State News

National Defense Authorization Act Passes

Jul 22, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#Washington, DC – Today, The House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a vote of 295-125. The bill funds defense and related programs and is one of the largest pieces of legislation that Congress passes each year. “When we authorize funds for our national defense, we must ensure we’re prioritizing the right things,” said Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04). “This means maintaining our fighting capability, investing in technologies that are going to keep us a step ahead of our geopolitical rivals, taking care of our troops, and supporting American industry. This bill achieves those goals and more.” The NDAA contains significant funds for Connecticut-based companies that employ thousands of workers. This includes: $6.8 billion for the Virginia…

State News

Amtrak Funding

Jul 21, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tom Udall (D-NM) and U.S. Representative Danny Davis (D-IL) introduced the Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund Act to permanently fund Amtrak. The bicameral legislation would create a dedicated fund to help Amtrak invest in major improvement projects, increase passenger rail’s efficiency, and help provide safer, more reliable service. Intercity passenger rail currently relies on the often unpredictable and limited annual appropriations process for funding, making it difficult to plan long-term, comprehensive investments needed to improve the system. “This measure envisions a milestone, major commitment to rail transit in real money, for now and future generations,” said Blumenthal. “We must make a long-term, steady commitment to our nation’s intercity passenger rail system to…

State News

Electric Companies Illegal Robo Calls

Jul 20, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull announced that they have agreed to a settlement that would provide for full restitution for at least 559 residential electric consumers who enrolled in overpriced contracts with Spark Energy as a result of an illegal robocall campaign. “Spark Energy used illegal robocalls to trick consumers into overpaying for electricity. All overpayments they reaped from that reprehensible campaign must now be rightfully returned to consumers. This restitution, on top of the significant fine already levied by PURA, should send a strong message to any third-party suppliers that Connecticut stands ready to aggressively enforce its consumer protection laws in defense of ratepayers,” said Attorney General Tong. "Overpayment schemes are even more…

State News

Governor Statenment on Worker’s Comp

Jul 20, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont released the following statement regarding workers’ compensation: “Connecticut owes a debt to the health care professionals, grocery store clerks, and other essential workers who stood at their posts during the darkest days of this pandemic. We can pay a part of that debt by providing workers who contracted COVID-19 on the job during those days with a timely, straightforward opportunity to claim any benefits they are due through the workers’ compensation system. I am committed to providing that opportunity through a forthcoming executive order. I appreciate those employers who have done the right thing by their employees, Connecticut’s Workers’ Compensation Commission for operating continually throughout this pandemic, and most of all, the workers…

State News

Special Session For Legislators

Jul 18, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont issued a proclamation calling the Connecticut General Assembly to meet in special session beginning Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. to: 1. Enact legislation to (a) temporarily expand absentee balloting for the August 2020 primary and November 2020 general election in response to the COVID-19 pandemic so that voters may lawfully cast absentee ballots because of the sickness of COVID-19; (b) temporarily alter statutes governing the administration of elections to ensure local officials may administer such absentee balloting in a secure and orderly manner; and (c) permit voters to register and vote on election day at more than one place per town and to do so as long as they are in line to…

State News

MULTI-CITY AUTO THEFT AND URBAN VIOLENCE TASK FORCE STATISTICS

Jul 17, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

A task force created last winter and charged with fighting the theft of motor vehicles in Connecticut has recovered more than 150 stolen cars and arrested more than 20 juveniles. Members of the Multi-City Auto Theft and Urban Violence Task Force have been working tirelessly to fight the rising trend of vehicles taken from the state's suburban and rural communities. The task force is composed of detectives from the following agencies: Connecticut State Police, Bridgeport Police, Hartford Police, and Waterbury Police. The task force is also charged with combatting the surge of violence related to the stolen vehicles in Connecticut's largest cities. From the establishment of the task force on February 1, 2020, through July 12, 2020, the…

State News

SUPPORT REMAINS AVAILABLE FOR TAXPAYERS TO FILE 2019 TAXES AND RECEIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS

Jul 14, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today is reminding Connecticut residents that the deadline to file 2019 income taxes – a requirement for most people to become eligible to receive federal economic impact payments resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – is July 15, 2020. Households with a total income at or below $56,000 can continue to receive free tax preparation support through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The service is administered by the Connecticut Association for Human Services, with financial support from the philanthropic organization 4-CT and the United Way of Connecticut. Residents can access VITA services online at www.211ct.org/taxhelp or by calling 2-1-1. “The federal government has made filing your taxes a key component of gaining…

State News

Connecticut Apartment Association Partnering with American Red Cross

Jul 13, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Partnership Helps Support the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign The Connecticut Apartment Association, based in Glastonbury, Connecticut, has partnered with the American Red Cross for the third year in a row. As part of the partnership, this year, the Connecticut Apartment Association has contributed in support of the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign and is entering their third year as a Ready 365 Bronze level supporter. “We are grateful to the Connecticut Apartment Association for their continued support of the Red Cross and for their commitment to support the Home Fire Campaign,” said Brandon Ponder, Chief Development Officer, American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region. “The Connecticut Apartment Association’s partnership helps the Red Cross prepare communities for the largest disaster threat, home fires.” Every…

State News

Free Online Tech Training For Veterans

Jul 9, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Veterans and their spouses can take advantage of free virtual training and certification in technology skills from NPower. After four months of intensive training, mentoring and a paid internship, participants will have access to job placement and more. Apply online now for classes starting on September 8. https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/76292/free-training-veterans-spouses-npower/

State News

AG on Robocalls

Jul 9, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

Hartford CT-- Attorney General William Tong released a statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Barr v. AAPC, which upheld the federal robocall ban. Earlier this year, Attorney General Tong joined a coalition of 33 states in filing an amicus brief in support of the ban. Attorney General Tong’s statement is below: “Every day, our office is working to end the nuisance and threat that robocalls and scams present to Connecticut residents. I am pleased the Supreme Court left the Telephone Consumer Protection Act ban on robocalls intact, and my office will continue to work tirelessly to protect the people of Connecticut,” said Attorney General Tong. The Attorney General participates in a nationwide effort to track and trace…

National Defense Authorization Act Passes

Amtrak Funding

Electric Companies Illegal Robo Calls

Governor Statenment on Worker’s Comp

Special Session For Legislators

MULTI-CITY AUTO THEFT AND URBAN VIOLENCE TASK FORCE STATISTICS

SUPPORT REMAINS AVAILABLE FOR TAXPAYERS TO FILE 2019 TAXES AND RECEIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS

Connecticut Apartment Association Partnering with American Red Cross

Free Online Tech Training For Veterans

AG on Robocalls

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