Carpino Supports Bipartisan Bonding Package

The final piece of legislation the General Assembly voted on before we paused to address the coronavirus was a bipartisan bond package. Even though it was far from perfect, I supported it because it brings much needed funding to Cromwell and Portland for Town Aid Road (TAR), Small Town Economic Assistance (STEAP), and other local and state projects.

These funds should have been released more than 6 months ago, but the Governor was holding them as leverage for the failed state-wide tolling plan. When the bond package was finally presented, it wasn’t the debt diet he had been preaching. I voted for two amendments to try and make the bond package better. One to cut out non-essential spending, millions to the XL Center and yet more quasi-public agencies, and the other to add funding to the small town economic program. Unfortunately, not all bills can be flawless and both amendments failed.

This bond package does a lot of good things for our community and state. It allocates millions of dollars for emergency public health funds, the small business express program, and addresses important environmental concerns such as clean water and testing for PFAS. School security, education, and transportation projects are also funded. These are important issues to us as a state, regardless of where you live.

As we all navigate this public health crisis, please know that in Connecticut elected leaders do work together.

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