Looney, Duff Outraged as Trump Economic Advisor Says Consumers ‘Last of Our Concerns’

Posted on March 17, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Looney, Duff Outraged as Trump Economic Advisor Says Consumers ‘Last of Our Concerns’

HARTFORD — Today, Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) were outraged by comments made by the Trump regime National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett on Tuesday, where Hassett claimed consumers are the “last of our concerns” as the Iran war continues.

As the war enters its fourth week and the prospect of it lasting for months looms, Hassett appeared on CNBC to discuss the economic consequences. Hassett said extending the war “wouldn’t really disrupt the US economy very much at all,” though it would “hurt consumers, and we’d have to think about what we’d have to do about that, but that’s really the last of our concerns right now.”

“After starting a lawless war with no plan, the Trump regime confirms what we’ve already known: Washington Republicans don’t care about the American public,” said Looney and Duff. “The Strait of Hormuz remains closed as a result of US actions, disrupting global trade and causing the price of just about everything to increase. The cost of a gallon of gas is up nearly $1 in the last month, and crude oil markets remain volatile. Americans were already struggling, and now they’re feeling the pain even more. We are calling on Connecticut Republicans to stand up for their constituents and denounce their MAGA colleagues for such a blatant disregard for affordability in our state. While the Trump regime’s behavior is both shameful and shameless, at least they’re willing to admit they no longer care about regular people.”

These latest comments come amid a turbulent environment where analysts increasingly believe the war with Iran, started with United States strikes on February 28, will stretch on for months, with extended impacts on global fuel and trade.

Those impacts are already apparent, as in less than a month, the average price of a gallon of gas in Connecticut rose by 78 cents, and the cost of a barrel of crude oil rose from $60 to more than $100. Increasing fuel costs will bleed into transportation and shipping, with a heavy impact on shipping.

Since the war started, the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil flows, has been effectively closed, triggering a global fuel crisis.

The cost increases layer on top of the cost of Trump tariffs – even though the initial ones were deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court in February, Trump immediately implemented 15% global tariffs that will remain in place for months.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kevin Coughlin | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov | 203-710-0193

Looney, Duff Outraged as Trump Economic Advisor Says Consumers ‘Last of Our Concerns’

Posted on March 17, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Looney, Duff Outraged as Trump Economic Advisor Says Consumers ‘Last of Our Concerns’

Since the war started, the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil flows, has been effectively closed, triggering a global fuel crisis.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kevin Coughlin | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov | 203-710-0193

MEDIA ADVISORY – 11AM, CAPITOL SOUTH LOBBY – JUST CAUSE ADVANCES, LAWMAKERS PLAN WHAT’S NEXT

Posted on March 17, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: 11AM, CAPITOL SOUTH LOBBY – JUST CAUSE ADVANCES, LAWMAKERS PLAN WHAT’S NEXT

MEDIA ADVISORY: 11AM, CAPITOL SOUTH LOBBY – JUST CAUSE ADVANCES, LAWMAKERS PLAN WHAT’S NEXT

Where: State Capitol, South Lobby Portico (facing Capitol Avenue)
When: Tuesday, March 17, 11 a.m.
Who: Lawmakers championing Senate Bill 257, including State Senator Martha Marx and State Representative Antonio Felipe, Chairs of the Senate Housing Committee, State Rep. Kevin Brown and State Rep. Anthony Nolan; advocates with Connecticut Tenants Union, CT Fair Housing Center, Make The Road CT and the Just Cause Coalition

Following its passage from the Housing Committee on March 10, lawmakers and advocates seeking to support and protect tenants will celebrate Senate Bill 257’s Just Cause protections, seeking to better protect the rights and stability of countless Connecticut renters.

SB257 seeks to require a listed reason in the event of an eviction, trying to reduce housing instability, unfair evictions and homelessness among tenants who can be exposed to abuses of power. The policy does not bar evictions but seeks to end the practice of no-fault evictions, representing more than 10% of all evictions.

Contact: Joe O’Leary | 508-479-4969 | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov

ADVISORY: Sen. Lesser, Advocates, Impacted Residents to Promote Statewide SNAP Proposal

Posted on March 17, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Sen. Lesser, Advocates, Impacted Residents to Promote Statewide SNAP Program

Today, State Senator Matt Lesser, Senate Chair of the Human Services Committee, will hold a press conference alongside legislators, advocates and impacted residents to support legislation that would address food insecurity and shortfalls in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), due to funding cuts passed by the Trump administration in the federal republican budget.

