In This Issue:
From Paddi's Desk
CT Agency Corner
Municipal Roundup
From Inside The Golden Dome
This Day in CT History
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It’s in the works!
A definite date for a special session? Why did it take that long you may ask? And what’s the agenda for Sept 27th?
As is the case, every special session call to order is limited to what’s on the special session call. Items and issues that might be of interest to some, and are not part of the call, cannot be taken up. So this special session is all about the Governor's emergency powers, how broad and how long. Issues like the ongoing impacts of George Floyd's death, teens busting into occupied cars and hijacking drivers as they return to parked cars, the escalating rise in suburban break-ins, and robberies of small businesses will not be part of the discussion set for the end of September.
The Democratic leadership felt that with the huge job of redistricting hanging over their heads, and the unknowns that come along with new COVID-19 variants, it will be necessary to extend the Governor’s powers until the start of the regular session on February 9th. This was not a popular decision among rural and suburban legislators, as well as the Republican side of the aisle. Many are feeling the heat from local governments, police forces and school systems that want to have a larger discussion of other emergencies crisscrossing the state. Many local governments are now taking the reins and making policy decisions where they can to stem the tide and bring a bit more of a feeling of security and safety to their towns.
When the Governor pivoted to local decision making on mask mandates, rules of social distancing and other preventive strategies to bring down the positivity rate, he also stepped up his vaccination campaign through the use of incentives. Governor Lamont supported the President's recent mandate of vaccinations for all federal contractors and employees of companies with more than 100 people. Some in the business world said they felt the President did this to appease employers' concerns over having to make internal decisions on vaccine mandates. Public health advocates have raised concerns that most of the unmasked, unvaccinated workers are located in small, family-owned companies and still pose a greater risk of extending the pandemic.
Meanwhile, I am hearing from loads of people that they just want some finality to this unsettling disease and to find a way to get things back on track. Employers want to be able to hire the necessary people to make their organizations work. Others want to get their children back to a real school life and return to those activities they love to share with family, friends and coworkers.
I’m sure many of you are thinking the same thing – what’s Thanksgiving going to look like? Will anyone want to encourage their little ones to go back to the traditional trick-or-treating of past holidays? Will the supply chain be prepared for the onslaught of holiday buying surges? The retailers in Connecticut have made a huge shift to a robust online and in-store inventory. The restaurants really need the holiday traffic to be strong to save their operations, and everyone needs to get back to being with real people and not on Zoom. It’s just not the same meeting folks and developing relationships through a screen.
Without the promise of new federal spending, the state budget will look different at year’s end. There is so much up in the air, and companies are facing critical needs to find their economic plateaus. The Connecticut General Assembly is obligated to ensure a balanced budget for each of the two years that it’s in place. Current legislators will have to face their constituents as the 2022 elections get closer and closer. It will be a test of their grit and commitment to keeping Connecticut competitive.
So as we look forward to cooler weather, a special session, the holidays and a short session in 2022— much remains unknown. Hang in there. We’re not done yet!
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IMPORTANT BILL TRACKING ANNOUNCEMENT
It's that time of year where your lobbying team is looking for your feedback on our weekly tracking system. We'd love to hear what you like, what you would like to change and ideas on how to provide an improved end-of-week run down on those bills, issues, and topics we worked on through the week. As you have become aware, we are in real-time communications on those priority issues and happenings in the legislature, but the end-of-week e-document just pulls it all together as far as the what–where–when elements of the week's activities. Please feel free to call/ text Paddi (860-614-3991) or email me at pleshane@ctlobby.com with your thoughts, recommendations, or mention your special requests. We start to work with our tech folks next week to explore how we can improve our system hope we can incorporate your comments as best we can. Thanks!!
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Government Efficiency One Page at a Time
Scanning a lengthy memo, or in our office’s case “the budget”, is something we’ve all have to do from time to time. It can be a grueling task, but nowhere near as grueling as the State’s finalized efforts for scanning all hard page documents electronically for storage for certain state agencies.
The State of Connecticut began its partnership with Scan-Optics in 2013 through the Department of Social Services and Access Health CT. Additional agencies joined the partnership under Governor Lamont's leadership starting in 2018, including the Department of Administrative Services, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
So how many pages had to be scanned into the state’s database? The short answer is over 50 Million pages in addition to 10 million images!
All of these efforts are very notably moving the State in the best-digitized direction ever, but it does pose an important question on the basis of future efficiency: How many state agencies are still processing hard copy documents that will also eventually need to be scanned into the database?
It’s a question that largely depends on common practice/procedure based on the security tied to a document, whether it contains personal or confidential information and also if there’s a mechanism attached which would require the future document to be digitally stored. The first two are clearly things that are outside of the state’s control but the last piece is something that the Lamont administration has spent a significant amount of time improving. Most recently, this was seen in the state’s efforts to digitize and streamline DMV services which has been done in other states for a number of years.
