Posted on January 14, 2019 by jdooley
I hope you had a safe and Happy Holiday Season and ready to take on the New Year. I, for one, am excited to get to work in my new term as State Representative representing Bethany, Cheshire and Prospect. I am deeply humbled and honored to have the opportunity to continue representing the great people of the 89th Assembly District. Thank you.
I, along with the 2019-2020 General Assembly, was sworn into office on January 9th in what was the Opening Day of the legislative session. We also have Governor Ned Lamont taking office on January 9th. He is coming into office with an extensive legislative agenda, from writing a new two year budget to tolls, legalization of marijuana and the expansion of gaming in Connecticut.
It’s now time for the real work to begin. However, for our state to fully recover and to make sure we don’t fall back into bad budget habits we must tighten our belts and bring common sense back to government.
With my new role as a member of the Appropriations committee, I will be tasked with helping craft the new state budget proposal for Connecticut.
Right now, budget numbers are showing that the state will face a $1.7 billion budget deficit starting July 1st, and the number increases to $2.3 billion by the 2020-21 fiscal year. Fixing our budget problems should be our top priority. A well-crafted, balanced budget will tell you and the business community that Connecticut is serious about its’ fiscal house. We will need to make tough decisions and getting Connecticut out of the red starts with reforming state government, cutting unnecessary spending and borrowing, and creating policies that attract and keep job creators here in Connecticut.
I look forward to keeping you informed and sharing important information as we move through the legislative session. It is important to me that I represent my constituents to the best of my ability. I appreciate your help and input. Your input is very important because it informs me on the views of the people I represent.
Now that legislative session has begun, I plan on have office hours in Bethany, Cheshire and Prospect and will keep you up-to-date on the dates. Please join me and we can discuss the important issues of the state and any suggestions on your mind.
Please visit my website www.repzupkus.com for current legislative information as it happens; you can also sign up to receive my newsletter. You can also follow me on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/repzupkus. I encourage you to sign up for my e-newsletter so you can get updates and alerts emailed directly to your inbox. If you have any questions, concerns or ideas please feel free to contact me by phone 1- (800) 842-1423 or email Lezlye.Zupkus@housegop.ct.gov.
Wishing you health and happiness in 2019.
Posted on January 10, 2019 by jdooley
State Representative Lezlye Zupkus (R-89) was sworn-in at the State Capitol to serve her fourth term today during the Opening Day of the 2019 Legislative Session.
“This is an exciting day because it is a fresh opportunity to address the fiscal problems facing our great state,” Rep. Zupkus said Wednesday. “This new session with a new governor will be full of difficult issues that require tough solutions but there seems to be a feeling of hope and cooperation in the State Capitol that I hope will continue throughout the session.”
Zupkus was joined by her husband Greg and her friend Karen Barker.
Posted on January 8, 2019 by jdooley
New legislation effective dates are typically January 1st, July 1st, and October 1st throughout the calendar year. As 2018 comes to an end, we prepare for a number of new laws to take effect starting January 1, 2019.
These new laws may have an impact on you, your business, or our community. I have highlighted some noteworthy new laws below and encourage you to take a look at the full list, which can be accessed by clicking here. Please contact me with any questions or clarifications regarding the implementation of these new laws.
AN ACT CONCERNING DUAL ARRESTS AND THE TRAINING REQUIRED OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL WITH RESPECT TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
This new law, PA 18-5, will reduce the number of dual arrests that occur in domestic violence cases and enhance domestic violence training offered to state and local law enforcement agencies. For a summary, click here.
AN ACT CONCERNING MAMMOGRAMS, BREAST ULTRASOUNDS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF BREASTS
This new law, PA 18-159, redefines mammogram, and eliminates copayments and deductibles for certain breast ultrasounds. For a summary, click here.
AN ACT CONCERNING CHANGES TO PHARMACY AND DRUG CONTROL STATUTES
This new law PA 18-16 provides the Department of Consumer Protection Drug Control Division with additional tools to be able to better address the prescription opioid epidemic. For a summary click here.
Please pass this information along to those who may benefit from knowing what to expect in the New Year in the State of Connecticut.
