As the legislative session moves into its final month, I am pleased to report some positive measures passed to date, and to alert my constituents to the troubles that still lie ahead.
As the House Ranking Member on the Environment Committee, I have proposed and pushed a series of bills aimed at combating the harmful spread of Lyme disease through a DEEP-approved deer management program, and the creation of a Lyme disease task force. I have also supported new laws to promote the transfer and preservation of development rights for environmentally important properties, and the creation of tax exemptions for certain renewable energy infrastructure.
Closer to home, I pushed for education mandate relief for the highest performing high schools in Connecticut (i.e. our schools) by creating a task force to vet existing education mandates that are unnecessary in districts that are exceeding state goals. While this effort was dropped from the Governor’s recent Innovations in Education bill, we were able to resurrect the measure in the House and refer it to the Senate.
Unfortunately, there has also been some legislation proposed and/or passed by the majority party that creates poor public policy.
For instance, and despite heavy opposition, Connecticut will begin the process of changing state voting methods, and potentially create new opportunities for election fraud, by giving the legislature the ability to pursue far-reaching options such as online and/or early voting. The majority is pushing forward with their proposed Constitutional amendment in a statewide referendum scheduled for November 2014.
The most troubling item still before us is the state’s biennial budget. On the heels of the largest tax increase in state history, and despite a looming $2.4 billion projected deficit, majority democrats are proposing a massive 9.6 percent spending increase coupled with $6 billion in borrowing and tax increases (including a 16 percent gas tax hike).
To support their spend, borrow and tax policies, the Governor is also proposing to “re-define” the state’s spending cap to allow for the increased spending. Meanwhile, we have handed out over $250 million in raises this year alone to the state’s 50,000-plus workforce. These troublesome policies continue to cannibalize our ailing private sector to support the thriving public sector.
In these remaining final weeks, I will continue to fight for common sense fiscal and social measures. I encourage you to contact me with thoughts and questions. I can be reached at 1-800-842-1423 or John.Shaban@housegop.ct.gov
For timely online updates, please visit www.RepShaban.com and www.Facebook.com/RepShaban
