Archive for July 2012

Klarides Notches 99 Percent Voting Record

by admin
July 31st, 2012

HARTFORD — Rep. Themis Klarides in 2012 continued her strong commitment to the people she represents in 114th General Assembly District covering Derby, Orange and Woodbridge. Klarides, according to recently-released data from the House Clerk’s office, lodged a 99 percent voting record in the House of Representatives during the regular, veto and special sessions.

“I’ve haven’t lost sight of why I go to the Capitol—to be the voice of the people in these three outstanding communities,” said Klarides, who serves as Deputy Republican Leader. “This job is a tremendous responsibility that I take seriously. Every community needs and deserves a strong, thoughtful representative in Hartford. Without that, a town’s voice can be drowned out quickly.”

Klarides serves on the legislature’s committees on Appropriations, Judiciary, Executive and Legislative Nominations, and Legislative Management.

Categories themis

Rep. Ackert Hosting Boots to Suits Clothing Drive in September

by CFryx
July 31st, 2012

State Representative Tim Ackert is hosting a Boots to Suits clothing drive during the month of September to help veterans who are in need of clothing for education, employment interviews or starting new careers.

Desirable donations include clean, slightly used and serviceable business suits, ties, shirts, blouses, handbags and shoes. Clothing for men and women is needed.

Donated clothing will go to military personnel who are looking to transition back into civilian life but lack the appropriate clothing needed for continuing education or employment.

Rep. Ackert will be accepting donations from September 1st through September 30th at his Ackert Electric office located at 1265 Main Street in Coventry. For additional information please feel free to call Representative Ackert’s office at (860) 240-8700 or send an email to tim.ackert@housegop.ct.gov.

Categories ackert

Rep. Floren Reflects on Sal Strazza

by admin
July 31st, 2012

Rep. Livvy Floren recently joined dozens of Greenwich residents to reflect and honor the memory of Sal Strazza during a field dedication ceremony in his name.

To watch a short video of the event please click here.

Categories floren

Cafero Statement on Call for Inquiry into Allegations Against Speaker Donovan

by admin
July 31st, 2012

House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero, Jr. issued the following statement regarding today’s call by Senator McKinney for the formation of a committee of inquiry into allegations against House Speaker Christopher Donovan. He was notified last evening at 10:30 PM of the senator’s intention to call a press conference today. Unfortunately, due to business commitments, he was unable to be present.

“There can be no doubt that the allegations against members of House Speaker Christopher Donovan’s legislative and campaign staff, which have resulted in several federal arrests and indictments, cast a long shadow over the entire legislature. They raise questions that must be answered and the stakes are nothing less than the trust state residents have in the proceedings of the Connecticut General Assembly. In this respect, Senator McKinney and I are no doubt in agreement.

“Since the initial revelations surfaced on May 31st, I have sought to take a measured and deliberate approach to the questions raised by these allegations. I have insisted on following a path that resists taking partisan political jabs that could ultimately cheapen any action taken by this legislature. To me, the most important thing is that any action be grounded in fact, not innuendo or the allegations of criminal defendants under indictment.

“Prior to today’s press conference I initiated discussions with House Majority Leader Brendan J. Sharkey about the formation of a committee of inquiry, and have also asked my staff to research the rules involved in creating such a panel and prepare themselves should we decide to take such action. The State Constitution, under Article Three, clearly establishes that each house of the legislature will determine the rules of its proceedings involved in punishing one of its own members, and if an inquiry is to be called it ought be done by the House. We can also examine the possibility of creating a mechanism by which a member of the House can petition a bill to the floor, similar to the way it is currently conducted in committee, because any inquiry cannot successfully examine the conduct of its members without reviewing the process that allowed it to take place.

“The most important thing for us to remember is that a federal investigation into these matters is currently ongoing. While there is a significant interest in the House for examining these issues, nothing we do should deter, distract, or interfere with the work of federal authorities currently working on this case.”

