Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that farmers across Connecticut are eligible to apply for low-interest federal loans to recover their losses caused by severe rainfall, hail and flooding this past spring. The Governor said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack notified her today that he was granting her request for a disaster declaration for several counties that suffered major crop losses from May 12 to June 4, 2009. The declaration means that farmers and related small businesses can apply for low-interest emergency loans through the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). Governor Rell wrote to Secretary Vilsack on October 29 asking for a disaster declaration for six counties – Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, New London and Windham – affected by the severe weather. He designated all six as primary natural disaster counties and, according to federal farm law, named the adjacent counties of Tolland and Middlesex as contiguous disaster counties. (USDA letter attached). State Agriculture Commissioner F. Philip Prelli said some farmers lost more than 30 percent of their crops because of above normal rainfall and flooding. The severe weather affected a variety of crops grown in Connecticut – pumpkins, corn, tomatoes, peaches, grapes and tobacco. For more information, contact the local USDA office at (860) 871-4095 or visit www.fsa.usda.gov.
Archive for November 2009
WINSTED — Rep. John Rigby presented the latest information about the state’s budget woes to the Winsted Rotary Club today during their meeting at Marino’s Restaurant. About 30 club members were in attendance, and some expressed worry about Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s proposal to reduce state aid to cities and towns. Rell proposed the move because analysts have projected a $600 million deficit for this fiscal year — a problem that could grow to $3.4 billion by 2012. Concerned club members, though, feared the cut to municipal aid could force local leaders to increase property taxes to fill the gap. Other Rotarians talked about job losses, a topic Rigby and his Republican colleagues have expressed concern about since the start of the economy’s decline.
Check out this article that appeared in the Nov. 20 issue of the Housatonic Times, written by Scott Benjamin:
New Milford Health Director Michael Crespan said that as of late last week vaccination clinics in town already had completed more than 1,000 immunizations for the H1N1, swine flu virus, and four more are scheduled before Thanksgiving as it focuses on the priority populations, such as people from 6 months to 24 years of age. He said that the other high-risk populations are the elderly, people with medical conditions, emergency medical services personnel and pregnant women. Read More→
Check out this report by Scott Benjamin published in the Nov. 20 issue of the Housatonic Times:
State Rep. David Scribner (R-Brookfield) painted a bleak portrait of the state’s current revenue stream and job prospects to the Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce recently, indicating that the General Assembly may soon be in special session to address a $624 million deficit that already exists for the fiscal year that started in July. Mr. Scribner said during a PowerPoint slide show during the Nov. 6 breakfast meeting at the Brookfield Senior Center that the state has lost 76,300 jobs since September of last year. Read More→
“Future Of Route 25 Expansion Remains Uncertain”
By: Melissa Bruen, Connecticut Post
November 25, 2009
The future of Route 25, specifically how it will shape Newtown and Monroe, was the subject of a community forum held by state officials Monday.
The contentious topic was discussed at length at Monroe Town Hall, to inform residents of the project’s status and to get public feedback.
State Rep. DebraLee Hovey told residents the Department of Transportation just completed the engineering plans for the compromise the state and the town made in 2002. Read More→
Do you have questions, concerns or ideas about your state government. If so, you’ll have two great opportunities before year’s end to meet with state Rep. Themis Klarides. She’ll hold office hours two times in December — once in each Woodbridge and Derby. Please keep your neediest of neighbors in mind if visit her office hours; Klarides is collecting non-perishable food items, new blankets and gently-used coats for social service agencies and departments in the area. Click image on the left or here to download the details.
Rep. Themis Klarides is with family in Florida, but she isn’t letting that stop her tradition of helping those in need. Klarides will join former NFL players Zach and Henri Crockett on Thanksgiving Day in providing holiday dinners to more than 100 homeless people. Former Raiders running back Zach and brother Henri, a former Vikings linebacker, both graduated from Florida State University and founded the Crockett Foundation several years ago to assist students with educational mentoring and academic scholarships. The Crockett brothers have since expanded the organization’s focus to include improving the health and wellness of people in their area. Klarides and the Crocketts expect to be volunteering with several other NFLers on Thanksgiving Day, and she looks forward to helping people who are less fortunate and unable to join their families at the dinner table on this special day.
