August 2009 Issue

Capitol address
Legislative Office Building
Room 2200
Hartford, CT 06106-1595

E-mail
Slossberg@senatedems.ct.gov

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

Phone
Capitol: 860-240-0482
Toll-free: 1-800-842-1420

As negotiations on an equitable two-year budget for the state of Connecticut continue, I’m pleased to bring you my first Capitol News via e-mail. Please use this newsletter to learn more about some of the important issues facing our state and some of the initiatives I’m working on to help improve our government.

I always do my best work when I hear from you, so please visit my Web site and call or send me an e-mail with any thoughts or ideas that you may have. I look forward to hearing from you!

Returning Power to the People

Since the 1940s, Connecticut was one of many states that filled a vacancy in a United States Senate seat by an appointment from the governor. We have seen in recent years, however, in states like Illinois and New York, how that appointment power can lead to abuse, lobbying and corruption.

This year, I worked to change Connecticut’s law by returning the power to fill this important position to its rightful place: with the people. The General Assembly passed, and the governor signed, legislation making this important policy change, a change that I believe will help to uphold democracy in our state should a vacancy in one or both of our Senate seats ever occur.

An Effective Tool to Help
Cut Local Budgets

In 2008, I worked to pass legislation that allows local governments and school districts to use online reverse auctioning — a tool where online bidders who are anonymous to each other submit bids or proposals to provide goods or services — as a way to be better shoppers so that taxpayers save.

Last month, I hosted a very positive forum with leaders from Milford, Orange and West Haven to help educate them on the process of online reverse auctioning. This effective tool has helped several Connecticut school districts save an average of 30 percent on the purchase of goods, and I believe that our communities can realize those same kinds of savings as well by using online reverse auctions.

Easing Tax Exemption Filing
for our Disabled Veterans

Last fall, the federal Department of Veterans’ Affairs announced that, due to computer changes, it would no longer directly mail forms used to obtain a letter of disability to the thousands of service-disabled veterans living in Connecticut. Without these forms, these dedicated servicemen and women would be unable to claim the local property tax exemption that they are entitled to.

While the VA eventually reversed its decision, this announcement sent a panic through the veteran community and left many individuals and families worried that they would miss out on their credit. This year, I supported a bill that eliminates the requirement for veterans to file a letter of disability every year — making the process a little easier for those who have given so much to us all.

For more information about programs and services for veterans, active duty military personnel and military families that are available from the state and federal governments, please visit the Senate Democrats’ Veterans Resource Guide. 

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Copyright © 2009 Connecticut Senate Democrats. All rights reserved.