Posted on May 30, 2019 by jpheasant
State Representative Whit Betts criticizes members of the majority party for overriding authority of local boards of education to establish core curriculum in public schools.
Click image to watch the debate
Posted on May 16, 2019 by jpheasant
HARTFORD – State Representative Whit Betts (R-78) slammed Governor Lamont’s latest attempt to make tolls more palatable by promising to raise money for the House Democratic Caucus if they can make a tough vote and support his tolling plan.
“The latest pleas by Governor Lamont’s to either reduce bus fares or by promising money to House Democrats is just another attempt to dangle any carrot he can, to anyone and everyone, in an effort to change their stance on his $1 billion toll plan,” Rep. Betts…
Posted on May 9, 2019 by jpheasant
HARTFORD – State Representatives William A. Petit Jr. (R-22), Whit Betts (R-78), and Cara Pavalock-D’Amato (R-77) said the state’s business community can’t afford the crush of anti-employer policies pushed by the majority party’s controversial proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15.
HB-5004, An Act Increasing the Minimum Fair Wage, would increase the state’s current wage of $10.10 to $15 over a four and a half year time frame. As of October 1st, the wage would increase to $11.00 effective…
Posted on May 2, 2019 by jpheasant
During Tuesday’s Appropriations Committee budget meeting, State Representative Whit Betts spoke out in opposition to his Democrat colleagues and their plan to undo hundreds of millions in tax breaks for local hospitals, previously agreed upon in the most recent bipartisan budget.
“I cannot support a budget that continues to use our community hospitals as an ATM for the state,” Rep. Betts said.
Posted on April 11, 2019 by jpheasant
At a time when dozens of new tax proposals include everything from vet visits to youth sports, text books to vegetable seeds, and bicycle helmets to car seats, members in the House and Senate voted to approve salary increases up to 5.5 percent for almost 200 employees.
In addition to the salary increase, these employees will also receive cost of living increases, some will receive additional $2,000 lump sum bonuses, and a few lucky department heads will receive bonuses totaling $18,000 over two years.…
Posted on April 5, 2019 by jpheasant
As your elected state representative it is my job to seek out the concerns and opinions of my constituents in Bristol and Plymouth over controversial legislative proposals.
One such issue is the proposal to install tolls throughout Connecticut. Do my neighbors and friends in Bristol and Plymouth support or oppose tolls? If tolls are installed will drivers in the central Connecticut region be financially impacted?
At the Republican sponsored Tolls Informational Forum on March 26th, Rep. Ziogas stated…
Posted on March 14, 2019 by jpheasant
The Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee will be holding a public hearing tomorrow (Friday, March 15th) on three significant tax related bills that would have a tremendous impact the residents of Connecticut.
The public hearing begins at 10:30 in Room 2E of the Legislative Office Building, 300 Capitol Ave #5100, Hartford.
The three tax bills on the Finance, Revenue and Bonding’s agenda include:
Posted on March 7, 2019 by jpheasant
HARTFORD – State Representative Whit Betts (R-78) testified in front of the Transportation Committee earlier this week on behalf of a House bill that would greatly reduce the amount of taxpayer dollars being used to subsidize the Hartford-New Britain Busway.
Rep. Betts and his fellow colleagues who support HB-5941, An Act Concerning the Operation of the New Britain-Hartford Busway, seek to not only reduce the $26 million in taxpayer subsidization, but also shrink the number of non-peak trips currently…
Posted on February 27, 2019 by jpheasant
For the nine years I have served in the general assembly, I have been promised and told repeatedly that money placed in the Special Transportation Fund (STF) is dedicated for the specific purpose of repairing Connecticut’s roads and bridges.
As you know, these promises have been broken – over and over and over again.
I have recently learned that Gov. Lamont is once again doing the same thing. In his proposed budget the Governor has recommended taking out millions of dollars in tax revenue raised…
Posted on February 27, 2019 by jpheasant
Thank you to everyone who took a minute to complete my recent poll on whether or not you support tolling in Connecticut.
Over 300 people completed the poll and the overwhelming response from the majority of you said you weren’t in favor of tolls and that the legislature should focus on cutting spending.
No – 86.09%
Yes – 9.60%
Undecided – 4.30%
Some of the other responses included: allow for minimal tolling, only toll trucks/commercial vehicles, place them at the borders, revamp Medicaid, or slightly…