Ackert Touts Recent Votes for Transparency, Affordability

Posted on March 17, 2021

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HARTFORD — The House of Representatives convened Tuesday to vote on a measure to return legislative oversight to the state’s COVID-19 recovery efforts. State Representative Tim Ackert (R-Coventry) supported the proposal, saying the legislature needs to prioritize immediate relief for small businesses and reopening schools safely. Ackert also touted his recent consequential votes on issues important to residents of the 8th District, while insisting that there is still more work to be done.

Returning Legislative Oversight

HB-6555, which would require any allocation of federal COVID-19 relief funds to be done with legislative approval, was approved unanimously by a vote in the House. For over a year, the Governor has directed the state’s COVID response without input from the state’s elected representatives and Ackert says legislative oversight is needed to make sure incoming aid is spent where it is needed most.

“This bill ensures that the public has a seat at the table in these discussions going forward. Our residents want to know that there will be accountability in how this recovery aid is spent, and we can only provide that through the public hearing and appropriation process,” Rep. Ackert said.

The state of Connecticut is expected to receive up to $10 billion in total funding under the American Rescue Plan Act, according to the state’s Congressional delegation and a report by the Hartford Courant. Ackert says legislative oversight is critical to ensure that money goes to reopening schools and businesses, not to filling in the state’s deficit or paying down debt.

Fee Relief for Veteran’s Halls

Ackert, an Air Force veteran and member of the American Legion Post No. 52 in Coventry, recently voted in favor of a bill to reduce the permit fee for clubs and nonprofits by more than half. In 2019, the legislature amended state liquor law to require nonprofit clubs that serve alcohol to purchase a café license instead of a private club license.

The change raised the fee from as little as $300 to $2,000 annually, squeezing nonprofit groups like the Elks, Knights of Columbus and American Legion also suffering due to the pandemic. “The licensing change was totally unnecessary and hit our clubs hard. Legion Posts mainly generate income from their members, so this fee increase was felt directly by them too,” Rep. Ackert said.

Harry R. Hansen Jr., Adjutant of the American Legion Department of Connecticut testified in favor of the immediate need for fee relief, saying “almost all our Posts operate on very tight budgets and have little savings as they are required to give back to their local communities through programs and donations. We have already had one Post forced to sell their Post home because they have not been able to reopen, and we have another in the process of selling their Post home.”

The bill received a Joint Favorable report from the committee and awaits further action in the House and Senate.

Transparency for Ratepayers

Representative Ackert was also proud to support a bill reintroduced to the Energy and Technology Committee in response to recent rate increases for Eversource customers following Tropical Storm Isaias. Ackert, who previously served as Ranking Member of the committee, said the proposal was previously introduced during the September 2020 special session in response to the summer’s rate hikes.

“I was supportive of this bill when it was introduced in September, and I continue to support it now. Ratepayers deserve clarity on why the increases occurred and what role a lack of competition in the market plays in it,” Rep. Ackert said.

The bill would establish a task force to study electric distribution companies in Connecticut, including the costs and benefits of allowing competing firms to enter the marketplace. Eversource serves most customers in 149 of Connecticut’s 169 municipalities and has recently proposed an additional rate hike to cover costs incurred during 2020.

Following a vote by the Energy and Technology Committee, the bill awaits further action from the House and Senate.

Representative Ackert advises his constituents to visit his website, RepAckert.com for future state updates.

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