More initiatives will be “open for business” while the state starts to determine the best mechanisms available for growing their digital infrastructure.
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We had an eventful week in CT for municipal elections as it was Primary day on Tuesday. The biggest city that had a primary was Stamford where State Rep. Caroline Simmons decidedly defeated incumbent Mayor David Martin in the Democratic primary. Rep. Simmons will face off against former Mets manager Bobby Valentine who is running as an Independent. Mayor Martin graciously conceded to Rep. Simmons late Tuesday night and vowed to help her in her run in the general election in November.
In New Britain, another State Representative, Bobby Sanchez, had a Democratic primary fight that he won this week against Alicia Hernandez Strong. Rep. Sanchez was the endorsed candidate and will now face off against Republican incumbent Mayor Erin Stewart.
Lastly, in West Haven, as reported last week, former Mayor Ed O’Brien didn’t properly file his petition onto the primary, but John Lewis and current Mayor Nancy Rossi faced off. Mayor Rossi defeated Mr. Lewis this week.
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Governor Lamont Exploring Vaccine Passport System for Connecticut
This week, the Lamont administration announced that they would be seeking ways for Connecticut residents to provide digital proof of their COVID-19 vaccination status. These "vaccine passports" have been implemented in large cities like NYC, where proof of vaccination (or a recent negative test) is mandatory for entrance to entertainment venues, restaurants, and fitness gyms. During a press conference on Tuesday, the Governor announced that his office was coordinating with nearby states in an effort to explore a regional approach.
These vaccination verification efforts are a result of President Biden's federal requirement for contractors and businesses with more than 100 employees to ensure that all workers are either a) vaccinated; or B) receiving weekly negative COVID tests. Chris DiPentima, president of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, said Connecticut business owners immediately questioned how they were meant to verify their workers’ vaccine status. A vaccine passport is the best way to answer the question, DiPentima said.
House Minority Leader Vinnie Candelora argued against the effectiveness of vaccine passport systems. His biggest concern is the potential for confrontation if businesses choose to require proof of vaccination from customers.
While those opposed to vaccine mandates have felt their frustrations rise, a CT resident took his frustration too far, sending threatening emails to legislative officials. The emails began with: “You better not mandate any BS vaccine or I will lead the revolt to a freedom of choice nation. This america home of the free and I WILL FIGHT FOR MY FREEDOM. —— VACCINE MANDATES!!!!!!!!!!!! And yes I am armed and ready to protect my liberty and freedom of choice you POS!!!!!”
The matter was investigated by Capitol Police. The letter was signed "Michael Timbro", the name of the then-acting Middletown police chief. Timbro told police investigators that he did not send the messages. Capitol Police have closed their investigation of the matter without naming a perpetrator. Whatever you may think, we can all agree that this is the wrong way to voice your frustration to your legislators. For more information on CT's efforts to fight COVID-19, click here.
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September 17, 1866: Civil War Veterans Gather to Celebrate America's First Triumphal Arch
On September 17, 1886 — the 24th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam — thousands of spectators and Civil War veterans gathered in Hartford to partake in the dedication of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch in Bushnell Park. Hartford’s Memorial Arch was the first permanent triumphal arch memorial in the United States – preceding later such arches such as Washington Square (New York), Roosevelt Arch ( the north entrance to Yellowstone Park in Gardner, Montana), and the Pennsylvania State Memorial (Gettysburg), – and honored all the men from that city who served or fell during the Civil War.
Standing 116 feet high, the striking brownstone monument features two intricate friezes depicting Civil War scenes and symbols representing the city of Hartford and the four branches of military service: an anchor for the Navy, crossed cannon for the Artillery, crossed sabers for the Cavalry, and crossed rifles for the Infantry. Midway up each tower are niches containing figural statues of a farmer, a blacksmith, a mason, a student, a carpenter, and — most strikingly — an African-American man breaking apart the chains of bondage. Two bronze plaques mounted at the base of the arch’s two towers read:
“In honor of the men of Hartford who served and in memory of those who fell on land and on sea in the War for the Union, their grateful townsmen have raised this Memorial. More than 4,000 men of Hartford bore arms in the National Cause, nearly 400 of whom died in the service.”
Today, the Memorial Arch stands as one of the most iconic pieces of architecture in the city, and is maintained by the Bushnell Park foundation, which occasionally opens the interior of the arch for public tours. After undergoing an extensive restoration in the 1980s, an additional bronze plaque was added to the base of the arch that specifically honored and acknowledged “Hartford’s one hundred and twenty-eight black soldiers who were not previously honored for their bravery and valor in the great Civil War.”
The full article from the CT Humanities Council can be found here.
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Sullivan & LeShane, Inc.
www.ctlobby.com | (860) 560-0000
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