HARTFORD—House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) on Monday issued the following statement in response to news that Governor Lamont will withdraw proposed regulations that phase out sales of new gas-powered vehicles:

“The Governor’s decision to pull proposed regulations banning the sales of new gas-powered vehicles is a prudent move considering the growing revolt from a diverse chorus of stakeholders with concerns ranging from electric grid capacity and reliability to the availability…

In advance of a key legislative committee vote on Nov. 28, House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora and Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly today urged Democrats to “pump the brakes” on the Lamont administration’s proposal to ban the sales of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035 and send the proposed regulations back to the full legislature for more deliberation. 

The lawmakers said the mandates, if enacted, will make the state more unaffordable…

HARTFORD—House and Senate Republican Leaders on Tuesday urged legislative Democrats and Governor Lamont to join them in demanding the immediate ouster of SEIU Connecticut State Council Executive Director Kooper Caraway over his public remarks in support of terrorists who are responsible for recent atrocities committed against Israeli citizens.

In a letter to the Governor and leaders of the legislature’s Democrat majority caucuses, House and Senate Republican Leaders Vincent Candelora and Kevin…

HARTFORD—House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora on Wednesday urged the Board of Directors for the CT Paid Family Leave Authority to reduce workers’ mandatory contribution rate so financially-strapped residents can keep more money in their paychecks.

The board will hold its monthly meeting Thursday, and at that time, Candelora said, members should reduce the mandatory per-paycheck contribution rate to .0475 percent from .05 percent.

“This program built on a payroll tax has amassed a surplus…

HARTFORD—House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora on Monday highlighted a new, lesser-known provision in the two-year state budget that provides more financial support for the families of law enforcement officers who are killed in the line of duty.

The biennium budget signed by Gov. Lamont in June allocated $500,000 in each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to create the Fallen Officer Fund, an initiative proposed by House Republicans in the 2023 legislative session. The bill became an element of…

HARTFORD—House Republicans on Tuesday introduced several reforms aimed at bolstering security in Connecticut’s absentee ballot voting system including eliminating the use of ballot drop boxes, which were at the heart of recent fraud allegations in the Democrat mayoral primary in Bridgeport.

State lawmakers were in Hartford for a special legislative session, set in motion prior to the Bridgeport controversy, that focused largely on technical changes related to election issues. House Republicans…

HARTFORD—In response to an explosive media report detailing chaos, criminal activity, and dangerous incidents at a Harwinton shelter for at-risk girls, House and Senate Republicans have called for the Department of Children and Families to explain to the legislature its procedures for placing high-risk juveniles in group homes as well as the processes and policies associated with choosing and overseeing organizations that operate them.

A Sept. 10 report published by CT Inside Investigator spotlighted…

Urge public to speak out

Public awareness campaign planned

House Republican leader Vincent Candelora and Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly today raised questions and concerns regarding the Lamont administration’s plan to enact new emissions mandates that would require all new passenger vehicle sales to be electric vehicles by 2035.

The lawmakers said the mandates, if enacted, will make the state more unaffordable for low- and middle -income residents, bankrupt Connecticut small businesses,…

HARTFORD—House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora on Thursday announced his appointment of former General Assembly member Harry Arora to the state’s Investment Advisory Council (IAC), a panel that assists the State Treasurer with investment policies. 

Arora, of Greenwich, is a finance professional who served two terms as the state representative from the 151st Assembly District after winning a special election for the seat in January 2020. During his time in the legislature, Arora, 53, served…

HARTFORD—The House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted a two-year state budget that includes an income tax cut for Connecticut’s working and middle class, capping a yearlong effort by Republicans to deliver overdue structural tax relief in one of the nation’s most expensive places to live.

“For more than a decade, middle class residents have been targeted with taxes and fees that have pushed them toward the brink of affordability. That’s why this budget is so important—by offering the first…