Capitol News from State Senator Don Williams

September 2009 Issue

Capitol address
Legislative Office Building
Room 3300
Hartford, CT 06106-1595

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

Phone
Capitol: 860-240-8634
Toll-free: 1-800-842-1420

Helping Families Survive the Recession

The General Assembly and Governor Rell have finally agreed on a budget for the next two years. This budget is the result of months of negotiations and reflects compromise from both Democrats and Republicans.

Connecticut Budget We approved more than $3 billion in spending reductions — the largest budget cut in state history — that reach every agency and all parts of government.

At the same time, we were able to protect middle-class families, the elderly, children and the poor from devastating cuts to critical services and programs. Thanks to Democrats, the LIFE STAR medical helicopter will continue to save lives, college students will have access to financial aid and small businesses incubators will continue to grow jobs.

We also make the tax code fairer for working families and the middle class by lowering the sales tax and raising revenues from joint filers making more than $1 million a year.

Make no mistake; there is no perfect budget this year — the national recession forced us to make tough cuts and very difficult decisions. Thankfully, we were able to craft a budget that strikes a balance and stabilizes Connecticut’s economy.

Affordable Health Care in Our Schools

doctor with boy School-based health centers are critical for the delivery of health care to children and families. There are many children in Connecticut who don’t have health insurance or access to health care, which leaves school-based health centers as their only option. As the new school year approaches and concerns about swine flu and other epidemics mount, school-based health centers will be the first line of defense for our children.

Governor Rell’s budget plan called for cutting funding for school-based health centers, even in the face of expert predictions for a more aggressive swine flu outbreak this fall. These cuts would have resulted in a loss of medical staff, reduced hours of operation and diminished services in a time when families are losing their insurance coverage and the centers are needed most.

Resources for Our Families

Connecticut’s Family Resource Centers are located throughout the state, and include our local centers in Killingly, Putnam and Windham. They provide family resource photo services such as child disability identification, parenting classes, home visits to struggling families, school readiness programs and — perhaps most importantly — low-cost child care.

During this tough recession, many families are struggling to make ends meet. Some parents find that the low-cost child care that Family Resource Centers provide is the only affordable way to ensure their children are properly cared for during working hours.

In the absence of this care, many parents would be forced to quit their jobs or work fewer hours, resulting in less money for their families and a greater dependence on government assistance. Governor Rell wanted to reduce funding for Family Resource Centers, but this approach won’t save us money in the long run. I'm pleased that we were able to protect this service for our families.

Thanks for reading my monthly e-newsletter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns.