As summer draws to a close and back-to-school shopping starts, I wanted to remind you that “Tax Free Week” is coming up, beginning Sunday, August 19 and ending Saturday, August 25.

This one-week event eliminates Connecticut’s 6.35 percent sales tax on clothing and footwear costing less than $100. Please note: This benefit has been substantially reduced from previous years.

Tax Free Week was first enacted in 2000, and applies to most clothing and footwear purchases intended for everyday use. Legislation enacted in 2015 reduced the exemption to clothing and footwear costing less than $100 per item. The “sales tax holiday” occurs the third Sunday in August through the following Saturday.

Since sales tax is calculated after the use of any coupons or discounts, if the final price is less than $100, the sale is exempt from taxes. Clothing or footwear under $100 put on layaway is also tax-free.

For a complete listing of items that qualify as tax exempt and others that do not, please click here.

Feel free to consult with your local retailers and if you would like to review additional details about the event, you can consult the Department of Revenue Services webpage by clicking here.

Brings Safety Awareness to Community

TRUMBULL – State Reps. David Rutigliano (R-123), Laura Devlin (R-134),  and Ben McGorty (R-122) along with Trumbull First Selectwoman Vicki Tesoro, the Trumbull Police Department and Trumbull Public Works Department, the Stop and Shop management team and members of Trumbull Animal Group (TAG) were present for the unveiling of the newest ‘Heat Kills – If you love ’em, don’t leave ’em’ awareness program sign installed at the entrance to the Stop and Shop Plaza off of Quality Road.

Last summer, the Trumbull State Representatives kicked this Public Safety Awareness Program to remind residents about the dangers of leaving children and animals in cars. The goal is recruit businesses throughout Trumbull put up signage and window stickers to spread the word about keeping children and animals safe.

Within the last week, Rep. Devlin has received word from the Westfield Mall in Trumbull that they will also display ‘Heat Kills’ signage in the mall parking lot.

Rep. Devlin said, “These ‘Heat Kills – If you love ’em, don’t leave ’em’ signs and stickers give people an easy way to call the Trumbull police if they see a child or pet in a hot car while they are out around town. I want to thank Stop and Shop for participating in this awareness program.”

‘This is great community program that will save lives. I ask anyone out there to use their good judgment and protect the welfare of your children and pets,” said Rep. Rutigliano.

First Selectwoman Vicki Tesoro said, “This is an important public service program for the Town of Trumbull sponsored by our State Representatives and I support any initiative that helps keep our children and pets safe.”

McGorty said, “I will continue to work with my colleagues to recruit businesses to put signs and stickers at their businesses as a public safety reminder.”

All three legislators said they supported a bill this legislative session which gives immunity to any ‘Good Samaritan’ who enters the car by force and protects the ‘Good Samaritan’ against any potential civil damages or criminal penalties when rendering aid.

Latest News from the State Capitol

Outgoing Gov. Dan Malloy has decided that after seven and a half years in office, he wants to put $10 million on the state taxpayers’ credit card to study the issue of tolls in Connecticut.

Think about that.

As Gov. Malloy is leaving the job…he wants to borrow $10 million of OUR money…to study tolls!

Tolls on I-95, I-91, I-84, Routes 8 and 25, the Wilbur Cross Parkway, the Merritt Parkway, and more.

The state Bond Commission is expected to vote on the $10 million allocation on July 25.

If you want to help defeat this $10 million proposal, please contact members of the Bond Commission and urge them to “Vote NO on the Tolls Study!”

Contact information for members is listed below:

Let them hear you!

Governor Malloy

(860) 566-4840

Benjamin Barnes, Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management

(860) 418-6500, Ben.Barnes@ct.gov

Denise L. Nappier, State Treasurer

(860) 702-3010, state.treasurer@ct.gov

Kevin P. Lembo, State Comptroller

(860) 702-3301, Comptroller.Lembo@ct.gov

George C. Jepsen, Attorney General

(860) 808-5318, attorney.general@ct.gov

Melody A. Currey, Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services

(860) 713-5100, Melody.Currey@ct.gov

John W. Fonfara, Senator and Co-Chair Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee

(860) 240-8600, John.Fonfara@cga.ct.gov

Jason Rojas, Representative and Co-Chair Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee

(860) 240-8500, Jason.Rojas@cga.ct.gov

For any questions please call my office at the State Capitol at 1.800.842.1423 or email David.Rutigliano@housegop.ct.gov.

Thank you.

TRUMBULL- Over the last month, State Reps. David Rutigliano, Laura Devlin Ben McGorty sponsored a battered, tattered, torn or faded U.S. Flag collection which culminated this last Wednesday, June 14 on National Flag Day, where the American Legion Post 141 held a flag retirement ceremony to retire the collected flags at the Indian Ledge Park Maintenance Facility on Whitney Avenue.

All three Trumbull legislators wanted to acknowledge to assistance of the American Legion Post 141 and especially thank George Areson, who is the Commander of the Trumbull American Legion Post 141 for leading the solemn ceremony.

According to United States Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

Flag Day, the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777, was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson’s proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day.

HARTFORD –State Reps. David Rutigliano (R-123), Laura Devlin (R-134) and Ben McGorty (R-122) hosted a Pizza and Politics constituent event at Old Towne Restaurant in Trumbull to discuss the just concluded legislative session.

According to the Trumbull House members, the idea of hosting a pizza and politics event as opposed to a more formal town hall is to hear questions and concerns from Trumbull residents in a more casual setting and conversation.

All three Trumbull lawmakers took questions on the major issues that helped shaped the 2018 legislative session, including tolls and transportation, our efforts to truly reform state government and return more money to peoples’ wallets, why our state’s economy continues to struggle while other states have seen an uptick in private business expansion, and the prospect of a Bridgeport Casino and online gaming being adopted.

“I’m continually heartened by the great turnout. Trumbull residents are always fully engaged in the process and genuinely care about their state which definitely inspires us to work hard for them. It’s always a pleasure to meet with residents and keep the lines of communication totally open. This is how government is supposed to work,” said Rep. Rutigliano.

“I really enjoyed our conversations and the input from residents on the big issues of our state will help guide me as I go back to Hartford and represent you at the State Capitol,” said Rep. Devlin. “We are your voice.”

“I enjoyed talking to residents about the recent legislative session and about many of the Republican lead initiatives that passed,” said Rep. McGorty. “People are understandably frustrated with our state’s economy and they have every right to be.  The number one issue is restoring our state’s economy and creating good paying jobs. By stopping tax and spend proposals from the majority party, we are starting to create a state government that is putting taxpayers first. We need to make serious structural changes and House and Senate Republicans have shown that our solutions and vision will create a better fiscal Connecticut.”

Please visit your representative’s website at www.RepRutigliano.com, www.RepDevlin.com, www.RepMcGorty.com and sign up to receive updates regarding future town hall meetings.

TRUMBULL STATE OFFICIALS PARTICIPATE IN SENSITIVITY DAY 

TRUMBULL- State Reps. David Rutigliano (R-123) and Laura Devlin (R-134) joined Trumbull Parents of Students with Learning Differences (TPSLD) and Jane Ryan Elementary School’s PTA for their Sensitivity Day on Tuesday, May 22, 2018.  

Sensitivity Day is an opportunity for fourth grade students to be exposed to a variety of physical and learning disabilities with a hands-on sensitive program and helps increase awareness of those with disabilities.

State Rep. David Rutigliano with Jane Ryan Elementary School Principal Mary Ellen Bolton and State Rep. Laura Devlin.