Rep. McCarty Kick-Starts Second Legislative Session

HARTFORD — State Representative Kathleen McCarty (R-38) joined fellow legislative leaders for the start of the 2016 Legislative Session February 3 at the State Capitol. The Opening Ceremony and Joint Convention that heard Governor Malloy’s “State of the State Address” marked the beginning of Rep. McCarty’s second legislative session.

This three month “short” session is unique, however, as it only allows legislator-proposed bills related to budgetary, revenue and financial matters to be considered. Legislative committees, on the other hand, can submit bills to be considered on any subject.

One of the most critical issues facing the General Assembly is making adjustments to the state’s biennial budget. After a budget fix during the December special session, there is still a projected shortfall of over $507 million for next year, and an out year deficit of approximately $4 billion.

House and Senate Republican budget priorities for the 2016 session include implementing long-term structural changes to restore sustainability and predictability to the budget, and the “Prioritize Progress” transportation plan to fund and protect transportation dollars without tolls or tax increases.

In addition to supporting these priorities, Rep. McCarty wrote to several different legislative committees to propose non-budgetary ideas for Committee-raised legislation.

One proposal co-introduced by Rep. McCarty asks the Labor and Public Employees Committee to raise a bill providing a short-term and/or long-term disability policy to career and volunteer firefighters in Connecticut who contract cancer as a direct result of fighting fires.

She also requested that the Education Committee consider legislation concerning high school graduation requirements, the reemployment of retired teachers and compensation, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation requirements, review of magnet school funding in-state, relief to towns that provide special education to out-of-district students, and establishing a pilot program to train teachers – within available resources – on social-emotional learning.

Other notable requests that Rep. McCarty submitted address the issues of phasing out the hospital tax and repealing taxes on ambulatory surgical centers, transportation for non-ambulatory nursing home residents to visit family members, and protecting nonverbal nursing home residents via video monitoring.

Rep. McCarty continues to serve on the Appropriations, Education and Public Health Committees. She also remains a member of the Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Rural, Safe Haven and both the House Republican and Legislative Women’s Caucuses and Working Groups.

She can be reached at Kathleen.McCarty@housegop.ct.gov or 800-842-1423. Constituents can follow her legislative endeavors by logging onto www.repmccarty.com or connecting with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/repmccarty. Constituents can also follow committee meetings and House debates as they unfold live on Connecticut’s public affairs television network, CT-N, or by streaming the proceedings online by visiting www.ctn.state.ct.us.

The session will adjourn at midnight on May 4th.

Rep. McCarty represents the 38th district of Waterford and Montville.

PHOTO CAPTION: Rep. McCarty (right) with Rep. Rosa C. Rebimbas in the House chamber on Opening Day.