Democratic candidate for Governor Dan Malloy responded Wednesday April 28 to President Obama's decision not to supply individual aid to Connecticut homeowners, renters and employers who were affected my the March flooding:
"Simply put, I don't agree with this decision. In recent weeks, I've spent much time in Norwich, East Lyme, Ledyard and other towns in the region - the damage in these areas is substantial. For small businesses already struggling in a down economy, or for homeowners barely making mortgage payments, the repair costs could well be the final straw."
"We're all aware of the economic problems facing the country, but we also know that out government's most fundamental role should be to assist those most in need, especially in times of unforeseen emergency - times like these."

Current Democractic candidate for Governor, Dan Malloy announced Wednesday the formal support of an additional five Democratic Town Committees and eleven DTC Chairs. His campaign has now been endorsed by 32 town committees and more than 43 committee chairs from throughout the state.

Those announcing their support today for Malloy's candidacy include:
Democratic Town Committees: Branford, Lyme, Pomfret, Stamford, and Stonington.
Democratic Town Committee Chairs: TJ Butcher, Salem; Bill Conti, Litchfield; Kathy Grace; Beacon Falls;Kathy Johnson, Oxford; Keith Laporte, Lebanon; Frank Manfredi, Norwich; Larry Ouellette; Clinton; Sheila Parizo, Derby; Jim Smith, Union; Larry Sweeney, Morris; Ray Trebisacci, Stonington.

"Dan's campaign is continuing to build momentum and support from organizers and leaders who know how to win elections, said Campaign Manager Dan Kelly, "Not only that, but as we move closer to qualifying for Connecticut's public financing system, we're amazed by the out-pouring of grassroots, small-dollar support."

Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today issued the following statement in memoriam of Civil Rights leader Dorthy Height:

"America is a better place because Dorothy Height blazed a freedom path for those who suffered from discrimination. For nearly a century, Dorothy Height fought to ensure that equal rights and equal opportunities were guaranteed for all Americans - regardless of race or gender, ethnicity or religion. She lived her life for others and opened doors to equality and opportunity that millions of Americans have walked through. Dorothy Height will be deeply missed, but her legacy lives on in our continued efforts to make the American dream possible for all Americans."

Please see the obituary on Dorothy's life and accomplishments.

Leaders from the LGBT community gathered today to formally announce their endorsement of Dan Malloy for Governor. In attendance were Anne Stanback, founder and former Executive Director of Love Makes a Family; LGBT and AIDS activist Shawn Lang; State Senator Andrew McDonald; State Representative Mike Lawlor; and others.

"It's not merely Dan's extraordinary commitment to ending discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people that led me to support him for Governor," said Stanback, "From education to health care to job creation, I like the ideas that Dan has put forward. And at a time when our state faces a significant budget crisis, I'm particularly impressed by the the fact that he's led a major Connecticut city, and led it successfully for 14 years."

Lawlor stated that he's known Dan for 8 years and "he is a political leader in the traditional sense: he listens to your concerns, takes up your cause, and gets results."

Governor Rell announced on Friday that she has established a Health Care Reform Cabinet, comprising officials from several state agencies, to ensure that state-administered health programs and other key elements meet the goals and requirements of the recently passed national health care reform law.

Rell stated that "The national law is such a massive and unprecedented piece of legislation that, in some cases, it will take years until uninsured individuals begin to see the affects. We can be proud that Connecticut is a national leader in providing affordable and accessible care and this Cabinet will ensure that state-run programs complement national reform."

Connecticut was the first state to seek significant reimbursement under new federal law by converting state-administered general assistance (SAGA) to Medicaid.

Other state programs that are likely to benefit from the national law are:
- HUSKY (Healthcare for Uninsured Kids and Youth): Serves 260,000 children and teenagers and 126,000 parents, caregivers, and pregnant women.
- Charter Oak Health Plan: Serves 14,000 previously uninsured adults of all incomes.
- Health Reinsurance Association
- SustiNet
- Healthy Start
- Municipal Employees Health Insurance Program
- CT Homecare Program
- CONNPace
- CONNMap and
- Refugee Medical Assistance

The Health Care Reform Cabinet will be led by Cristine Vogel, deputy commissioner of the Department of Public Health, who oversees health care access. It will include commissioners or their designees from the Departments of Public Health, Social Services, Insurance, Mental Health and Addiction Services, Developmental Disability Services, Children and Families, Revenue Services, Economic and Community Development, Information Technology and the Office of Policy and Management and the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority.

The tasks of the Cabinet are to provide transparent access to information, pursue federal funds for a temporary high-risk insurance pool, create a consumer-friendly health insurance purchasing exchange and review insurance industry reforms to ensure Connecticut is ready for the final implementation of the national law in 2014.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) released the following statement today as the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee conducted a hearing on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the role that teachers and education leaders play in the education of students.

"If we want excellent schools - and more than want them, I would argue we desperately need them to compete in the 21st century economy - we have to provide educators not only with the funding, but with the training and development opportunities they need to improve and excel," said Dodd, "Teachers need the tools to succeed, the trust to deploy them as they see fit, and the time to show that they can get results."

Dodd states that a certain amount of accountability is what is needed to fulfill the goal of having a great teacher in every classroom.

The Caligiuri Campaign announces that Sam Caligiuri, Republican candidate for Congress (CT-5), reported exceptional fund-raising success for the first quarter of 2010. From individual contributors, Sam Caligiuri raised more than all of his Republican competitors in the Fifth Congressional District combined, out-raising his nearest competitor by more than two to one:
Sam Caligiuri (R) $203,566
Justin Bernier (R) $98,167
Mark Greenberg (R) $77,149

After only four months in the race, Caligiuri ends the first quarter of 2010 with $204,320 cash on hand, and a fund-raising total for this quarter of $244,095.

