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January 20th…Why does that date stick out in my mind so much?
I just figured out that many things have impacted my world on this date.
The first basketball game was played under the direction of James Naismith, the game’s inventor, in Springfield, MA. Ironically my favorite teacher in elementary school was sixth grade teacher James Naismith III, and I eventually graduated from Springfield College and started my first professional job in Middletown, CT.
Then the Iran hostage crisis (I’m showing my age here) was in full gear during my college years, and several of my friends from high school and college enlisted and moved out to do something positive. On January 20th the president announced the Iran hostage crisis was over and everyone took a collective deep breath.
One of the things I have long been fascinated with is space exploration. In fact, I recall my grandmother made me a moon cake the year the first American landed on the moon. The man directly responsible for that iconic day was sworn in on a January 20th—President John F. Kennedy—where he delivered his most famous line: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
A couple years back, Americans experienced another significant January 20th when we all watched with anticipation the swearing-in of our country’s first black President Barack Obama, only to be followed several years later with the swearing-in of the first female Vice President Kamala Harris.
So indeed January 20th is an important date for many reasons, but for me it seems as if a lot of them tie into what makes me “tick” and makes me motivated. In Connecticut, we’re all looking to see what this day will be and so far it’s been pretty quiet. There are a couple of legislative committee meetings and forums on the schedule at the LOB, but for most it’s a day to get organized, screen the hundreds of individual and now committee-sponsored bills that will soon be heard at public hearings.
The process is starting to kick into gear and the 187 legislators will begin a five-month journey of sorting out what really matters, what’s urgent, what’s got to get done and what needs focus and attention.
It’s important to get engaged in the process. This session you can testify and/or follow each hearing through the virtual portal, you can come to the LOB and testify in-person and you definitely pick up the phone or open up your email to reach out and talk to someone about what’s important to you. Rather than looking back in several years and wondering why something happened—or as I look back and recall significant memories—you could be helping to frame an issue or be part of the solution.
So reach out and touch someone, as those who came before us touched us and helped us remember what’s important.
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An In-Depth Review of Our First Two Weeks
It's always interesting to hear clients' takeaways of the beginning of session. The longer of the two sessions normally starts very slow, but this session seems to have volume and urgency that makes someone think it's a combo of being in-person and a larger invigorated freshmen class looking to make waves immediately.
Here are some interesting takeaways from these first two weeks:
-2,346 bills have been filed from the House and the Senate. By far a much greater number at this point in the session than our office has seen in a while.
-Every bill that's been officially filed has been an individual Proposed Bill with no committee bills hitting the official filings yet. That said, over 20 committees have already raised concepts which shows a sense of urgency to get bills filed quickly. This can largely be attributed to the expedited deadlines set by leadership in the House and Senate.
-Our state budget, despite signs nationally of the economy heading into a recession, has continued to over achieve on every level: Tax receipts increased 14% bringing the total estimate for the budget in the current fiscal year to $3.1B total which would bring the total "rainy day fund" to over $6B.
-For the first time in three years, the Legislative Office Building (LOB) and State Capitol have fully reopened. That said, it seems that the hybrid model of accommodating Zoom and in-person is here to stay with hearings also pivoting to not being fully virtual and having an in-person option as well.
-With the full opening of our legislative buildings, the LOB has really come alive. Last session, although the buildings were partially open, there were still many who chose to participate virtually, and not as many people physically came to the capitol. This year, every committee meeting has been packed, with few open seats remaining once the meeting started. The atrium and the cafeteria are full of lobbyists, staff, public members, and school tours again. It really feels like we are back to the level of public participation from the pre-pandemic era.
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Bridgeport Rematch
State Senator Marilyn Moore has officially filed paperwork to run for mayor against incumbent Joe Ganim. Moore is a long-time community leader and State Senator who has been vocal about issues such as education, housing and poverty. Moore has also been critical of Ganim's tenure as mayor and has campaigned on a platform of transparency and ethical governance. On the other hand, Ganim is the incumbent mayor seeking a sixth term in office. Ganim's tenure as mayor has been marked by both controversy and progress, including a corruption conviction and subsequent prison sentence in the early 2000s, and more recent efforts to revitalize the city's economy and infrastructure.
