Posted on April 12, 2019 by admin
CT State Rep. Tom O’Dea (R-New Canaan, Wilton), a member of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, joined WTIC News Talk host Todd Feinburg on April 11th to discuss the latest on tolls. Rep. O’Dea says the math on Gov. Lamont’s latest proposal does not add up. The governor’s plan calls for rates similar to legislative Democratic proposals and projects the same revenue, but his plan calls for about 50 tolling locations as opposed to…
Posted on March 29, 2019 by admin
On March 26, CT State Rep. Tom O’Dea (R-New Canaan, Wilton), a member of the Transportation Committee, joined WTIC News Talk host Todd Feinberg to discuss three tolls proposals recently approved by the committee – S.B. 423, H.B. 7202 and H.B. 7280. Rep. O’Dea and fellow Republican members voted against the bills citing multiple concerns:
-
The cost to install and operate tolls
-
The cost to bill individuals who do not have EZ passes or those with unreadable license plates
-
A provision deeming the…
Posted on March 22, 2019 by admin
Bills Approved by Committee Along Party-Line Votes
HARTFORD – State Representative Tom O’Dea (R-New Canaan, Wilton), a member of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, voted against three toll proposals. Despite opposition from Rep. O’Dea, as well as House and Senate Republicans, the bills made it out of committee along party-line votes.
“In addition to safety concerns, one of the main reasons we dismantled tolls in the 1980s was because it placed an unfair burden on commuters. This holds true…
Posted on March 21, 2019 by admin
On Thursday, March 28, I will be hosting a State Legislative Update with Rep. Gail Lavielle at Orem’s Diner, 167 Danbury Road, Wilton, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Governor Lamont’s budget proposal, released on February 20, contains several items worthy of discussion:
-
Expansion of the sale tax to currently exempt goods and services including legal and accounting services, home renovations, winter boat storage, veterinary care, non-prescription drugs, and more
-
New taxes on bottle deposits, plastic bags,…
Posted on March 15, 2019 by admin
Tomorrow, the Finance, Revenue & Bonding and Planning & Development Committees will hold public hearings about bills that would have major consequences for Connecticut taxpayers, businesses, students, parents and our local communities as a whole.
Finance, Revenue & Bonding – Tomorrow, 10:30 a.m., Room 2E
S.B. 877: An Act Concerning Revenue Items to Implement the Governor’s Budget
This bill deals with the implementation of the Governor’s budget plan, namely the taxes that will be used to fund it.…
Posted on March 5, 2019 by admin
The Transportation Committee has scheduled a public hearing on two bills concerning tolls:
- H.B. 7202, An Act Concerning the Sustainability of Connecticut’s Transportation Infrastructure. This bill is part of Gov. Lamont’s budget proposals and would place 53 electronic toll gantries on major highways and routes throughout the state.
- H.B. 7280, An Act Concerning Support for Transportation Infrastructure and the Creation of the Connecticut Transportation Finance Authority. This bill was introduced…
Posted on March 1, 2019 by admin
HARTFORD—House Republican legislators at a Friday news conference joined Connecticut residents in opposing legislative proposals aimed at forced school regionalization.
The event at the Legislative Office Building preceded an Education Committee public hearing on bills (S.B.457, S.B. 738, S.B. 874) concerning the topic. Republican lawmakers echoed the concerns of parents, educators, school administrators and local officials who descended on the Capitol for the hearing.
“These bills have hit a nerve,…
Posted on February 25, 2019 by admin
This Friday, March 1, the General Assembly’s Education Committee will be holding a public hearing on all bills concerning forced school regionalization.
As you may be aware, the bills before the Education Committee are calling for towns to consolidate educational services with neighboring communities. The bills supporting this policy change are as follows:
Posted on February 6, 2019 by admin
“By a show of hands, who in this room believes they are not taxed enough?” I have to give credit to the one individual who raised their hand, but must respectfully disagree. This was my question to a crowd of more than 80 at a recent event in Wilton where residents voiced their concerns over several bills proposed by legislative Democrats, including one requiring forced school regionalization.
Unfortunately, our state is now accustomed to tax increases and new mandates. As some residents and businesses…
Posted on January 15, 2019 by admin
Dear friends,
The 2019 Session convened on January 9 and will adjourn on June 5. During this time, the General Assembly will consider several important bills, including the biennial state budget.
Your feedback is very important to my efforts in Hartford, which is why I have scheduled an office hour for this Thursday, January 17 at 6 p.m. at New Canaan Library.
Office Hour – New Canaan Library
151 Main Street, New Canaan
Thursday, January 17, from 6-7 p.m.
If you are able to attend, please come prepared…