The legislation will be receiving a public hearing shortly after the press conference.

Senate Bill 497 moves $40 million from the Federal Cuts Response Fund, established in Special Act 26-1, to create a transitional assistance fund. This fund would be used for a state-funded SNAP program for residents impacted by the new federal eligibility requirements:

A homeless person or person at risk of homelessness
An adult diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who is not otherwise classified as disabled
A young adult who is aging out of the foster care system
An adult who is a caretaker for a child between the ages of 14-18
An adult ages 55-64
An asylum-seeker, refugee or other immigrant with a visa or pending visa with a immigrant status as victim of human trafficking or domestic abuse

The proposal also ensures that veterans who are not able to meet the new federal work requirements do not risk having their SNAP benefits reduced, it increases reimbursement rates for Meals on Wheels, a critical senior nutrition program and creates a Medicaid waiver program.

Who:
State Senator Matt Lesser, Senate Chair of Human Services Committee
State Senator Paul Honig, Senate Chair of Veterans Committee
State Representative Jaime Foster, House Chair of the Veterans Committee
Coralys Santana, The Connecticut Project Action Fund
Barbara Gandia, impacted resident from Bristol
Alison Weir, Executive Director, Connecticut Veterans Legal Center
Matthew Dillon, Attorney, Connecticut Legal Services
Marisa Rodriguez, impacted resident from New Britain
Dr. Molly Markowitz, Pediatrician, CT-American Academy of Pediatrics Chapter
What: Press Conference on a Statewide SNAP Proposal
Where: Hearing Room 1D in the Legislative Office Building
When: Today – Tuesday, March 17 at 10 a.m.

ADVISORY: Sen. Lesser, Advocates, Impacted Residents to Promote Statewide SNAP Proposal

Posted on March 16, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

ADVISORY:

ADVISORY:

Sen. Lesser, Advocates, Impacted Residents to Promote Statewide SNAP Program

Tomorrow, State Senator Matt Lesser, Senate Chair of the Human Services Committee, will hold a press conference alongside legislators, advocates and impacted residents to support legislation that would address food insecurity and shortfalls in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), due to funding cuts passed by the Trump administration in the federal republican budget.

The legislation will be receiving a public hearing shortly after the press conference.

Senate Bill 497 moves $40 million from the Federal Cuts Response Fund, established in Special Act 26-1, to create a transitional assistance fund. This fund would be used for a state-funded SNAP program for residents impacted by the new federal eligibility requirements:

A homeless person or person at risk of homelessness
An adult diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who is not otherwise classified as disabled
A young adult who is aging out of the foster care system
An adult who is a caretaker for a child between the ages of 14-18
An adult ages 55-64
An asylum-seeker, refugee or other immigrant with a visa or pending visa with a immigrant status as victim of human trafficking or domestic abuse

Senate Priority Legislation Supporting Commuters and Microtransit Passes Committee

Posted on March 16, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Senate Priority Legislation Supporting Commuters and Microtransit Passes Committee

For Immediate Release
Contact: Garnet McLaughlin – Garnet.McLaughlin@cga.ct.gov – 860-304-2319

Today, Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee State Senator Christine Cohen led committee passage of senate priority legislation that will support commuters and extend microtransit services across the state.

“This legislation tackles connectivity, accessibility and clean air goals while providing business-friendly tax credits that help commuters,” said Senator Christine Cohen. “Sound, inclusive and commuter-centered policies like this one really have the power to move Connecticut forward and I look forward to getting this proposal across the finish line.”

Senate Bill 9 allocates $10.5 million through FY 27 to extend a successful microtransit program that was first established in 2024 and serves nine transit districts and 17 municipalities in Connecticut. These programs offer accessible and affordable on-demand transportation, allowing seniors, students, the disabled community and those without personal transportation to get to their destinations safely.

The legislation also establishes a tax credit for businesses. Previous legislation allowed businesses with over 100 employees to create incentives for their employees to travel to work by means of carpooling, public transit or employer-based commuting alternatives. The legislation passed today lowers the threshold to 5 employees and increases the credit from $250 to $500 per employee per year. There is a statewide cap on the program of $1.5 million and the credits are offered on a first-come first-serve basis.

The legislation also requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to work with local organizations like chambers of commerce to develop a public service campaign, ensuring employers are made aware of the benefit.

Senate Bill 9 also identifies opportunities for transit-oriented development by requiring the Department of Transportation to report back to the Transportation Committee on any state-owned land near public transportation hubs that could be developed into housing.

