Connecticut is a leader on tax relief for low- and middle-income earners. While other states cut taxes for the wealthy and corporations, Connecticut stands out for providing nearly $500 million in relief for individuals and families.
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From Senator Cathy Osten:
"I'm happy to announce that the State Bond Commission has approved a combined $2.7 million in state grants for three public projects in the region. I'm always advocating up in Hartford for eastern Connecticut to get its fair share of state bonding, and I believe these are three very worthwhile projects that deserve state support. This grant includes funding of $500,000 for a new roof and fire equipment for the Gales Ferry Volunteer Fire Department in Ledyard, which was founded in 1942. The department moved into its station on Route 12 in 1986 and has since refinished the firehouse exterior and replaced the front apron with a concrete pad." Connecticut legislators eschew partisan bickering and act on gun violence prevention, reproductive freedom, health care access, cutting fees to consumers and more. In a week where Republican-led states continued to chip away at individual freedoms, the CT legislative assembly took a different tack, passing bills to improve the quality of our lives and expand our freedoms. But first:
PREVENTING GUN VIOLENCE
The CT House approved a comprehensive bill to reduce gun violence, stop mass shootings, and prevent firearm accidents and suicides. Among the provisions are:
EXPANDING REPRODUCTIVE CARE AND PROTECTIONS This week the House voted to allow specially trained pharmacists to prescribe hormonal birth control and also to legalize vending machines that dispense an over-the-counter emergency contraceptive commonly known as Plan B. The pill is already available over the counter and without age restrictions. Last year, we became the first state in the nation to pass a safe harbor law. It protects abortion seekers and providers here from prosecution by other states for procedures performed in Connecticut. Last week, the state House of Representatives strengthened that law with a bill extending protections for medical providers who offer abortions or other reproductive care. QUICKER ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE Senate Democrats passed a bill to reduce the burdens of “prior authorization,” a cumbersome process that delays patients’ care while medical professionals seek approval from insurance companies to treat them. The bill would also limit step therapy, where insurance companies require patients to exhaust less costly medications before approving medications they require. The bill also protects newborns from denial of coverage by giving parents additional time to enroll them for health insurance. PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE After the murder of a woman last year by her ex-boyfriend, despite having both a restraining order and a protective order against him, Senate Democrats made strengthening protections a priority. They passed a bill that would expand the use of GPS monitors which track movements of domestic violence offenders. That increases the chances that first responders can reach them quickly if restraining orders are violated. The bill would also prevent assailants from collecting alimony from the victims of their abuse. IMPROVED ELDER CARE Too often, abuse or neglect of seniors goes underreported. A bill passed the House last week which would expand the professional classes legally required to report suspected elder abuse. Another bill seeks to increase the number of state residents eligible for adult day care services, offering a lifeline to family caregivers. CONSUMER PROTECTION Tired of seeing credit card charges for subscriptions you forgot you had? A bill passed by the CT House would put a check on automatic renewals by requiring businesses to get your approval before charging you. Less hassle for you and more money in your pocket. REDUCING TRAFFIC FATALITIES Wrong-way driving crashes here tripled in 2022. These are the deadliest kind of automobile collisions. The House passed a bill requiring the Department of Transportation to implement wrong-way driving countermeasures and include instruction on reducing wrong-way driving in driver ed programs. TAX CUT, ANYONE? And with a fiscal year once again expected to end in the black, state lawmakers have the luxury of arguing over the size of a historic cut in income tax rates. Business reporter Dan Haar predicts savings for most households of $300-$600 in addition to child tax deductions. The legislative session draws to a close on June 7, and our state reps are working furiously to get these and other bills improving our quality of life, expanding our freedoms, and growing our economy over the finish line. That beats culture wars anytime. Source: Greenwich Democrats Voting Information The 2022 Midterm Elections will be held on Tuesday, November 8th. Polls are open from 6am – 8 pm. Find where to vote: Where and how do I