State Reps. Themis Klarides, Charles Ferraro, and Kathy Kennedy met with constituents over coffee on June 14 and at the Orange Senior Center on June 17 to provide a 2019 legislative update and to answer questions.
The 2019 legislative session ended on June 5 at midnight. A two-year state budget crafted by the majority Democrats was adopted without much input from Republicans.
“I am deeply concerned with the increase in spending and asking taxpayers to pay more,” Ferraro said. “We should be holding the line on spending and finding ways to save money. This budget will not move Connecticut in a better direction.”
“My hope in the future is Connecticut lawmakers stop punishing businesses that want to stay and do business here,” Kennedy said. “Continuing to raise their taxes and overburden the businesses they run with more state regulations will only lead to less businesses coming to Connecticut and less jobs for state residents.”
“How can we expect to see growth in our tax base and growth in our businesses with an unbalanced budget such as this?” asked Klarides. “This budget puts more undue pressure on the working class of Connecticut and more costs, fees, and taxes thrown on to our businesses. This budget continues to place teacher pension burdens on future generations, makes Connecticut less competitive in comparison to the states around us in almost every way and continues to short the Special Transportation Fund.”
The lawmakers did highlight some bills that did pass with bipartisan support:
– SB 3: An Act Combatting Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment
– HB 5524: An Act Increasing the Penalties for the Sale of Fentanyl
– HB 7156: An Act Concerning the Procurement of Energy Derived from Offshore Wind
– HB 7218: An Act Concerning the Safe Storage of Firearms in the Home and Firearm Safety Programs in Public Schools
– SB 164: An Act Including Certain Mental or Emotional Impairments Within the Definition of “Personal Injury” Under the Workers’ Compensation Statutes for Firefighters and Police
– HB 7244: An Act Concerning the Property Tax Exemption for Service Members and Veterans Having Disability Ratings
For more information about legislation passed this session or the state budget residents can visit cga.ct.gov. If residents have any questions or concerns and would like to contact the lawmakers they can call 860-240-8700 or email them at Themis.Klarides@housegop.ct.gov, Charles.Ferraro@housegop.ct.gov or Kathy.Kennedy@housegop.ct.gov.
State Reps. Charles Ferraro, right, Themis Klarides and Kathy Kennedy, left, met with constituents for coffee June 14 and at the Orange Senior Center June 17. Contributed photo.