Legislative Update
The Legislative Session in Harford has started, and it is already busy. There are many pressing and big issues for us to attend to, such as crafting a new, two-year state budget; keeping the state on an even keel with its spending and financial status; not increasing taxes; paying down billions in debt; supporting our towns such as Eastford; stopping the state from taking control from you about zoning decisions in Eastford; smartly investing in expanding housing affordability; promoting work force development; increasing support for public education; creating wise and affordable energy and climate policies; supporting local health care services; helping law enforcement, fire services, and emergency medical services; and much more.
We must do more to make Connecticut more affordable for more people, reduce our sky-high electric bills, further cut taxes, make our communities safer, protect local decision-making of land use zoning in our towns, defend all our rights and medical freedoms for everyone, and do what we can do realistically to make a better future for all in Connecticut.
Some items are 1.) Providing tax credits for working families; 2.) Updating last year’s law about property tax exemptions for 100-percent disabled veterans; 3.) Fixing Connecticut’s energy policy and high electricity/energy costs; 4.) Working on housing affordability; 5.) Work force development and training; and 6.) Protecting and improving health care. I have a number of serious proposals on these issue that if passed can help people in the district and throughout the state.
Three exciting initiatives I am working on are to create 1.) A $500 tax credit for each child 17 years or younger, and for household dependents (for example, an adult disabled child declared as a dependent on a parent’s income tax form); 2.) A $500 tax credit for family caregivers of seniors to help cover their costs; and 3.) An up to $675 tax credit for family caregivers of disabled veterans. Other states are doing these. I believe the time is now for Connecticut to do the same.
I am serving as the Ranking Senator on both the Planning & Development Committee and on the Veterans & Military Affairs Committee. I am also continuing to serve on the Appropriations, Public Health, and Public Safety & Security Committees. I look forward to remaining Co-Chair of the Rural Caucus and being Co-Chair of the Sportsmen Caucus.
Stay tuned for information about my in-person and virtual office hours. I maintain an open-door policy. As always, please reach out to me if I can help you with a constituent service, answer a question, or take up a concern. You can call my office at (860) 240-800, e-mail me at [email protected], check for news and updates at www.senatorgordon.com, or learn about what I am doing on Facebook at “Senator Jeff Gordon.”
Thank you again for the opportunity to be your State Senator. I look forward to all we can do together to help Eastford, the Senate district, and our state.