Rep. Buckbee Looks Forward to Beginning of Session

New Milford – The Connecticut General Assembly will convene on Wednesday, February 5th, marking the beginning of the 2020 legislative session. State Representative Bill Buckbee (R-67), who represents New Milford, will be supporting several different legislative initiatives which will positively impact the local community. Rep. Buckbee will look to increase the accessibility and availability of recovery resources for those battling opioid addiction, promote job growth, and investigate ways to increase transportation options.

Rep. Buckbee continues to be proactive in the war against opioid misuse and abuse. Last session, Rep. Buckbee supported a new law that increases the penalties associated with selling “fentanyl”, which is a highly lethal synthetic opioid. In addition to supporting measures that have helped decrease the available supply of deadly narcotics, Rep. Buckbee will be looking into ways in which life improving resources can be made available to those who need them the most.

Late last year, Rep. Buckbee participated in a press conference held by the New Milford Police Department, announcing the addition of a special navigator. The implementation of a special navigator has made an immediate positive impact on New Milford and illustrates a collaborative community response, which is an incredibly important component to the fight against the opioid epidemic. Rep. Buckbee will look to expand on current laws that promote healthy environments for those fighting addiction through an overall increase of monitoring and oversight of recovery entity operations.

As a member of the legislature’s Commerce Committee, Rep. Buckbee continuously looks at ways in which the local and state economies can be bolstered. Recently, Rep. Buckbee worked with local stakeholders and the Department of Labor to coordinate a job fair. Many industries, like manufacturing, bioscience, and agriculture are ripe opportunities for young residents to become involved with. Last session, Rep. Buckbee supported a new law that aims to promote Connecticut as a hub for bioscience innovation. In the upcoming session, Rep. Buckbee will build on existing laws encouraging businesses to open their doors in Connecticut and to make trade education resources more available, as well as initiatives that aim to increase financial literacy for high school-aged students.

Rep. Buckbee will continue his advocacy for New Milford’s commuters and travelers. Many residents commute to work or travel on the weekends. They are forced to either drive to an existing train station, or simply use the state’s overcrowded highways to get to their destinations. Rep. Buckbee will continue to push his proposals that would bring a commuter rail option to New Milford – alleviating traffic congestion and providing more travel options. However, Rep. Buckbee will not support initiatives that place undue financial burdens on residents in order to make basic infrastructure improvements.

The mistreatment of the Special Transportation Fund, which was underfunded by $171 million according to statutory requirements set forth by the 2017 legislature, is a prime reason why Rep. Buckbee will not support additional revenue grabbing mechanisms. When it came before him for consideration, he supported the securing of transportation dollars, which would have allowed the state to complete various infrastructure projects. Rep. Buckbee opposed the raiding of the STF when he cast his vote against the current state budget. In addition, he opposed the $1.7 billion in new taxes and fees that budget document placed on Connecticut residents.

Looking ahead to the 2020 session, Rep. Buckbee will continue to fight against forms of tax increases. That includes the implementation of transportation plans that rely on tolling for increased revenue. According to Rep. Buckbee, the legislature will have the opportunity to put forth positive changes to the state budget this session. He will support policies that prioritize spending, ensure dollars collected for dedicated accounts are actually used for their intended purpose, and pinpoint overspending in state agencies and quasi publics through a series of audits.

For regular updates on the session, you can go to Rep. Buckbee’s website at: cthousegop.com/Buckbee.

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