vote? portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Voter-Information/Where-and-how-do-I-vote Ledyard Voting Information/Town Clerk: https://www.ledyardct.org/459/Voting-Information-Absentee-Ballots Registering to Vote To check your voter registration, voting location, and whether your absentee ballot has been received: https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx Voter Registration Deadline: In-person: Nov. 1, 2022 By mail: Postmarked by Nov. 1, 2022 Online: Nov. 1, 2022 Register to vote online here: https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/welcome.do Election Day Registration is available for those who meet the eligibility requirements. For more info: https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/election-day-registration/election-day-registration On the Ballot Early Voting Ballot Question There will be a proposed constitutional amendment on Early Voting. The question will read: “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting?” We recommend voting YES on the Early Voting question. Here is a detailed explanation of the Early Voting Ballot Question: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2022/rpt/pdf/2022-R-0157.pdf Ledyard will also see this question: 'Shall the sale of recreational marijuana be allowed in the Town of Ledyard?' After careful deliberation, the Ledyard Democratic Town Committee (DTC) has decided to support this referendum and encourage voters to vote 'Yes'. Our support is driven by the following considerations: 1. Other towns around Ledyard will certainly allow the sale of cannabis. If we do not allow its sale in Ledyard, neighboring towns will benefit from the extra revenue while we miss out. Although the town's available uses of the 3% sales tax are limited in scope, it is a badly-needed diversification of the town's tax base. 2. Even for those of us who won't be shopping there ourselves, many feel that it's wrong to deny others the choice to do so. Read more about the referendum question in the recent Ledyard Events Magazine Democratic Candidates Ned Lamont for Governor & Susan Bysiewicz for Lt. Governor: https://nedlamont.com/ Richard Blumenthal for U.S. Senate: https://richardblumenthal.com/ Joe Courtney for Congress: https://joecourtney.com/ Stephanie Thomas for CT Secretary of the State: https://votestephaniethomas.com/ Erick Russell for State Treasurer: https://www.erickforct.com/ Sean Scanlon for Comptroller: https://www.seanforct.com/ William Tong for CT Attorney General: https://www.williamtong.com/ Cathy Osten for State Senate (19th District): www.cathyosten.com Kevin Ryan for State Representative (139th District): www.facebook.com/RepRyanCT Ashley Gillece for State Representative (43rd District): www.AshleyGillece.com Beth Leamon for Probate Judge (Groton, Ledyard, North Stonington and Stonington): leamonforprobate.com For information on our new voting districts, read: Do you know which candidates are running to represent you? SAMPLE BALLOTS: Absentee VotingAbsentee Voting EligibilityA new law passed this year further expands eligibility for absentee voting. If you are out of town part of the day (commuters, vacation), caretaking for someone worried about an illness like COVID-19 or you yourself are worried about illness, and that reason prevents you from voting in-person, you are eligible to vote via Absentee Ballot.
Other reasons you are entitled to vote via Absentee Ballot include:
To learn more, visit the Secretary of the State’s website here. The Absentee Voting ProcessVoting via Absentee Ballot requires a TWO-STEP process: 1. You must first submit an application to receive a ballot. 2. Then you may vote using the ballot. How to Get an Absentee BallotAs of October 2022, you may also request your absentee ballot online. Request online here. You can also contact your Town Clerk for an absentee ballot application OR you may download the application now from the Secretary of State’s website. Follow the instructions CAREFULLY. *English: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/AB-Application/AB_Application_20220728/ED-3-Rev-2022-Final.pdf *Spanish: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/AB-Application/AB_Application_20220728/ED-3-Spanish-FINAL.pdf Absentee Ballot InformationAbsentee ballots have already been mailed to anyone who returned an early application. When completing your ballot, FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS VERY CAREFULLY. You can return your completed ballot via mail or via drop off to the safe and secure ballot drop box in your town. Delivery deadline for absentee ballots is 8 pm, either by mail or in the ballot drop boxes, on Election Day Tuesday, November, 8th 2022. Note: this is the DELIVERY deadline, not the postmark date if mailing your ballot. 18 straight months of job growth! With a year and a half straight of job growth, Connecticut continues to be a great place to work and live. Thank you to Governor Ned Lamont and Senator Cathy Osten who have done so much to make our state succeed.