Categories cafero

Rep. Rebimbas applauds appointment of Naugatuck resident to PCSW

by jsorensen
July 31st, 2012

State Rep. Rosa C. Rebimbas (R-70) today applauded Naugatuck resident Catherine Ernsky for her appointment to the state’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW).

PCSW, established by the General Assembly in 1973, consists of twenty-one appointed volunteer commissioners who work to eliminate sex discrimination in Connecticut.

“Catherine is a dedicated community activist, and offers a valuable perspective on problem solving and consensus building as it relates to discrimination and related issues. With plenty of experience and passion for gender issues and equality, I am confident that she will serve the Commission effectively and help further the group’s laudable objectives,” said Rep. Rebimbas.

Catherine Ernsky of Naugatuck, a Burgess, has spent much of her professional and personal life dedicated to women’s issues, team building and leadership. Ernsky current is Vice President of Sales for the Forest Hills Financial Group, a position that challenges her to develop strategic alliances, form partnerships with diverse stakeholders, problem solve creatively and engage in research, organizational policy and procedure refinement. Ernsky serves as member of the New York Women’s Agenda, the American Association of University Women, and is former Executive Board Chair of Government Affairs for the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, former Executive Chair of the Ways and Means Committee of the Entrepreneurial Women’s Network, and has volunteered for Save the Children, the Red Cross and Amnesty International.

The objectives of PCSW are to inform leaders about the nature and scope of discrimination, to serve as a liaison between government and private interest groups concerned with services for women, to promote considerations of women for governmental positions and to work with state agencies to access programs and practices as they affect women.

Connecticut residents can contact Ernsky or any of her fellow PCSW Commissioners to share their thoughts or experiences related to gender discrimination by calling (860) 240-8300 or emailing pcsw@cga.ct.gov.

Categories rebimbas

Rep. Giegler: please consider donating to Boots to Suits

by jsorensen
July 31st, 2012

Rep. Giegler invites you to take part in a laudable initiative by the New Haven Resident Office of the Secret Service to help U.S. Military veterans transition from military to civilian life.

From now until October, the office is working in collaboration with the legislature’s Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committees to sponsor a “Boots to Suits” collection.

“Boots to Suits” seeks donations of used business attire to help veterans who need clothing for educational and employment interviews, and for starting new careers.

We are looking for clean, slightly used and serviceable business suits (for men and women), ties, shirts, blouses, handbags, belts and shoes.

If you would like to donate, please e-mail Janice.Giegler@housegop.ct.gov.

This collection is also taking place on a national level and is a great opportunity for Connecticut to show its support for our veterans.

If you are involved in a local organization that would like to participate in the drive, please feel free to forward this email and contact Senior Special Agent Derek Dunn at 203-782-7339, Derek.Dunn@usss.dhs.gov or Resident Agent in Charge Bob Barrett at 203-865-2449, Robert.Barrett@usss.dhs.gov.

Thank you for taking time to consider this opportunity to make a difference on behalf of our veterans.

Categories giegler

Rep. Srinivasan cheers runners at 3rd Annual Run for the Fallen

by jsorensen
July 31st, 2012

Rep. Srinivasan gave his enthusiastic support to runners participating in the 3rd Annual Run for the Fallen in Glastonbury.

Rep. Srinivasan cheers for passing runners among a sea of American flags.

Rep. Srinivasan offered this important message following the event:

“We are indeed blessed to live in a free country; freedom, however, comes with a price. The men and women who bravely defend us have made sacrifices – in many cases the ultimate sacrifice – and remembering that is important. The Annual Run gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect: lest we forget, lest we take our freedom for granted. We must to remember and thank our veterans.” 

Rep. Srinivasan eagerly awaits the runners.

 

Categories srinivasan

Davis Congratulates Infoshred on Grand Re-Opening

by CFryx
July 30th, 2012

On Friday Stacey DiPiazza and her company, Infoshred, held a grand reopening to celebrate the new 50,000 square foot storage facility just 15 months after the roof collapsed due to heavy snowfall.

