New Milford Veterans who have not received an application are encouraged to contact either Rep. Carson and/or Rep. Chapin at (800) 842-1423.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell addressed a joint convention of the state House of Representatives and the state Senate. In her speech, the Governor outlined the state’s current budget deficit and outlined some ideas for dealing with the shortfall. Here are a few of the highlights:

- No new taxes or fee increases
- No cuts to major town aid grants. However, there are reductions to smaller grants, such as school transportation and Magnet Schools.
- Deferring $100 million payment to state pension fund.
- Enhanced sales tax exemption for Green energy producers
- An estimated $20 million in additional revenue from Keno.

The Governor laid out a proposal that requires any budget surplus must go to Rainy Day Fund in January and May of each year. This makes a lot of sense, on many levels.

According to the latest revenue estimates, the state exceeds the bond cap by $242 million. The Governor proposes to de-authorize $388.7 million, including de-authorizations of bonds over five years old. This would make room for potential new bond authorizations.

To saves costs to the state, the Governor also proposed co-pay and premium increases in the HUSKY insurance program.

Keno could be one of the more controversial proposals among legislators. According to the Connecticut Lottery Corp., lottery-style keno is a betting game in which players pick a set of numbers from 1 to 80 by buying and filling out a play slip from a retailer, such as a bar or restaurant.

Bets typically range from $1 to $10. Payouts can range from $1 to $1 million. The state lottery draws 20 winning numbers, publicizing new results every 5 to 6 minutes, by television, for instance. Winnings are determined by the amount of the wager and the number of drawn numbers that a player matches.

The Governor also proposed a Loan Forgiveness Program, of up to $2,500 a year for state school graduates, and a $2,500 per new job created for businesses of 25 and fewer employees. There is a 10 million cap for the new-jobs credit.

The state’s budget difficulties are unprecedented, and I am hoping to work with my colleagues on both sides of the political aisle to reach a solution that does not include increased spending and higher taxes. I am hopeful that we can accomplish this by working together.

For this legislative session, I will serve as the ranking member of the Program Review & Investigations Committee. I will also serve on the Public Health and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees, along with playing my role as appointee to the Speaker’s Domestic Violence Task Force.

Rep. Carson said that Connecticut’s “sales tax-free holiday” will take place this year from Sunday, August 16 through Saturday, August 22.   

As a help to families preparing to send their children back to school, all clothing and footwear items under $300 will be exempt from the state’s six percent sales tax.   

Examples of clothing exempted during the sales tax-free holiday are jeans, dresses, blouses, shirts, shoes, sneakers, scarves, gloves, and belts. Non-apparel items, such as jewelry, wallets, and luggage are not included in the exemption.   

Rep. Carson said the Connecticut House Republicans first introduced the concept in August 1999 – modeled after a successful New York program – as a way of providing some relief to Connecticut families while boosting the state’s economic competitiveness among neighboring states.    

The sales tax free week is established by state statute in Sec. 12-407e. Tax suspended for one week in August for sales of clothing or footwear of less than three hundred dollars.

HARTFORD-  House and Senate Republican legislators have proposed a 2009-2011 alternative state budget that would retain existing state funding for towns in the 108th District (Kent, New Fairfield, New Milford and Sherman) without raising taxes. The budget package would preserve vital state programs and services at 2007 levels, and greatly reduce government costs through cuts, agency mergers, retirements and salary and benefit concessions.

The proposal would also retain the $500 property tax credit for families earning as little as $46,000 that would be eliminated under the budget package approved by the Legislature’s Appropriations and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees, through largely party-line votes, on April 2. I detailed that budget package, which would require $3.3 billion in new taxes — the largest tax hike in state history — in my April 15 column.

Republicans have pledged to work with Democrats and Governor M. Jodi Rell to produce a two-year budget Connecticut can afford and not drive more jobs out of state through tax increases. Gov. Rell’s February budget proposal also had no tax increases, but state revenues have continued to deteriorate and the plan unveiled April 16 accounts for the revenue drop projected by the non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA).

Additional highlights of the Republican alternative budget are:
• Early retirement to save more than $285 million;
• State worker concessions for salary, health care and pension benefits that save $662 million;
• Folding 23 agencies into six and implementing a hiring freeze to reduce overhead costs. Two more agencies would be merged into the General Fund;
• Overhauling the higher education bureaucracy that duplicates services and drives up tuition for families struggling to pay for college;
• Using the Rainy Day Fund for what it was intended – fiscal distress;
• Imposing $900 million in budget cuts;
• Engaging private companies that can perform duties such as state park maintenance

This budget alternative actually represents a bi-partisan effort because it was crafted using the parts of the Governor’s and the Democrats’ budget proposals. While additional adjustments will be made to the product that is ultimately passed, the plan introduced on April 16 takes elements of both and also clearly addresses the public’s desire for no tax increases and shrinking the size of state government.