From: New Fairfield Citizen-News, November 18, 2009
Stop Digging
Why It’s Time To Try A Different Kind Of Budget
Not even two months have passed since the new state budget was implemented, and yet the State of Connecticut already finds itself $624 million in the red.
To remedy this situation, the Governor has announced that she will call lawmakers back in special session to pass a “deficit mitigation” plan to close the gap we’ve found ourselves in. I sincerely hope that my friends in the Majority join me in supporting that effort, though they have been loath to do so in the past.
After all, this is a group that thought spending $1.3 to study the impact on children of having their parents incarcerated was a good idea- even in the face of an $8 billion deficit. Most Connecticut residents could draw the conclusion that growing up with a parent in jail is bad, and they could do it for free.
However, “deficit mitigation” is not enough for the long term health of Connecticut’s economy. One overarching conclusion can be drawn from the situation we’ve found ourselves in: that budgets which try to tax, spend, and borrow our way out of trouble are not working. It is time for that fact to be acknowledged by the leadership in Hartford and a new fiscal course charted that rejects the pleas of special interests for more and more spending, and instead makes real reductions to the size of government.
While it sounds like common sense, budget reductions such as these have never been made in Connecticut. However, just because these cuts have never been made is no excuse not to do so now. After all, years of tax-and-spend budgeting has left Connecticut last in job growth, unattractive to businesses and investors, and a state that is shedding its young people at an alarming rate. This can hardly be called a record of success.
When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging. It’s time that the Legislature heed this lesson, even if it’s a novel idea.
State Representative Janice R. Giegler (R-138th) represents Danbury and New Fairfield in the General Assembly.
Rep. Hwang Supports Housatonic Community College Foundation at Alumni Hall of Fame Gala
State Representative Tony Hwang (R-134) was on hand Saturday evening, November 21, as Housatonic Community College (HCC) held their 1st annual Alumni Hall of Fame Fundraising Gala. The event was held on the campus in HCC’s Beacon Hall to raise funds to support scholarships awarded by the HCC Foundation to eligible students.
LeVar Burton, an entertainment star from such shows as The Reading Rainbow, Star Trek; The Next Generation and an Emmy winner for his role as Kunta Kinte on the epic television miniseries Roots, was the special guest and presenter at the Gala event. Burton is known internationally as a literacy advocate, a successful producer and talented actor.
Housatonic Community College is one of four community colleges within Connecticut that charted double-digit enrollment growth from fall 2008 to this year, according to enrollment figures released Friday by the state Department of Higher Education. Read More→
WINSTED — Rep. John Rigby participated in a “Thanks for Giving” celebration organized by the Winsted Family Resource Center, held tonight at the Batcheller Early Education Center. Director Ruthann Horvay thanked Rigby for his advocacy efforts to preserve funding for family resource centers, the finances of which have been threatened by the state’s budget woes. Rigby brought his two children to the event, and he talked to constituents for about two hours. The event also recognized efforts of the local school board, staff and administrators, and the local parent teacher organization.
Connecticut House Republicans
- Shore Line East Spring Schedule Changes May 17, 2013
- Rep. Simanski Tours Old Newgate Prison in East Granby May 17, 2013
- Rep. Carter pushes for eliminating July 1 gas tax hike May 17, 2013
- East Windsor, Ellington Art Students Awarded at State Capitol May 17, 2013
- O’Neill Shepherds Common Interest Community Legislation Through House May 17, 2013
- South Windsor Art Students Awarded at the Capitol May 17, 2013
- Rep. Hwang Joins with Area Legislators to Collect Signatures to Fight the Gas Tax Hike May 17, 2013
- Memorial Day Weekend Events May 17, 2013
- Betts Op-Ed: Positive Happenings in Our Communities May 17, 2013
- Memorial Day Weekend Events May 17, 2013
Government |
Citizen Guide |
Leadership
Connecticut House Republican Office |
Copyright © 2013 All Rights Reserved