Legislative Update
I enjoyed the Cupcake Wars event hosted by the Congregational Church of Eastford. Great community spirit, which Eastford is well known for. My baking skills are far eclipsed by what I saw the kids make for wonderful and delicious cupcakes.
In February, I joined First Selectman Deb Richards and met with Tony Tiemann and his wife, Laura. Tony is 92 years “young” and a Korean War veteran. Thank you to Tony and our veterans for your service. It is appreciated and remembered.
The legislative session is in full swing. Lots of committee meetings and public hearings. There are many big issues, especially creating a new, two-year state budget while keeping the state on an even keel with its spending, not increasing taxes, and paying down the billions of dollars in state debt. The Appropriations Committee, on which I serve, is holding many public hearings. I have been hearing from many people throughout the 35th State Senate District. Let me know your thoughts, comments, concerns, and ideas.
Recently, the Legislature voted to provide an extra $40 million to municipalities to cover for this current fiscal year some of the escalating costs of special education. The state does not cover 100 percent of the costs. I am working in a bipartisan way to get the state to do more, including a better and more fair formula for education costs sharing grants for public schools, otherwise towns must pay (via property taxes).
We also must do more to make Connecticut more affordable for more people. A major bill I co-introduced is aimed at reducing in the short-term our sky-high electric bills and in the long-term create affordable and sustainable energy policies. The Energy & Technology Committee took up the bill and there was a long public hearing on it.
As the Ranking Senator on the Planning & Development Committee, I continue to fight for protecting your right to local decision-making about what happens in Eastford. I am happy that my bill to get more state funding for municipal and regional infrastructure projects is moving forward.
Two other bills of mine have generated growing support: 1) A child tax credit, and 2) a family caregiver tax credit. I am optimistic that the Legislature will pass both in some forms.
I serve as the Ranking Senator on both the Planning & Development Committee and on the Veterans & Military Affairs Committee. I serve on the Appropriations, Public Health, and Public Safety & Security Committees. I am a co-chair of the Rural Caucus and the Sportsmen Caucus.
As always, please reach out to me if I can help you with a constituent matter, 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 on my website, or learn about what I am doing on Facebook at “Senator Jeff Gordon”.