Reps to Speak Out on Planned Horse Guard Closure

Reps. Chris Lyddy (D-106, Newtown) and DebraLee Hovey (R-112, Monroe, Newtown) will hold a press conference at 5 p.m. today to talk about state plans to close Second Co. Horse Guard in Newtown.

The Fairfield Hills-based unit is scheduled to close as a result of the $1.6 billion cuts Gov. Dannel Malloy is making to balance the budget in light of the failure to come to an agreement with state workers, officials said.

The news has state representatives scrambling to build support in favor of the company and to apply pressure to the governor and military department leaders to leave the approximately $79,000 in funding for the second company unchanged.

“We really need the public to contact the governor’s office,” Lyddy said. “We’re hoping the governor can intervene with Gen. Martin to stop this from happening at least today so that we can have people share their voice and their concern with this plan.”

Lyddy and Hovey have been active in trying to save the second company, and with this latest threat are working to see if they can affect the outcome, Lyddy said.

“We’re still in the fact finding phase of this,” he said.

Malloy's first budget proposal had sought to eliminate the Second Company by consolidating it with the First Company based in Avon, but then following a public outcry led by Hovey and Lyddy, the funds were restored contingent on a deal to be reached with the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition. Rank-and-file state workers eventually rejected the deal.

As part of Malloy’s latest plans, the military department, which includes the Connecticut National Guard and Horse Guard, would lose nearly $900,000 from its budget this year and more than $1 million the following year. The cuts would mean eight fewer positions this fiscal year, according to the governor’s plans.

The General Assembly still must vote on Malloy's proposal before it becomes effective.