Posted on April 22, 2019 by admin
Letter to the Editor from Senators Paul Formica and Heather Somers and Representatives Devin Carney, Holly Cheeseman, Mike France, Kathleen McCarty, and Jesse MacLachlan.
Connecticut needs to take bold action to fix our transportation system. Better transportation is a key to economic development, job growth and better quality of life.
At the same time, residents are struggling. They have been asked to pay increasingly more in taxes while services have been cut. The state keeps taking more, and providing less.
Connecticut has to change. Creating a new way to tax people through tolls is not the answer. Connecticut needs to prioritize.
Posted on April 10, 2019 by admin
I want to thank all of the residents who attended my office hours in Salem last night on a gloomy, rainy evening. We discussed a wide range of issues, from tolls to the legalization of retail marijuana, to paid leave and the topic of greatest concern – the high cost of living and doing business in Connecticut.
Regarding tolls, I presented the Prioritize Progress plan, which would provide $65 billion over 30 years for needed transportation improvements without the need for tolls. To learn more, please visit www.cthousegop.com/prioritize.
I explained my opposition to retail marijuana. You can read my public hearing testimonies here. I would like to add that I learned just this morning from an article in the CT Post that under the taxing proposal being considered, most of the revenue – rather than going towards addressing the opioid crisis, addiction treatment or other pressing issues – would go to cities like Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport; not to our local communities.
Posted on April 10, 2019 by admin
HARTFORD – State Representative Holly Cheeseman (R-37) submitted testimony to the Judiciary Committee on March 22, 2019 in opposition to Senate Bill 1085, which would legalize and regulate the recreational use of cannabis and allow for erasure of criminal records for convictions based on the possession of small amounts of cannabis. She also submitted testimony on the same day to the General Law Committee, on which she serves as Ranking Member, in opposition to House Bill 7371, which would regulate the retail sale of cannabis. Please find her full testimonies below:
Posted on April 2, 2019 by admin
HARTFORD – As a member of the Interstate Compact on Education Opportunity for Military Children, the State of Connecticut must maintain a State Council that ensures state and local government, school districts and military installations cooperate in complying with the compact and its required activities. Council membership must include the State Superintendent of Education, the superintendent of a school district with a high population of military children, a military representative, and one representative…
Posted on March 27, 2019 by admin
HARTFORD – State Representative Holly Cheeseman (R-37) is inviting constituents to meet with her at the Salem Town Hall to discuss what’s happening at the Capitol this session. Rep. Cheeseman will be reviewing current major issues and the status of the state budget. Constituents are encouraged to attend if they have any questions or concerns about state government.
When: Tuesday, April 9, 2019
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Salem Town Hall
Conference Room #1
270 Hartford Road, Salem, CT
This event…
Posted on March 25, 2019 by admin
EAST LYME – Last week State Representative Holly Cheeseman (R-37) and State Senator Paul Formica (R-20) spoke as panelists to the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Program Class of 2020 at the East Lyme Town Hall. The legislators explained their roles in leadership in their careers.
“Don’t be afraid to step forward,” Rep. Cheeseman advised the class.
This program prepares promising leaders for positions of responsibility by acquainting them with significant community processes and pressing issues. Participants engage in discussions with established leaders, go behind-the-scenes at the region’s key institutions, build their leadership skills, create a lasting network of contacts, and give back to the community with a meaningful group project.
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Posted on March 22, 2019 by admin
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
In the coming weeks I will be starting up a Business Advisory Council (BAC) comprised of local Salem and East Lyme employers to discuss the impact of proposed legislation and policies.
I am extending an invitation to all business leaders in East Lyme and Salem to join the BAC. There are many businesspeople throughout our community who are too busy to engage in or follow the process of state government. I understand that you may not…
Posted on March 20, 2019 by admin
HARTFORD – Reps. Kathleen McCarty, Holly Cheeseman and Sen. Paul Formica applauded an announcement made by Governor Ned Lamont and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes on Friday, March 15th that Dominion Energy and Connecticut’s two electric utility companies, Eversource and United Illuminating (UI), have reached an agreement to retain the Dominion-owned Millstone nuclear facility, which the legislators explained is good news for the state’s environment, economy, and ratepayers.
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Posted on March 13, 2019 by admin
Dear Neighbors,
This Friday, the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee of the General Assembly will be holding a public hearing on Governor Lamont’s proposed revenue budget and the Senate Democrat Leader’s proposal to institute a statewide property tax and a statewide car tax.
As you may have heard, Governor Lamont’s proposed budget expands many taxes, including the sales tax to cover many previously exempted items; such as non-prescription drugs, digital downloads like Netflix, children’s car seats and bicycle helmets, dry cleaning, barber shops, beauty salons, veterinary services, parking, newspapers and a wide range of professional services including legal, accounting, interior design, real estate, and sports and recreation instruction. All totaled the tax expansions will cost Connecticut families about $300 million more in the 2020 fiscal year and about $500 million more in the 2021 fiscal year. His proposal would also place a 10 cent surcharge on plastic bags and a 1.5 cent tax per ounce on sugar-sweetened beverages, like soda, juice, and sports drinks, among many other new or expanded taxes.
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Posted on March 11, 2019 by admin
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
On Tuesday evening on April 2nd the Department of Transportation will conduct a public meeting regarding the replacement of a culvert on Route 1. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the East Lyme Town Hall 108 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic.
Please read the notice from DOT for more information.
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