New London Senator Provides Budget Update At Senior Center

NEW LONDON, CT – At a New London Senior Center Town Hall, Senator Paul Formica (Republican-East Lyme) joined a group of local residents and advocates to discuss the state budget. They also discussed how lawmakers are working together to restore funding for the state’s Medicare Savings Program that was scheduled to be reduced early next year.

Last week, legislative leaders announced that they had reached a bipartisan agreement to restore the funding and petitioned to hold a special session in order to vote on the changes before the new year, according to a release.

“I am glad that all four caucuses of the General Assembly have now submitted enough petitions to call a special session before the new year to restore funding for the Medicare Savings Program,” Formica said in a release. “I want to thank all those individuals who shared their stories with me about the importance of restoring this funding. Taking your messages to the Capitol was a major driving force that helped lawmakers work together in a bipartisan manner to address this issue as soon as possible.”

Lawmakers have agreed to a no-tax-increase plan to restore funding for the Medicare Savings Program in full for fiscal year 2018, and will hold a session to vote on a fix sometime between Dec. 24-29 based on legislative procedural rules regarding a special session. The date will ultimately be chosen by the Secretary of the State.

At the meeting, Formica also discussed other ways the bipartisan state budget made changes to benefit seniors and retirees. He explained that the budget phases in the elimination of taxes on social security and pension income for single filers with an AGI below $75,000 and joint filers below $100,000.

The new state budget also restores funding for the personal needs allowance and the CT Home Care Program and increases funding for Senior Meals and non ADA dial a ride.

Formica represents the communities of Bozrah, East Lyme, a portion of Montville, New London, Old Lyme, a portion of Old Saybrook, Salem and Waterford. For more information visit www.senatorformica.com.

Image courtesy Nicole Rall