On Friday, September 21, the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs will be hosting the 2018 Stand Down event at the Rocky Hill Veterans’ Home from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Connecticut’s veterans deserve the services that they have earned.

Several community providers will have booths set up at the event with specialists to help veterans receive and learn about their earned service benefits, employment opportunities, medical screenings, and legal services.

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In the words of former President George W. Bush: “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”

Today marks a day of reflection. It’s important that we, as a community, stick together and remember those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It is a day marked in infamy and serves as a somber reminder that there is a constant threat to our democracy.

In that light, it is important to remember the men and women in the armed forces who answered the call to step forward and serve our great nation in a time of conflict, preserving our freedom.

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NEWTOWN – State Representative Mitch Bolinsky (R-106), has issued the following update on Connecticut Department of Transportation and state contractor road projects in progress.

“There is a justifiable amount of frustration and uncertainty among local residents about the many road projects in town, especially those being performed by the state because, on the surface, progress seems unendingly slow. As one of those who drives through each of the work zones on a daily basis, I totally share the frustration and have been further frustrated by the difficulty in getting the state DOT to voluntarily provide regular updates.”

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As summer draws to a close and back-to-school shopping starts, I wanted to remind you that “Tax Free Week” is coming up, beginning Sunday, August 19 and ending Saturday, August 25.

This one-week event eliminates Connecticut’s 6.35 percent sales tax on clothing and footwear costing less than $100. Please note: This benefit has been substantially reduced from previous years.

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HARTFORD – State Representatives Mitch Bolinsky (R-106), JP Sredzinski (R-112), and Will Duff (R-2), along with State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) voted on Monday to override a veto Governor Dan Malloy made on a law, Public Act 18-35, that would have prevented future governors from making cuts to education funding in the middle of a fiscal year.

It was a key legislative priority for all members of the Newtown Delegation to support this policy because Newtown has been targeted for mid-year funding holdbacks by the governor the past two years. The law had received great bipartisan support when it was initially considered by the General Assembly during the regular legislative session.

Rep. Bolinsky rose and spoke in support of overriding the governor’s veto at today’s House Session stating, “This override is of the utmost importance to Newtown and all towns, across Connecticut. In Newtown, our town and education budgets are formulated months before the state actually arrives at its final allocations and, historically, because we work together to provide two-year projections. Our track record of accuracy has been consistently reliable and, general something I consider to be a solemn promise. Cutting educational funding mid-year breaks the state’s promise to our children and, in my opinion, that’s a complete non-starter. In desperate times, projects should always be sacrificed before people, especially our kids. No governor, not this one or future ones, should have the unilateral power to purge education dollars mid-year. This bill was similar to a concept I proposed and my name actually appears as its first, among 61 co-sponsors. I’m proud that we, in the House voted to override the Governor’s veto. It’s unfortunate that the override did not gather the two-thirds majority needed in the Senate but, there’s always next year.”

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NEWTOWN  – In recognition of Flag Day, State Representative Mitch Bolinsky (R-Newtown) coordinated a worn American Flag drop-off event for flags that served their time but, because of wear or damage, deserve a respectful retirement.  The flags were collected at VFW Post 308 and will be disposed of in an appropriate military ceremony.  As a symbol of America, the freedoms we hold dear and those who have sacrificed to defend our nation’s freedoms, the VFW makes available this flag drop-off box, accessible all year at Post 308, 18 Tinkerfield Road in Newtown.

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