Posted on March 18, 2019 by jdooley

HARTFORD- State Rep. Kathy Kennedy (R-119) today supported a proposal in the Environment committee which looks to find a solution to the recycling and disposal of radioactive smoke detectors.

The legislation, SB 1001, An Act Concerning the Recycling and Disposal of Smoke Detectors, would have the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) submit a report to include: 1) best practices for residents of Connecticut to dispose of or recycle residential some detectors, 2) any hazardous…

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Posted on March 14, 2019 by jdooley

Dear Neighbors,  On Friday, Governor Ned Lamont’s budget proposal will be in front of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee. As you may know, the governor is looking to increase revenues by implementing 53 tolls throughout the state and expanding the sales tax to include new items and services.  Here are just a couple of services and items that will now fall under the sales tax:  Legal services Accounting services … Read More

Posted on March 6, 2019 by jdooley

HARTFORD – State Rep. Kathy Kennedy (Milford & Orange) today submitted testimony opposing legislation that would bring a state-wide tolling system to Connecticut highways.

The Transportation committee held a public hearing on two bills: the first bill (H.B. 7280) is from legislative Democrats, and the second (H.B. 7202) is from Gov. Ned Lamont.

Late last year, a well-publicized study on highway tolling indicated Connecticut residents could see as many as 82 toll gantries placed on highways throughout the state. Gov. Lamont, through his two-year budget proposal, has proposed 53 toll gantries. According to one of the proposals, the final number of gantries and the cost of each electronic toll would be determined by an unelected state transportation authority with no input from the state legislature.

In written testimony, Rep. Kennedy told the committee that not a day goes by that I don’t hear from a constituent expressing their opposition to tolls in Connecticut.

Rep. Kennedy mentioned how she supports a 30-year prioritized transportation plan called Prioritize Progress which does not increase taxes or include tolls and stays under the new state bonding cap and provides flexibility in setting transportation priorities.

“The proposed implementation of tolls is yet another way we are taxing our Connecticut residents who are already struggling to stretch their weekly paychecks. It has been stated tolls are necessary to repair our heavily traveled roadways which are in need of upgrades and maintenance.  However, they are simply not a magical solution,” said Rep. Kennedy. “There is the potential that businesses will suffer with the implementation of tolls as residents will likely look for alternate routes to travel to avoid paying a toll thereby taking them away from stores, restaurants and other places of business they may have once frequented.  There is the impact on a family that travels throughout the state on weekends for their child’s sporting events and other school wide events.  There is the daily cost to commuters who travel our highways to get to work.”…

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