reach their full potential without us providing them with the optimal learning environment, and this budget does just that,” said Sen. Needleman. “Our students in Colchester, the 33rd District and the state cannot succeed without as much support as we can give them. I am heartened to see the Education Cost Sharing formula is fully funded in this budget and that my colleagues are working to change the Governor’s initial proposals.”

While the Democratic budget passed the Appropriations Committee and Finance Committee by last week’s mandated committee deadline, state Republicans failed to propose, submit, or vote on a state budget. With no budget, state Republicans have proposed $0 for state education funding for the 33rd District.

The Democratic budget now awaits a vote by the full State Senate and full House of Representatives.

Other Highlights of the Democratic State Budget

Investing in Workforce Development

• Provides greater funding than the Governor proposed for several workforce development programs including:
• Jobs Funnel Programs ($632K each year)
• Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative ($1.1 M each year)
• Healthcare Apprenticeship Initiative ($500K each year)
• Connecticut’s Youth Employment Program ($1 M each year)
• Cradle to Career ($100K each year)
• Pilot Re-Entry Program ($800K each year)
• Veteran Machinists Training ($250K each year)

Advancing Education

• Increases funding for K-12 education by tens of millions of dollars from FY 19 ($42 million in FY 20 & $80 million in FY 21)
• Increases funding for community colleges from FY 19 ($8 million in FY 20 & $10 million in FY 21)

Other Investments

• Funds services for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities including employment and day services for new high school graduates ($6.3 M in FY 20 and $14.6 M in FY 21) as well as individuals aging out of the Department of Children and Families and residential schools ($3 M in FY 20 and $5.7 M in FY 21)
• Preserves funding for mental health and substance abuse grants ($1.6 M in each year)
• Provides funding for caseload growth in the Birth to Three program ($1.4 M in FY 20 and $2 M in FY 21)
• Includes funding for a new State Trooper Class in FY 20

Senator Needleman Lauds Democratic Budget’s Funding Of Meals On Wheels, Other Vital East Haddam Community Programs

State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) today lauded the Democratic state budget approved by the Appropriations and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees earlier this month, citing specifically its increased funding for social service programs such as Meals on Wheels and similar programs across towns like East Haddam.

Meals on Wheels operates in communities across the state to address senior isolation and hunger. Every day, Meals on Wheels provides two meals a day to seniors above the age of 60 and individuals under 60 with medical conditions. The Democratic state budget increases funding for Meals on Wheels by $475,000 each year in the next two years. Further funded programs include mental health and medical programs which will receive grant funding.

“Meals on Wheels is a lifesaving program for many elderly people,” said Brad Parker, Senior Center Director and Municipal Agent for the town of East Haddam. “We are talking about seniors that, in most cases, are not physically able to fix their own meals. The delivery of these meals also serves as a wellness check for these homebound seniors. What kind of a society would we be if we can’t be sure that our seniors are fed and safe?”

“By increasing funding for Meals on Wheels, we give our senior populations additional security and not only retain but improve a program many people rely on for nutrition,” said Sen. Needleman. “Meals on Wheels isn’t just a delivery service but a lifeline for many people, and I wholly support this change from the Governor’s initially proposed budget.”

While the Democratic budget passed the Appropriations Committee and Finance Committee by last week’s mandated committee deadline, state Republicans failed to propose, submit, or vote on a state budget. With no budget, state Republicans have proposed $0 for community programs around the state and in the 33rd District.

The Democratic budget now awaits a vote by the full State Senate and full House of Representatives.

Other Highlights of the Democratic State Budget

Investing in Workforce Development

• Provides greater funding than the Governor proposed for several workforce development programs including:
• Jobs Funnel Programs ($632K each year)
• Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative ($1.1 M each year)
• Healthcare Apprenticeship Initiative ($500K each year)
• Connecticut’s Youth Employment Program ($1 M each year)
• Cradle to Career ($100K each year)
• Pilot Re-Entry Program ($800K each year)
• Veteran Machinists Training ($250K each year)

Advancing Education

• Increases funding for K-12 education by tens of millions of dollars from FY 19 ($42 million in FY 20 & $80 million in FY 21)
• Increases funding for community colleges from FY 19 ($8 million in FY 20 & $10 million in FY 21)

Other Investments

• Funds services for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities including employment and day services for new high school graduates ($6.3 M in FY 20 and $14.6 M in FY 21) as well as individuals aging out of the Department of Children and Families and residential schools ($3 M in FY 20 and $5.7 M in FY 21)
• Preserves funding for mental health and substance abuse grants ($1.6 M in each year)
• Provides funding for caseload growth in the Birth to Three program ($1.4 M in FY 20 and $2 M in FY 21)
• Includes funding for a new State Trooper Class in FY 20