There are difficult decisions made in the alternative budget. However, as previous columns have noted, the state faces an unprecedented fiscal crisis and tough calls must be made. Legislative leaders and Governor Rell are scheduled to begin formal budget negotiations this week. I look forward to providing updates on any proposals that come before the full Legislature in the coming weeks.

Funds are now flowing to create summer youth employment and job training in Connecticut after the legislature authorized the use of $30 million in federal stimulus spending. 

The funding, however, may be just a small step in easing the state’s eight percent unemployment, putting more people to work and helping the state to recover from the current recession. Unemployment is even higher in the cities. 

The federal-state program is expected to provide job training and actual work for an estimated 4,700 youths. Yet more than 10,000 applications for summer work have been received by the state Workforce Investment Boards and related local agencies. That means less than half of those seeking jobs will be hired. 

Separately, the legislature also took action to streamline the state teacher certification process to help bring more people into the teaching field, especially those who have experience in other fields. This is anticipated to ease the coming teacher shortage as many long-time educators approach retirement. 

The teacher legislation also will simplify the process for educators from other states to work in Connecticut. Further, it makes it easier for schools to hire teachers who have gone through the non-profit Teach for America program, which recruits college graduates to teach in inner-city schools. 

Both of these important pieces of legislation received approval belatedly in a June 19 special session, after time ran out in the regular legislative session that ended at midnight on June 3. 

Job agencies throughout the state had been awaiting the release of federal stimulus funds, so they could start providing jobs for needy young people in programs which are scheduled to begin July 6. 

The funds will be channeled through five Connecticut regional Workforce Investment Boards, which often subcontract with local job development agencies. Guidelines allow those agencies currently working with the Workforce Investment Boards to continue to do so with these federal funds.  

The intention of this federal economic stimulus funding is that it be used right away to help young people get jobs and put that money to work in their local economy. 

Though there were delays in obtaining final legislative approval for the release of this money, the end result should be some good news in the most economically depressed areas of our state. 

Regrettably, during the special session, called to allocate federal stimulus money and cover agency deficits, legislators increased the state’s deficit this fiscal year that ends June 30 by about $29 million.  To clarify:  Between now and June 30^th, Connecticut faces a nearly 1 billion dollar deficit.  Beginning July 1, Connecticut faces a nearly $9 billion dollar deficit over the next biennium.

Rep. Carson was joined by State Sen. Andrew Roraback, R-30, and State Rep. Clark Chapin, R-67, for a legislative update at the New Milford Senior Center. The legislators discussed a variety of topics, including the state budget, health care and local and statewide transportation issues.

Rep. Carson speaks with Nikki Phillips (left) and Mary Roberts following the forum.

HARTFORD- On Thursday, April 2, the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee approved respective spending and tax packages. The spending plan would require $3.3 billion in new state taxes during the next two years.

Because the state is facing an unprecedented fiscal crisis, there has been ongoing debate on the need to downsize state government. The budget proposal Governor M. Jodi Rell unveiled in February contained numerous consolidations of agencies and reduction of the state workforce as primary ways to close a fiscal shortfall that is currently projected at $9 billion for the next two fiscal years.

While there are small reductions made in certain accounts, the proposal approved last week also includes $55 million in new spending, and in fact, serious issues have been raised regarding provisions contained in the spending package. It would employ one time revenues from the Federal Stimulus Package and state’s Rainy Day Fund to cover ongoing expenses. Doing so would effectively build enormous holes in the state’s future budgets, already predicted to be in deficit by $3 billion to $4 billion per year in budgets for both Fiscal Years ‘12 and ‘13.

The following areas are also problematic because they are one-time gimmicks or potentially un-achieveable savings:

$355 million in unidentified savings from state employees;
$240 million in unidentified savings from Other Expenses throughout the budget;
$56 million in unidentified savings from “agency enhancement”;
$27 million in borrowing for Town Aid Road;
Delaying a $65 million HUSKY payment for one day after the end of the coming biennium.

In addition, the corresponding tax package raises serious issues. It would establish:

Tax increases on businesses through new corporate surcharges;
An income tax hike starting on incomes of $132,500;
Phasing out of property tax credits for middle income families

It would also remove nearly $80 million in sales tax exemptions on a multitude of items. A small sampling of the products and services that would be subject to sales tax under the proposal include: car washes; car seats; bicycle helmets; printed materials for use outside the State of Connecticut; amusement and recreation services; solar generating materials; cloth and fabrics used for home sewing needs; college textbooks; tax preparation services and products used for farming. Enacting sales taxes on these items is a cost that would ultimately be passed on to consumers.

Despite the governor’s call for downsizing state agencies to make services affordable to citizens, no such meaningful consolidation is contained in the budget package approved last week. It would instead force taxpayers to foot the bill because the Legislature refuses to make tough decisions in this regard.

In addition, early this year, majority party leaders promised that the budget package they put forth would be crafted in a bipartisan fashion. However, the minority party was almost entirely excluded from the process of crafting the proposal that was approved on a largely a party line vote.

