Posted on July 8, 2019 by jdooley
BETHANY- State Rep. Lezlye Zupkus and State Senator George Logan held a Town Hall Meeting in Bethany last week to provide residents with a post-session recap about the 2019 legislative session, the state budget and the debate on how to fund our state transportation projects without tolls.
Sen. Logan and Rep. Zupkus spoke to approximately twenty Bethany residents at the Town Hall.
Both Sen. Logan and Rep. Zupkus talked about how they opposed the state budget due to its many taxes, almost $2 Billion…
Posted on July 2, 2019 by jdooley
Prospect/Cheshire – State Representative Lezlye Zupkus (R-89) and State Senator Rob Sampson (R-16) hosted a Town Hall meeting at the Prospect Town Hall and Legislative Coffee Hour at McDonalds’ in Cheshire to discuss the just concluded 2019 legislative session, including the state budget, tolls as well as state and local concerns.
“I always enjoy having an open and engaging discussion with the residents I represent on topics affecting their daily lives,” said Rep. Zupkus. “Residents are frustrated with the current policies that are hampering job growth and causing residents to move. It is an unfortunate story playing out in Prospect and Cheshire, and throughout the state, many of our neighbors are leaving for lower cost states because Connecticut keeps dipping into their wallets one to many times. I understand their frustrations, and I am working to make the necessary structural changes we need to make to create a sustainable and predictable state government that we will attract businesses and people back to our state.”
The legislators fielded questions for an hour on issues ranging from out–of-control state spending to the ever-growing state budget including new state labor contracts pushed through on partisan lines.…
Posted on June 28, 2019 by jdooley
Every year, the Office of Legislative Research (OLR), the Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA), and the Legislative Commissioners’ Office (LCO) compile a report of the major issues passed during the 2019 Legislative Session.
Also included is a budget summary with details on the many taxes that were approved in the state budget.
OLR provides brief descriptions on a number of issues in this report including legislation on opioid drugs, education, transportation and the state’s business climate, among…
Posted on June 10, 2019 by jdooley
BETHANY— State Representative Lezlye Zupkus (R-89) and State Senator George Logan will be hosting a Bethany Town Hall for town residents on Monday, July 1 at Bethany Town Hall.
The legislators invite the public to hear an update on the just completed 2019 Legislative Session, and residents are encouraged to ask questions about any issue. The meeting will run from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- WHAT: Legislative Town Hall
- WHEN: Monday, July 1st 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- WHERE: Bethany Town Hall Selectman’s Conference…
Posted on June 10, 2019 by jdooley
CHESHIRE — State Representative Lezlye Zupkus (R-89) and State Senator Rob Sampson will be hosting a ‘legislative coffee hour for Cheshire residents from on Friday, June 28th at McDonald’s. The McDonald’s is located at 850 South Main Street in Cheshire.
The legislators invite the public to hear an update on the just completed 2019 Legislative Session, and residents are encouraged to ask questions about any issue. The meeting will run from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
What: Legislative Coffee Hour
When:…
Posted on June 10, 2019 by jdooley
PROSPECT – State Representative Lezlye Zupkus (R-89) and State Senator Rob Sampson (R-16) will host a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at the Prospect Town Hall.
The legislators invite the public to hear an update on the just completed 2019 Legislative Session, and residents are encouraged to ask questions about any issue. The meeting will run from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
What: Town Hall Meeting
When: Thursday, June 27, 2019 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Where: Prospect Town Hall, Assembly Room…
Posted on June 5, 2019 by jdooley
HARTFORD- State Rep. Lezlye Zupkus (R-89) strongly opposed a state budget that ignored the voices of working families and small businesses in Connecticut by increasing their taxes making it more difficult to live, raise a family and do business in Connecticut.
This plan will now tax parking garages, the Internet, dry cleaners, restaurants, plastic bags and scores of other goods and services will all cost Connecticut consumers more beginning July 1 due to sales tax hikes. Thousands of business owners operating as LLCs will pay an estimated $50 million more in income taxes under the Pass through Entity tax because of the scheme hatched by the majority in order to close an estimated $3 billion deficit over the next two years that is of their making.
The budget proposal included a diversion of $171 million over the next two years in new car sales revenue from the Special Transportation Fund to the General Fund, effectively intentionally starving the fund as to make the governor’s case for tolls this summer.
In 2018, voters overwhelmingly ratified an amendment to the state Constitution added a new legal “lockbox” to safeguard funds earmarked for Connecticut’s transportation program to balance the state budget.
The budget passed without a single Republican vote. Overall, taxes were raised by $1.75 Billion over the next two years.
“I must say, I’m quite disappointed. I could not support such a tax heavy budget,” said Rep. Zupkus. “There are new taxes expand the sales tax, tax meals from grocery stores and restaurants, and also punish mom and pop businesses throughout the state with new burdensome taxes. Furthermore, the plan includes a new surprise tax on soda, beverages or liquor dispensed at bars or soda fountains.”
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Posted on June 1, 2019 by jdooley
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Posted on May 30, 2019 by jdooley
Works to Reduce School Bullying
HARTFORD- To better address bullying in schools across the state, State Rep. Lezlye Zupkus (R-89) strongly supported a bi-partisan proposal that works to evaluate, improve and strengthen bullying laws.
The legislation, HB-7215, An Act Concerning Safe School Climate Policies includes establishes an eight-member Social and Emotional Learning and School Climate Advisory Collaborative tasked with, monitoring school climate improvement efforts in the state; additionally…
Posted on May 15, 2019 by jdooley
HARTFORD -A proposal which would amend the definition of narcotic substance to include fentanyl, which currently is only listed as a synthetic drug, meaning it carries a lesser sentence was strongly supported by State Rep. Lezlye Zupkus today in the House of Representatives.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, which is more addictive and deadly than opioids or heroin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl depresses central nervous system and respiratory functions and is estimated to be 80 times more potent than morphine and hundreds of times more potent than heroin.
The legislation, HB-5524, An Act Increasing the Penalties for the Sale of Fentanyl would increase penalties for the dealing and manufacturing of fentanyl and its derivatives adding them to the same category as heroin.
“Fentanyl dealers should not get off on a lesser sentence based on a misclassification and definition of a lethal drug. We need to lock these Fentanyl dealers and makers up for selling a product that kills people,” said Rep. Zupkus. …