Students Visit Capitol, Upcoming Session Topics

I am writing to update you about my participation in National Day of Prayer, welcoming students from The Master’s School, and upcoming topics likely to be acted upon in the remaining days of session. I also stood in support of a concept to provide a break at the pumps. Locally, New Hartford Land Trust has been awarded a state grant.

The Master’s School Visit, National Day of Prayer

I enjoyed welcoming an engaged group of middle school students from The Master’s School in Simsbury before they began a tour of our beautiful Capitol. Although the school is located just outside the 62nd, many of the students and teachers are from towns in the district. I also prayed for our military as part of the National Day of Prayer, with these students in attendance. For over 70 years, the National Day of Prayer has united hearts in prayer for America.

Voting to Lower Prices at the Pump

My colleagues and I put forth an amendment earlier this week that sought to provide consumers some relief at the gas pump. The amendment called for the existing 25 cents per gallon gas tax to be lowered to 20 cents. While this gas tax cutting mechanism was ultimately voted down on a party-line vote, it was crafted with the consumer in mind.

I will continue to advocate for tax cuts and deductions, such as the elimination of the Highway Use Tax, and a leaner state budget. You can learn more about our plan by clicking here.

New Hartford Land Trust 

The governor’s office recently announced an aggregate of $3.7 million in state grants to preserve open space throughout our state. New Hartford will be the recipient of $227,500 for property on Southeast Road, near Nepaug State Forest, managed by the New Hartford Land Trust. The land gently rises along the slope of Bee Mountain and has a summit elevation of 950 feet. It features mature forest habitats capable of supporting state-listed species such as whip-poor-will, eastern box turtle, and eastern hognose snake. More than 175 species of birds have been detected at or near the property, including wood thrush, cuckoos, northern shrike, and ruffed grouse. The property contains a small area of headwater inland wetlands and an intermittent stream that drain to Nepaug River and Nepaug Reservoir. The New Hartford Land Trust will formalize a trail system which links to the Blue-Blazed Tunxis Trail and establish a public parking area, which will become the closest and most convenient place to park to access the Blue-Blazed Tunxis Trail.

Upcoming Session Topics

With only a few weeks to go, the Speaker has indicated that we only have 16 more scheduled session days before we adjourn for the year on Wednesday, June 7^th. As the deadline to pass bills quickly approaches, I want to put a few topics on your radar that will likely be debated and voted on among these remaining session days. Please provide me with your opinion on them:

• Affordable housing mandates (H.B. 6633)
• Reproductive rights’ program expansions (H.J.R. 8)
• Firearm restrictions (H.B. 6667)

You can follow the action of the General Assembly by watching Connecticut Network through your cable provider or by clicking here.