This is a rematch between Moore and Ganim, as they previously faced each other in the mayoral race where Ganim won. However, this time around, Moore has the support of local politicians and community leaders, as well as endorsements from various organizations such as the Connecticut Working Families Party. Ganim has also been endorsed by various organizations, including the Bridgeport Regional Business Council. At the current moment, Ganim has a significant fundraising lead over Moore. It will be interesting to see how the race plays out as the months go by, more dollars are raised, more candidates enter the race, and the on-the-ground campaigning begins!
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Budget Buckets – What’s Next?
On Thursday of this past week, Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) gathered a few legislators together to discuss initiatives related to nonprofits across the state. Senator Osten began a packed press conference by fully committing to moving forward on nonprofit funding support this year. She is the co-chair of the ever important Appropriations Committee and her hosting an event like this is important for many reasons. One of the major ones being her coming out in full support of a 9% increase in funding this year, and a 7% increase in funding next year for nonprofits across our state. Joined by Senator Eric Berthel (R-Watertown), Senator Martha Marx (D-New London), Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Representative Antonio Felipe (D-Bridgeport), and others, she called for the Governor to support this request. Why is this particularly important this year? Let’s find out.
As we discussed last week, so many organizations are coming to the legislature and the governor given the rosy financial outlook the state currently has. Analysts say the general fund for Connecticut will get up to a $3+ billion dollar surplus before the end of session. With a financial outlook that looks quite strong in the very near future, a lot of stakeholders will be looking for financial support from the state. One of the most important legislators when it comes to the financial outlook is the co-appropriator in chief, Senator Osten. Her support matters when it comes to any financial request submitted through the state. Her coming out in heavy support of our nonprofits is more than just important, it’s necessary to their agenda being able to move forward.
As we get more into the end of the month and have numerous financial requests coming through the “money” committees, there will be a lot of movement in what can be support and what cannot. As legislative agendas continue to be pushed out (CBIA’s was posted at an event this week), the Appropriations Committee membership has their hands full. Knowing what their individual focus is shines a light on what we will hear more about this year. Senator Osten’s focus this week showed her unwavering support to our nonprofit system in Connecticut.
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January 20: The Wartime Plane Crash That Named an Airport
At the start of 1941, though the United States had not yet formally entered World War II, the U.S. military was anxious to shore up defenses along the eastern seaboard, which some considered a vulnerable target for a German attack. Early in the year, the Connecticut General Assembly approved the purchase of 1,700 acres of former tobacco farmland in Windsor Locks to lease to the U.S. Army to build a new air base. Because the new base was surrounded by mostly flat, rural farmland, the airfield’s engineers utilized a novel camouflage scheme to render it nearly invisible from the air, painting the runways and taxi lanes with a special patchwork pattern mimicking tobacco crops and dirt roads.
By late July, Windsor Locks Army Air Base was ready to welcome the first waves of military personnel and Army pilots. The atmosphere of optimism, camaraderie, and patriotic pride shared by the brand-new base’s inhabitants was dashed, however, soon after the first official training exercises began. On August 18, during a mock dogfight training exercise, 24-year-old Lieutenant Eugene Bradley blacked out after entering a steep dive in his P-40 Warhawk and crashed into the nearby woods, becoming the air field’s first fatality. Bradley, a recently married native of Oklahoma, had arrived at the base with his new bride only three days before the tragic accident.
An editorial in the Hartford Times called for the new air base to be renamed in honor of the patriotic young pilot. The Army brass agreed, and several months later, on January 20, 1942, the War Department announced it was changing the name of Connecticut’s newest air base to Army Air Base, Bradley Field. At the end of World War II, the air field was converted to a commercial airport for civilian use. Today, as Bradley International Airport, the Windsor Locks airfield still honors the World War II pilot in both its name and airport identification code (BDL), and serves as home to the Connecticut Air National Guard. A dedicated pilot remembered with a fitting memorial, on this day in Connecticut history.
To view the full story on the CT Historian's website, click here.
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Sullivan & LeShane, Inc.
www.ctlobby.com | (860) 560-0000
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