Posted on April 23, 2021
Do you think politicians living outside our district should be making local decisions that impact our zoning regulations, schools, and neighborhoods? That’s exactly what legislative Democrats would like to do, based on several proposed bill concepts that have been primarily brought forth by the Planning & Development Committee. If enacted, a variety of these bills would override local planning decisions in several ways such as limiting public participation at planning meetings, dictating structural…
Posted on April 1, 2021
Hartford – The Environment Committee held a meeting Wednesday morning to act on several bills. According to State Rep. Patrick Callahan (R-New Fairfield), the committee moved forward a costly piece of legislation associated with the Transportation & Climate Initiative (TCI) agreement, S.B. 884 – An Act Reducing Transportation-Related Carbon Emissions. The legislation effectively increases the cost of petroleum through a series of policy changes and mandated caps on Connecticut suppliers, in turn…
Posted on March 26, 2021
HARTFORD – State Rep. Pat Callahan joined his fellow House Republicans before the start of the House Session on Thursday afternoon to unveil a plan that would restore the legislature as a co-equal branch of government. The House went on to consider legislation that effectively extends Gov. Lamont’s executive order powers to May 20, 2021 – marking the third time unilateral rule was ratified by the Democratic legislative leaders.
“I proudly supported a pathway to restore the legislature as a fully…
Posted on March 21, 2021
The Planning and Development Committee will be holding a public hearing on Monday March 22 at 10:00 am via Zoom on S.B.1068 An Act Concerning Property Taxes and Affordable Housing.
This is a bill proposed which ties an additional property tax on properties assessed at more than $300,000 (estimated fair market value of approx. $430,000) to the percentage of “affordable housing” in each municipality.
While I certainly support increasing options for affordable housing, penalizing residents of municipalities…
Posted on March 1, 2021
The Energy Committee will be hosting a Public Hearing on SENATE BILL 882 scheduled for THURSDAY MARCH 4 AT 10:00 AM – AN ACT CONCERNING CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND HOME ENERGY AFFORDABILITY. In this bill the governor’s law to require zero carbon emission by 2040 will be discussed. While well intentioned, this law would continue to significantly increase our electricity rates with mandates to use more “green power” sources.
I wish there was one factor that can be pointed to for causing our high…
Posted on February 25, 2021
Hartford – The House of Representatives met on Wednesday to act on legislation that will provide financial peace of mind to Connecticut’s commuters who travel out of state for work. State Rep. Pat Callahan (R-New Fairfield) voted for the new policy, providing commuters an income tax credit for taxes paid to the state their employer is in for the 2020 tax year. In addition, Callahan has co-sponsored legislation aimed at protecting Connecticut’s local waterways, like Candlewood Lake and Ball Pond.…
Posted on February 9, 2021
Residents over the age of 65 can now begin to sign up for vaccination appointments. The following data represents the total number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered in Connecticut, as reported to the state as of Monday, Feb. 8:
- First doses administered: 387,174
- Second doses administered: 129,907
- Total doses administered: 517,081
So far, the state has vaccinated 56 percent of its population over the age of 75. Connecticut remains in the top four states in the nation for vaccine distribution.…
Posted on February 3, 2021
To the Editor,
I began my term in Hartford a little over three weeks ago. In the early days of the 2021 session, there was a united feeling among all my legislative colleagues that we would be working on one goal – to safely re-open our state amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. That sentiment, unfortunately, has quickly evaporated.
Before the pandemic hit, residents were still figuring out ways to pay for the $2.1 billion in new taxes and fees the current state budget is balanced on. On top of the new…
Posted on January 28, 2021
Hartford – It was announced that Gov. Lamont is seeking to extend his emergency order powers through April 20, 2021. Considering the legislature has been in session for nearly three weeks, it’s disappointing to have learned that legislative Democrat leaders are poised to accept the status quo and allow this extension to go through without a vote or debate.
A select committee of 10 legislators was established when the crisis first began. This committee of 10 has the responsibility of meeting and reviewing…
Posted on January 7, 2021
Hartford – State Representative Patrick Callahan (R-New Fairfield) was sworn into his first term on Wednesday, January 6, at the State Capitol. Opening day ceremonies were held outdoors on the Capitol grounds, allowing all members of the House of Representatives a safe, socially distant space to kick-off the 2021 legislative session.
After being sworn-in, legislators participated remotely from their respective offices to act on the General Assembly’s operating rules for the upcoming year. Callahan…