The legislation next heads to the Senate floor.

General Law Committee Advances Bills to Strengthen Consumer Privacy and Online Safety Protections

Posted on March 16, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

General Law Committee Advances Bills to Strengthen Consumer Privacy and Online Safety Protections

General Law Committee Advances Bills to Strengthen Consumer Privacy and Online Safety Protections

Today, two senate democratic caucus bills, Senate Bill 4, ‘An Act Concerning Consumer Privacy’ and Senate Bill 5, ‘An Act Concerning Online Safety’, was passed out of the General Law Committee. Both bills would advance critical protections for Connecticut residents in the digital age.

“Real harms are happening to Connecticut residents right now, and we cannot wait for Washington to act,” said State Senator James Maroney (D-Milford), Chair of the General Law Committee. “With these bills, we are saying: if Washington won’t protect us, we will protect ourselves. We want to ensure our residents are safe, especially our children, and equip them with the skills they need to succeed in the modern economy.”

“These bills reflect our commitment as Senate Democrats to making sure Connecticut families are protected,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “Whether it’s keeping personal data out of the hands of those who would steal it, companies that would make vast profits from the information, federal overreach that is concerning many Americans or ensuring
or ensuring that the AI tools our kids are using aren’t putting their lives at risk, we are proud to be leading the nation on these issues.”

Senate Bill 4: Consumer Privacy
Senate Bill 4 introduces comprehensive privacy measures that address emerging threats to consumer data. The bill tackles critical privacy concerns, including the lightly regulated sale of geolocation data, the proliferation of license plate readers and facial recognition technology, and the exploitative practices of data brokers.

Specifically, Senate Bill 4 will:

Regulate data brokers by allowing consumers to request, at no cost, the deletion of any personal data collected by a data broker
Prohibit automated license plate reader entities that have contracted with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Motor Vehicles, or law enforcement agencies from selling or sharing information gathered from those readers
Require businesses using facial recognition technology to clearly disclose such use at each public entrance and provide consumers with a way to request removal of their facial images from any resulting database
Regulate dynamic pricing, also known as surge pricing or personalized algorithmic pricing, by creating strict disclosure requirements for consumers
Require manufacturers of motor vehicles manufactured overseas to affix a label to vehicles reflecting the cost attributable to tariffs
Ban controllers and processors from selling or sharing precise geolocation data

These protections are a direct response to real-world harm. In Minnesota, Vance Boelter obtained personal information through data broker websites that he used to assassinate Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Connecticut’s legislation will help prevent tragedies like this from happening here.

Given federal law enforcement’s current overreach and violations of civil rights, this bill will also help prevent third-party vendors from retaining or providing data that tracks individuals’ movements and locations to federal agencies, including ICE.

Senate Bill 5: Online Safety
Senate Bill 5 advances critical artificial intelligence legislation to protect Connecticut residents from emerging digital harms, with a primary focus on preventing AI-driven threats to mental health and youth safety.

The bill will require AI chatbot operators to make reasonable efforts to detect suicidal ideation or indicators of self-harm expressed by users and to have a protocol in place to respond with appropriate mental health resources.

Over 70% of teenagers use AI companions, with roughly half using them regularly. There have been numerous cases across the country of teenagers who disclosed suicidality to AI chatbots that not only failed to offer mental health resources, but actively encouraged and assisted minors in attempting or completing suicide.

Adults have been harmed as well. In in Greenwich, Connecticut, a man killed his elderly mother and then himself after an AI chatbot repeatedly validated his delusions, encouraged him to distrust others, and never once directed him to mental health resources.

This bill will also require that individuals be provided with a disclosure when AI is used in a decision-making process affecting their employment, ensuring transparency as AI becomes an increasingly powerful force in hiring and workplace decisions.

The legislation will also hold technology companies responsible when their AI systems promote dangerous content or behaviors.