Dipiazza described February 4th, 2011 as one of the worst days in Infoshred’s history but described how staff and family worked together to protect clients’ records and cleanup in the aftermath.

DiPiazza, her husband Jack and the company’s 34 employees worked for 47 consecutive days following the roof collapse to protect documents and move them to a secure location. The company did not lose a single box of the 200,000 stored in the facility and less than 5% of the boxes were damaged, all of which were replaced at the company’s expense. The DiPiazzas were happy to keep all of their clients during the transition and even picked up a client during the tenuous period because of the way they reacted to the adversity.

Stacey and Jack DiPiazza describe the damage done by heavy snowfall while State Rep. Christopher Davis and DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith look on

The new facility has a number of features to help prevent a similar incident including heated gutters and down spouts and a roof built to sustain 41 pounds per square foot while current building codes only require 30.

State Representative Christopher Davis joined other officials including Cathering Smith, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, Denise Menard, First Selectman of the town of East Windsor and Thomas Delnicki, Mayor of South Windsor where the company got its start.

Davis presented DiPiazza with an official citation from the General Assembly to congratulate her on the company’s reopening and to thank Infoshred for being an important part of the economy in the town and the region.

“The perseverence and hard work that the people at Infoshred exhibited during this crisis is something we can all admire,” Davis said. “They exemplify good business and I am proud that they call East Windsor home.

State Rep. Christopher Davis presents an official citation from the General Assembly to Jack and Stacey DiPiazza to congratulate them on the grand reopening of their business, Infoshred, in East Windsor

Categories davis

AUDIO: Listen to Rep. Smith discuss Connecticut’s business climate on WTIC

by jsorensen
July 27th, 2012

Please listen as Rep. Smith discusses Connecticut’s struggling business climate on WTIC’s “State and Church”:

 Rep. Smith and John Rowland audio

To read the CNBC study about Connecticut’s slipping national business ranking that Rep. Smith refers to, click here.

Categories smith

Hoydick: New Law Improves State Emergency Storm Response

by Michael Downes
July 27th, 2012

State Representative Laura Hoydick (R-120), Ranking Member of the legislature’s Energy and Technology Committee today joined Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) Deputy Commissioner William P. Shea and other state and local officials at the West Hartford Town Hall for a ceremonial bill signing of An Act Enhancing Emergency Preparedness and Response.

The new public act, which was cosponsored by Representative Hoydick, will improve the ability of utility companies to prepare and respond to natural disasters and other emergencies which cause widespread power outages. It will also improve the ability of the state and local communities to mobilize and respond during such events.

“The October Nor’easter and Tropical Storm Irene a month before it certainly exposed some significant shortcomings concerning local and state response capabilities and utility company planning and communication efforts,” said Rep. Hoydick. “This session I was determined to work with my colleagues on the Energy and Technology Committee, and representatives from the Governor’s office, to develop sweeping bipartisan reform which would bring significant improvements in these areas, and I am pleased that we were successful in doing that.”

The provisions of Public Act 12-148 include:

• Establishing improved standards for utility, telecommunications and cable companies during emergency events and creating penalties for non-compliance;

• Requiring these companies to submit plans for emergency restoration of service;

• Creating a microgrid pilot program administered by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection;

• Creating a feasibility study on requiring backup power for telecommunications towers and antennas;

• Encouraging the coordination of underground infrastructure projects; and

• Requiring the development of procedures to expedite the process of road-clearing following an emergency.

In addition, the legislation improves civil preparedness and training requirements by requiring private utility companies to comply with the state’s civil preparedness planning and training when directed to by the Commissioner of DESPP.

Statewide emergency preparedness drills will be conducted from July 28-29 and July 30-31, at which time communications, road clearing and power restoration protocols will be evaluated.

 

Categories hoydick
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