Caligiuri beat Chris Murphy in individual contributions, illustrating the strength of his campaign and the frustration with Democratic incumbent Chris Murphy.

"I was thrilled to have had such a successful fund-raising quarter, and exceptionally grateful to my many supporters. When you compare apples to apples, this outpouring of suport from individuals is overwhelming and their message is clear - my record and my message is resonating with voters, which makes me the strongest Republican candidate to take on Chris Murphy in November," said Caligiuri.

Months of unrelenting Republican pressure forced Democrats to capitulate Tuesday, when they agreed to close this year's budget hole without increasing taxes, Rep. John Rigby said.

Today the House of Representatives approved a deficit mitigation plan, agreed to in principal by Governor Rell and Repulicans. It eliminates nearly the entire current year $350 million deficit.

For months the legislature's super majority Democrats ignored ubiquitous calls for reducing the amount of money government spends, favoring tax hikes instead. Republicans steadfastly opposed that slew of tax hikes - most recently a levy on hospitals, electric bills, and hotel rooms. Throughout the months-long debate Republicans proposed several viable, alternative budget plans eventually squashed by the majority.

As the Republicans sought financial remedies, Democrats proposed spending even more money - including a proposed $373 million spending increase they pushed in March.

On Tuesday the majority's long resistance to the common sense Republican approach crumbled.

"We've seen a majority of lawmakers make decisions opposite of the viewpoints shared by the people who put them here - men and women who want government to make the painful monetary choices they've made," Rigby said, "Finally, we're moving that way. But there's much work to be done."

The work Rigby described is a $750 million deficit for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Jerry Farrell, Jr. announced that his campaign has raised $40,575 in his first two full months as a Republican candidate for CT Secretary of State. Farrell's first quarter totals account for more than half of the $75,000 needed to qualify for public financing under the state Citizen's Elections Program.

Farrell said "I am very appreciative of the support shown - it propels us forward in securing the Republican nomination and achieving victory in November."

Farrell states that he will be a leader in helping small businesses grow. He will guide new businesses through the filing process and be an advocate for them with other state agencies and in the legislature.

Farrell will fight to save taxpayers money by consolidating all state record-keeping in the Secretary of State's jurisdiction; which will help avoid duplicative spending among agencies.

Donations to Farrell's campaign committee came from 503 donors. Ninety-five percent of the donors are Connecticut residents.

Jerry Farrell, Jr. has served as the state's Commissioner of Consumer Protection since 2006 and served as the Deputy Commissioner from 2004 until his appointment as Commissioner.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), and the entire Connecticut Congressional delegation sent a letter to President Barack Obama this week urging him to provide federal assistance to Connecticut's cities, towns, businesses, and residents affected by recent severe weather.

This letter is in support of Governor Rell's request for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to declare a major disaster for CT as a result of the severe rainfall and hurricane force winds that hit Fairfield County and Southeastern CT during an 18-day period last month. The president declaring a major disaster will activate a number of federal programs that will assist in the recovery efforts of individuals and local governments.

The letter details the amount of rain and the time period it was received in, as well as the damage that was incurred.

FEMA has verified that the State and municipal costs associated with this storm would exceed $10 million and the severity of damage and the impact on families, businesses and towns is sizable.

WOODBURY - Republican hopeful Justin Bernier has received another endorsement from a southern Litchfield County town chairman.

On Tuesday Woodbury Republican Town Committee Chairman Ron Judson endorsed Bernier in his run for the 5th Congressional District. Judson is the thirteenth RTC chairman to endorse the Plainville resident, who hopes to win his party's nomination and run against Democrat U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy.

Judson said that he was impressed with Bernier’s military service in Afghanistan: “I support Justin Bernier for Congress. With his military service and background, Justin understands what it takes to keep Americans safe at home and abroad," Judson said in a press release.

Bernier is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, where he served as a military intelligence officer. Bernier also served as Executive Director of the state’s Office of Military Affairs under Governor M. Jodi Rell before stepping down to run for Congress.

Bernier said he was honored to win Judson’s endorsement: “I am proud to have the support of local RTC leaders like Ron Judson, because they represent the true grassroots, boots on the ground that will win this election in November.”

Bernier has also recieved endorsements from other area Republicans, including town committees in Plymouth, Goshen, Norfolk, Bethlehem, Burlington, Canton, Farmington and Washington.

The Connecticut Tea Party Patriots group is hosting an April 15 candidates debate in Woodbury, ground zero for the "No Blumen Way" movement.

Each of the Republicans running for U.S. Senate was invited to participate. Rob Simmons, Peter Schiff and Vinnie Foras all said they'll be there, according to Tanya Bachand, state coordinator for the grassroots group.

Linda McMahon declined the invitation.

Unlike other debates, the format of this one allows audience members to ask the candidates questions. It will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at Nonnewaug High School and Bachand will serve as moderator.

State Rep. John Rigby looks forward to meeting with his Colebrook constituents today, April 5 during office hours at Town Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. Rigby, a Colebrook resident, invites constituents to share concerns, ideas, and ask questions. He'll provide information about the last legislation session as well as the current one.

Rigby will have office hours April 7th in North Canaan. Rigby has invited Department of Agriculture Commissioner and former state representative, Philip Prelli to his North Canaan office hours. The office hours will be at the Douglas Library from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

For more information on either session call John Rigby at 800-842-1423.