Senate Bill 5 also invests in Connecticut’s AI future by promoting responsible AI use and equipping residents with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a modern AI economy. Through workforce training initiatives and partnerships with state agencies, the bill ensures that Connecticut workers and businesses are not left behind as technology rapidly transforms our economy.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michelle Rappaport | Michelle.Rappaport@cga.ct.gov| 860-240-8671

MEDIA ADVISORY: TUESDAY, 11AM, CAPITOL SOUTH LOBBY – JUST CAUSE ADVANCES, LAWMAKERS PLAN WHAT’S NEXT

Posted on March 16, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: TUESDAY, 11AM, CAPITOL SOUTH LOBBY – JUST CAUSE ADVANCES, LAWMAKERS PLAN WHAT’S NEXT

MEDIA ADVISORY: TUESDAY, 11AM, CAPITOL SOUTH LOBBY – JUST CAUSE ADVANCES, LAWMAKERS PLAN WHAT’S NEXT

SENATOR CABRERA WELCOMES $49,999 FOR WOODBRIDGE FARM TO ENHANCE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

Posted on March 16, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

SENATOR CABRERA WELCOMES $49,999 FOR WOODBRIDGE FARM TO ENHANCE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

As part of the state Department of Agriculture’s latest round of Agricultural Enhancement Grant awards, distributing more than $500,000 around the state to support farm viability, Woodbridge’s Massaro Community Farm received a $49,999 grant supporting “Hands In The Soil,” an immersive agricultural education for local youth.

According to its website, the Massaro Community Farm’s “Hands In The Soil” program sees volunteer groups work directly in its farmlands to help grow vegetables while they learn about the impacts of local farmwork and how they serve the local community.

“This investment means local students and organizations will have more opportunities to learn directly about the hard work that takes place on our farms every day, and the impact that work delivers into our local communities,” said State Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden). “It’s a valuable resource that will continue to deliver dividends for our residents and I’m grateful to the Department of Agriculture for their local support.”

The Agricultural Enhancement Grant Program strengthens local farm opportunities through supporting projects designed to improve or expand agricultural activity and promote long-term viability.

SENATE DEMOCRATS’ STRONG COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION INVESTMENT MOVES FORWARD

Posted on March 16, 2026March 17, 2026 by Devin James

SENATE DEMOCRATS’ STRONG COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION INVESTMENT MOVES FORWARD

Today, the Education Committee advanced key legislation from Connecticut Senate Democrats seeking to make a strong and transformative increase in the state’s public education systems.

Senate Bill 7, “An Act Concerning Educational Equity,” passed out of the Education Committee March 16.

“We know our state needs to better keep pace with the costs of education, and our schools and children lose out on opportunities when that isn’t happening,” said State Senator Doug McCrory, Senate Chair of the Education Committee. “It leads to fewer programs, kids struggling, teachers spending their own funds to help out in the classroom. Raising the foundation amount in the grant will change that. It will deliver on our promises and make sure schools, students and communities across Connecticut get the care, attention and funds they deserve.”

“This situation doesn’t call for a short-term fix. Senate Democrats are focused on a full overhaul of our education funding systems that allow every school to succeed – with secondary impacts on local taxes, local educational resources and local community support,” said Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “This legislation marks Connecticut’s determination to make sure every student has the best opportunities to succeed.”

The bill proposes raising the Education Cost Sharing formula’s foundation grant from its current level of $11,525 per pupil. In the next four fiscal years it would continue to increase, growing to $12,500 in fiscal year 2027, $13,500 in fiscal year 2028, $14,500 in fiscal year 2029 and $15,500 in fiscal year 2030.

Following 2030, the foundation grant would be indexed to economic indicators to ensure funding meets financial pressures in future years.

Under this framework, the proposal would increase state education funding by $58 million in fiscal year 2027, $233 million in fiscal year 2028, $422 million in fiscal year 2029 and $618 million in fiscal year 2030.

Senate Bill 7 received nearly 700 pieces of testimony in support during the public hearing process, including from dozens of school superintendents, principals and teachers.

Hartford Public Schools teacher Ron Acosta noted in public testimony that the current foundation of $11,525 per student has remained unchanged for 13 years and is highly outdated, leaving schools unable to meet students’ needs. “The classrooms are overcrowded and students are underserviced, if serviced at all,” Acosta said.

Paul Brenton, Superintendent of Plainfield Public Schools, said the planned increase in SB7 is a necessary and welcome step toward restoring balance and strengthening the state’s partnership with local school districts. This is especially important in some districts that are economically strained, Brenton added, as Plainfield’s student poverty rate recently climbed significantly and is facing stagnant local growth, meaning such increases are specifically important in communities that otherwise could risk falling behind.

Maureen Brummet, Superintendent of Newington Public Schools, noted the stagnancy of the ECS foundation fails to “reflect the real-world expenses of providing a quality education,” forcing towns to shoulder additional costs in providing students with education – in comparison, the predictability and adjustments offered by SB7 is the “only path” to fostering stability, predictability and long-term fiscal planning capacity.

With the bill’s passage today, it next heads to the Senate floor for further deliberation.