Capitol News from State Senator Anthony Musto

January 2012

Capitol address
Legislative Office Building
Room 2000
Hartford, CT 06106-1591

On the Web
www.SenatorMusto.cga.ct.gov

Phone
Capitol: 860-240-0498
Toll-free: 1-800-842-1420

A New Legislative Session

The 2012 Session of the General Assembly will begin on February 8th and run until May 9th. There are many issues that must be addressed, and I am eager to get to work.

Job creation and economic growth remain my top priorities, even as the bipartisan Jobs Bill passed last October begins to take effect (more on that below). Another major issue this year will be education reform and efforts to close the achievement gap between Connecticut’s richest and poorest students.

What issues are most important to you? Please don’t hesitate to contact me to express your views on what should be addressed in Hartford this year.

All the best,

Sen. Musto

Talking Jobs in Bridgeport & Beyond

Jobs Back in October, Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly were able to work together to find common ground on job creation. We passed a bipartisan Jobs Bill which created multiple incentives to help small businesses grow, hire and train new workers.

Job creation is our number one priority, and so it's important to inform businesses all around the state, and especially in our urban centers, of how they can make use of these new tax benefits.

Recently, I attended a workshop hosted by the Department of Economic and Community Development at Housatonic Community College where participants learned about the Jobs Bill’s various initiatives.

In December, I hosted a roundtable forum on the Jobs Bill at the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, and took questions on the bill’s provisions and companies’ eligibility for different programs.

I will keep working to spread the word about these new programs and how they can help to grow businesses and create jobs here in Connecticut. To learn more, click here, or consider participating in one of two online webinars that DECD will host on January 18 from 9-10 AM and January 19 from 1-2 PM. Visit www.decd.org to participate.

Download my summary of the jobs legislation which includes helpful contact information for programs aimed to assist small businesses.

Cold Weather Tips

Winter Winter is here, and with it comes cold weather and heavy snows. We saw the first blizzard of the season back in October, and the next few months promise more bad weather for Connecticut, so make sure you and your family are prepared, and use these tips to stay safe and warm!

When the snow begins to fall, road conditions can deteriorate very quickly. Drive only if necessary and limit travel to daylight hours if at all possible. Keep others informed of your schedule and route, and stay on main roads.
Be aware that power failures and other service disruptions may occur. Keep a battery operated radio, flashlights and extra batteries on hand.
When leaving the house, dress in layers and wear warm clothing, including a hat, gloves and sturdy footwear, even if just running a quick errand.
Never use charcoal grills, gas grills or generators indoors, as they can cause a buildup of dangerous carbon monoxide gas, leading to poisoning or even death.
Stay informed, listen to local radio and television stations for information on possible school delays and other weather related updates.