"Manufacturing continues to be a star performer with jobs up 3,400 since December. Labor force growth also accelerated in 2022, increasing an average of 7,900 per month so far this year." - CT Department of Labor
𝘼𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙚 𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙚. 𝙑𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙍𝘼𝙍𝙀, 𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨.
Even after this bill’s passage, Connecticut remains one of only 6 states with restrictions on absentee voting in their state’s constitution. It is long overdue for those outmoded and unfair restrictions to be removed so that anyone in CT may vote using this secure and convenient method of voting! More information: CT NEWS JUNKIE: “Commuters may qualify if they spend most of Election Day out of town at work, rather than out of town for all hours polls are open. A caretaker may decide to vote by absentee ballot rather than risk exposing their vulnerable client to an infectious disease.” FOX 61 (VIDEO): “This slight change better aligns our state laws with that allowed under the constitution,” Lamont said in a statement. “We should be doing everything we can to encourage qualified voters to cast a ballot, and this is a responsible step forward in that direction.” … “No voter should ever have to choose between protecting their health and exercising their right to vote,” Merrill said in a statement Friday. “The COVID-19 crisis is still with us, and this legislation will ensure that voters will be able to cast their ballots and make their voices heard.” THE DAY: “By a 126-16 vote that included significant bipartisan support from Republicans, the House passed the bill, which Democrats say is meant to allow the state to extend its statutes to match the constitution until the constitution can be amended for no-excuse absentee voting. All 16 "no" votes belonged to Republicans, and included state Reps. Mike France, R-Ledyard, and Doug Dubitsky, R-Chaplin.” Voting is a fundamental right that ought to be fair and accessible, but Connecticut's voting laws are needlessly restrictive when it comes to voting by absentee ballot.
This week, the CT House voted on and passed a bill that will expand our ability to vote absentee! This bill aligns the statute to what our Constitution actually says ("sickness") vs. what is currently in statute ("such elector's sickness"). Learn more about the bill at The Day and cga.ct.gov. 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨' 𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨: ✅ Yes: Representative Christine Conley 🛑 No: Representative Mike France 𝙑𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙇𝙚𝙙𝙮𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙉𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 2022 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ✅ Yes: Rep. Kevin Ryan (Democrat, 139th District) ✅ Yes: Rep. Greg Howard (Republican, 43rd District) 🛑 No: Rep. Brian Lanoue (Republican, 45th district) From State Representative Christine Conley: "Today, the House passed HB 5262, An Act Revising Certain Absentee Voting Eligibility Statutes, to make it easier for voters to vote absentee if they're feeling unwell, worried about their health, or out of town on Election Day. To be eligible to cast an absentee ballot, current law requires voters to have a physical disability or illness that prevents them from voting in person or be out of town for at least 14 hours on Election Day. No voter should ever have to choose between protecting their health and exercising their right to vote. This proposal eases some of the eligibility restrictions for absentee ballots so that more residents can choose this method to cast their ballot." In response to the pandemic, Connecticut temporarily allowed permits to increase and expand outdoor dining to offer residents a safe way to support their favorite local businesses. Today, the House passed HB 5271 to extend the popular provision through next year and further allow restaurants the ability to safely rebuild their customer base.
Our current state representatives' votes: Yes: Representative Christine Conley No: Representative Mike France Votes from Representatives who will represent Ledyard after November 2022 with new redistricting: Yes: Rep. Kevin Ryan (Democrat, 139th District) Yes: Rep. Greg Howard (Republican, 43rd District) No: Rep. Brian Lanoue (Republican, 45th district) The bill will next go to the CT Senate! |
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