East Granby Representative Updates Constituents

A legislative update from 61st General Assembly District Representative Tami Zawistowski:

START OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION…

The 2016 legislative session begins Feb. 3 and runs through May 4. While the state budget will certainly be a focal point of consideration, other topics will be discussed. The state’s non-partisan Office of Legislative Research has issued its annual report on a far-ranging set of topics that could be tackled by the General Assembly, from student information privacy protections and Connecticut’s tax structure to voter registration and fiscal pressures facing local government. You can view the report here. As always, feel free to contact my office about these issues or any other idea, question, or concern you have related to state government.

DMV COMMISSIONER RESIGNS…

I wrote to you recently about motorists’ justifiable frustrations caused by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles and the agency’s plans to help people impacted by its glitchy computer upgrade. The agency’s commissioner resigned Wednesday, a development I believe provides the governor’s administration an opportunity to get the DMV back on track. I support calls for a legislative hearing that would uncover what’s transpired inside the agency while giving lawmakers—and constituents—a deserved chance to hear specifics on solutions. I’m a member of the Transportation Committee and I’ll let you know if its co-chairmen decide to hold that hearing, and if so how you can participate. In the meantime, feel free to contact my office if you have a DMV-related issue you’ve been unable to resolve.

PROJECTED BUDGET DEFICIT…

The General Assembly held a special legislative session in early December to close what was, at that time, a projected $350 million deficit. I was among lawmakers who voted against the deficit mitigation plan from the legislature’s majority party leaders and Gov. Malloy. Their proposal didn’t address structural budgetary issues that will keep our state in perpetual fiscal crisis. Considering that, it wasn’t a surprise Wednesday to see the governor’s budget director renew projections for a current-year deficit. Again, managing budget issues will be the focus of the upcoming session...I’ll keep you updated.