Enacting the largest tax hikes in state history at a time when citizens can least afford them is irresponsible and will only serve to hurt more families throughout Connecticut and prolong the state’s recession. Balancing a budget by using an extraordinary amount of one-time revenues for ongoing expenses is simply not sound fiscal practice.

I am hopeful majority party leaders will follow through with their pledge to begin negotiations with the governor shortly to arrive at a compromise proposal. I look forward to providing updates on this process in the coming weeks.

–End—

Editors Note: State Representative Mary Ann Carson represents Kent, New Fairfield, New Milford and Sherman in the Connecticut General Assembly.

The funding will expand walkways through the center of town as part of the town’s streetscape project, which calls for extending sidewalks from Town Hall to the intersection of Routes 37 and 39. Plans call for its continuation north on Route 37 for approximately 1,500 feet to Route 37 and the site of the new town Senior Center.

“This is fantastic news,” said New Fairfield First Selectman John Hodge. “This will go a long way toward connecting the center of town to the new senior center and museum district.”

“I’m pleased New Fairfield town officials were able to put a package together that really made an excellent case for utilizing dollars from the state’s stimulus funds for this long-awaited local project,” said Rep. Carson.

“The stimulus dollars being allocated to New Fairfield will serve to enhance the town center and continue in its vision to connect the buildings within the town center with pedestrian walkways,” added Rep. Giegler.

“I am so pleased that this funding has been released to the Town of New Fairfield,” said Sen. McLachlan. “This money will help provide a much-needed and long-desired streetscape for the folks in town and I am certain the new sidewalks will be a very welcome improvement to the area.”

–End—

Moving into the second half of the 2008 Legislative Session, legislative committees have held public hearings on many bills expected to move forward in the coming weeks. The following are several noteworthy bills that have recently been included in public hearings held by the Legislature’s Public Health Committee.

Senate Bill 827, An Act Concerning Blood Donation By Minors, would provide any person 16 years or older legal capacity, without written authorization of his or her parent or guardian, to donate blood in conjunction with any voluntary blood donation program.

House Bill 5608, An Act Concerning The Issuance Of Liquor Permits To Casinos That Permit Smoking In The Casino, would require that prior to the issuance of a casino permit to a tribally owned casino, the state shall require the establishment to enter into an agreement with the state governing the reduction, removal and monitoring of secondhand smoke in the casino. Such agreement would be required to contain standards governing: Designated nonsmoking areas; signage concerning nonsmoking and smoking permitted areas; state-of-the-art ventilation and design for designated smoking areas; employee accommodations; and other terms as may be mutually agreed to by the parties.

House Bill 6598, An Act Concerning The Release Of Biologic Material For Genetic Testing, would permit, in limited circumstances, testing of the biologic material of a deceased person for purposes of determining paternity or a diagnosis of a life threatening illness in a living individual.

House Bill 5635, An Act Concerning Ultrasound Procedures For Medical And Diagnostic Purposes, would prohibit obstetrical ultrasound procedure unless such procedure is ordered by a licensed health care provider, acting within the scope of such provider’s authority, and for a medical or diagnostic purpose.

Senate Bill 981, An Act Concerning The Availability Of Automatic External Defibrillators In Schools, would require that on or after July 1, 2010 each local and regional board of education have an automatic external defibrillator and school personnel trained in the operation of such automatic external defibrillator and the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation at each school under the board’s jurisdiction.

The legislation would require the automatic external defibrillator and school personnel trained in the operation of an automatic external defibrillator and the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation be accessible during the school’s normal operational hours, during school-sponsored athletic practices and athletic events taking place on school grounds and during school sponsored events not occurring during the normal operational hours of the school.

Also, each school would be required to develop an emergency action response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds.
In addition, each school with an athletic department or organized athletic program shall develop an emergency action response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while attending or participating in an athletic practice or event while on school grounds.

SB 981 notes that local and regional boards of education would not be required to comply with the provisions requiring purchasing an automatic external defibrillator and paying for the training of school personnel if federal, state or private funding is not available.

Finally, my last column detailed Senate Bill 1098. It would have stripped Roman Catholic Churches of control of their finances. After Catholic organizations announced they would testify in opposition to the bill during a public hearing scheduled for March 11 and made arrangements for bus transportation, the Judiciary Committee’s co-chairmen cancelled the hearing. House and Senate Republican legislators then scheduled an informational hearing that day to allow people to share their thoughts on the proposal and more than 4,000 Catholics rallied in opposition to the proposal that day.

On Thursday, March 19, the committee voted to use a rarely used parliamentary procedure to shelve the bill. The vote to ‘box’ the legislation was unanimous.

I look forward to providing updates on additional legislation that will be moving forward in the legislative process in the coming weeks.

–End—

Editors Note: State Representative Mary Ann Carson represents Kent, New Fairfield, New Milford and Sherman in the Connecticut General Assembly.