Newtown House Delegation Receive Legislative Committee Posts

HARTFORD- State Reps. Mitch Bolinsky (R-106), Dan Carter (R-2) and State Rep-Elect J.P. Sredzinski (R-112) were given their legislative committee assignments for the next two years by House Republican Leader Themis Klarides.

Bolinsky was tapped to head the Republican caucus on the legislature’s Aging Committee. The committee has cognizance over of all matters relating to senior citizens in Connecticut. As ranking member Bolinsky will work with the co-chairs of the Aging committee to draft committee legislation and schedule public hearings on proposals as well as be the point person for the House Republican caucus for senior citizen issues and legislation.

“I appreciate Representative Klarides’ confidence in appointing me as ranking member of the Aging Committee,” Bolinsky said. “There are so many aging-related issues to tackle as we are faced with an increasing population of seniors in Connecticut. From the economic challenges of seniors residing in a high cost of living, high tax state that is over-reliant on property taxes, to transportation, nutrition and healthcare, our first challenge will be to determine where to begin focusing our attention. I am confident that, working together and doing a lot of listening, we’ll make a difference in positioning Connecticut to provide the appropriate supports that our aging population will need.”

Rep. Dan Carter will be serving for a second term as the Ranking Member for the General Law Committee, which focuses on all matters relating to the Department of Consumer Protection, fair trade and sales practices, mobile homes, alcoholic beverages and occupational licensing. He has also been appointed as a member of the Education Committee, which convenes on issues surrounding boards of education, collective bargaining in relation to CT educators, vocation rehabilitation, Commission on the Arts, libraries, museums and historical and cultural associations.

Carter said, “This will be a comprehensive and challenging legislative session. As the Ranking Member of the General Law Committee, I will work with the committee chairs, other committee members and advocacy groups to promote a balanced approach to today’s consumer concerns, especially in regards to sales tax and government involvement. As a member of the Education committee, I am eager to work with policy makers, teachers, administrators and taxpayers to solve our looming education challenges.”

Representative Carter will also remain on the Energy & Technology Committee.

Rep-Elect J.P. Sredzinski has been tapped by House Republican Leader Themis Klarides to serve on the Public Safety and Security committee which has cognizance over all matters relating to homeland security, the Department of Public Safety, including state police, state organized task force on crime, municipal police training, fire marshals, the fire safety code and the state building code, civil preparedness and legalized gambling, and military and veterans’ affairs, except veterans’ pensions.

Sredzinski said, “I am particularly excited to serve on the Public Safety committee since this facet of government is my career. As someone involved in the day to day operations of a 9-1-1 public safety communications center, I can bring an unique prospective to public safety issues in our communities.”

Also, Rep-Elect Sredzinski was appointed to serve on the legislature’s Commerce committee which oversees matters relating to the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Connecticut Development Authority and Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated. The committee is tasked with finding ways to promote job growth in our state.

Finally, Sredzinski was asked to serve on the legislature’s Internship committee which oversees the legislative internship process at the State Capitol.

Bolinsky will also continue to serve on the Legislature’s Appropriations and Education Committees for another term. This year the two-year state budget will be crafted. Bolinsky was one of the key Republican Education members last year which forced the legislature to have a public hearing on Common Core and the teachers’ evaluation system.