Christie Carpino

HARTFORD — Connecticut House Republicans today assigned Cromwell resident Christie Carpino to three legislative committees. On Jan. 5, Carpino will begin her first two-year term representing the 32nd General Assembly District covering Cromwell, Portland and Middletown. She unseated 20-year incumbent James O’Rourke, a Democrat who served as Deputy Speaker of the House. When she takes office, Carpino will serve on the legislature’s Appropriations Committee, which handles matters related to budgets of state agencies, salaries of state employees, pensions and collective bargaining agreements and arbitration awards for state employees. Carpino will also serve on the Education and Judiciary committees.

Carpino is prepared for challenges tied to those assignments as well as the responsibilities of being a state representative—particularly, taking an active role in resuscitating Connecticut’s ailing finances and getting unemployed residents back to work.

“Forecasters say we’re facing a multi-billion-dollar budget deficit, and two weeks before the legislative session begins we’re hearing little beyond talk about tax increases on everything from newspapers to haircuts,” Carpino said. “People can’t afford bigger tax bills, and the legislature owes it to them to first explore ways to reduce spending.”

The legislature’s Education Committee handles issues related to the Department of Education, local and regional boards of education and the law of collective bargaining covering teachers and professional employees of those boards as well as the commission on arts, libraries, museums and historical and cultural associations.

Carpino’s role on the Judiciary Committee will see her consider issues such as judicial procedures, criminal law, probate, probation, parole, estates and judicial nominations.