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Sen. Hwang on Malloy’s Massive Fairfield State Aid Cut: “Tell him he’s wrong to try to punish Fairfield.”
Sen. Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield) said he will “work tirelessly and with Democrats and Republicans” to “restore Gov. Malloy’s reckless, thoughtless budget cuts” to Fairfield.
Sen. Hwang added, “We’ve been in this position before. Gov. Malloy is reaching back into his predictable playbook to ‘zero out’ Fairfield. This is an attack, make no mistake about it. Malloy, now a lame duck, tried that before, and we, the taxpayers, rose up to block him. We’ll do so again, but it will take calls and emails from Fairfield parents, students, teachers, community leaders and the business community to make it happen. Email Governor.Malloy@ct.gov. Call him at 860-566-4840. Do it today. Do it repeatedly. Tell him Sen. Hwang urged you to call him. Tell him he’s wrong to try to punish Fairfield. Copy me on your emails at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov. We need to be relentless in our defense of Fairfield. Get active today and stay vocal. We can win this fight.”
Senate Republican Assistant Majority Leader Tony Hwang (R-28th District) released the following statement regarding Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s budget proposal:
“The assortment of burdensome and job-killing tax hikes that Gov. Malloy announced today should stir every taxpayer to action. Don’t want tolls every mile? Speak out. Don’t want new taxes on medicine? Speak out. Don’t want higher gas and property taxes? Speak out. Send a brief note to me atTony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov. Include your name and town. I will get your message to the governor.”
“I will work with Republicans and any willing Democrats to protect taxpayers from being gouged yet again by this outgoing governor. We need to be honest and transparent in our budgetary process and everything in state government needs to be re-assessed, and that includes the state employees’ labor agreement. We don’t have a revenue problem in this state. We have a government spending problem. The solution is not seeking out more revenue from taxpayers’ wallets. We need to re-prioritize and respect how every single taxpayer dollar is spent. We need to craft our budgets just like families craft household budgets.
“Hurting vulnerable and at-risk residents and cutting education and municipal funding while maintaining an unsustainable and inefficient government bureaucracy is unacceptable. Levying higher taxes and having the most tolls and onerous gas tax in the nation without a disciplined approach to re-inventing government is not the way forward. If you agree, then light up the governor’s email at governor.malloy@ct.gov to tell him how much you disagree with his vision for Connecticut. And cc me at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov. Let’s fight this fight together. If we all get active, we will win this fight and send a clear message to the governor. Please urge friends, neighbors and co-workers to get vocal as well – the governor needs to hear from all of us.”
Sen. Hwang said Gov. Malloy’s budget includes the following changes of concern to Connecticut residents:
• Does not restore funding for the Medicare Savings Program
• Makes cuts to municipal aid
• Rejects the new Education Cost Sharing formula that fairly distributed funding for the first time in decades to schools based on need, population, poverty and other factors
• Penalizes job creators with tax increases, at the same time the national effort is focused on reducing burdens on job creators in other parts of the country
• Puts a new tax on nonprescription drugs
• Puts a new tax on low income working families and elderly individuals by eliminating the $200 property tax credit
• Increases taxes on retirees by eliminating newly passed tax breaks on social security and pension income
• Hurts the housing market by increasing real estate conveyance tax
• Puts a new tax on tires
• An increase to one of the highest gas taxes in the country
• Tolls with no understanding or details of locations or their cost to Connecticut residents
• Increases the hotel tax
*Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport .
On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com. He can be reached at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov and at 800-842-1421.
Newtown Delegation Hosts Town Hall Meeting
NEWTOWN – State Representatives Mitch Bolinsky (R-106), J.P. Sredzinski (R-112), and Will Duff (R-2), along with State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28), hosted a Town Hall meeting on Monday, January 29th at the C.H. Booth Library. The event was free, open to the public and attracted a full-room of engaged, passionate residents.
Each legislator began with a brief introduction, presented a summary issues of importance to their district and our opportunities for improvement at the state level. But the primary purpose of the Town Hall was to give residents the chance to speak directly with, ask questions to and discuss topics of importance with their representatives in Hartford. Subjects ranged from job creation and state’s economy, to transportation and infrastructure needs, to concerns about high taxes, our state’s real estate stagnation and the need to reverse the disturbing outward migration that’s both a reaction-to and cause-of many of Connecticut’s fiscal challenges.
“It is important that we as legislators meet with our friends and neighbors in-district before the legislative session begins,” explained Rep. Bolinsky. “The questions and opinions we receive, whether at meetings like this, around town, at a store, a movie, an email or phone call help us understand what people are truly concerned about. This guides my legislative efforts and influences my votes on committee or other legislator’s proposals. Whether working in an Appropriations subcommittee on the state budget, or in committee on a deficit mitigation plan, I represent Newtown’s needs and values. Right now, the 800-pound gorilla in the room is bringing Connecticut’s budget to a point of financial sustainability and predictability. I also represent Newtown on the Education Committee. For our community, compromising our excellent schools is not an option. Yet, we battle every session to maintain our state Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) grants, our Special Education Cost Sharing grants and to repel the imposition of costly ‘one-size fits-all’ state mandates. On the Aging Committee, in the I/DD Caucus, with AARP and ARC, I’m a watchdog for many of our most vulnerable friends and neighbors. To do this job right, you have to passionate about a lot of things, listen, learn and take action. I have the passion.”
“Unfortunately, this is a deeply uncertain time for Connecticut, especially when the legislature really doesn’t know whether the state will have sufficient revenue to fund its current spending levels,” said Rep. Sredzinski. “The fiscal crisis leaves us with so few options, but we still have to work to trim the size of government while also growing our tax base. Connecticut’s current situation and method of doing business is so perplexing to people, so I am glad we had such a good turnout at the Town Hall on Monday. I hope my constituents will use my office as a resource to help them answer further questions that they have about state government.”
“We had a great conversation about the direction of our state. The state employee union deal, I opposed in July, is now wreaking havoc with our current state budget which remains in perpetual deficit. The union deal ties the hands of state legislators who want real structural reform and instead puts Newtown and other communities in jeopardy of losing their state aid,” Rep. Will Duff said. “We, as the Newtown Delegation, stand united against any cuts to our education or municipal state aid.”
“We urge residents to be vigilant and stay actively engaged,” Sen. Hwang said. “Tell me what is important to you by signing up on www.SenatorHwang.com for our CT Capitol updates. Follow each of us on social media. Share your thoughts and ideas on how to improve our quality of life in Newtown and throughout Connecticut. We all love this state, we are listening, and we need you to raise your voice. We represent you in Hartford, and we appreciate the honor of serving your best interests.”
The 2018 Legislative Session convenes next Wednesday, February 7th and will adjourn on Wednesday, May 9th.
Watch and share this News 8 story about Gov. Malloy’s attempt to “Quadruple Dip” into your wallets.
Tell me why you oppose it at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov (include your name and town) and I’ll forward it to Gov. Malloy.
Join me in saying “no” to Malloy’s “Quadruple Dip”!
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Sen. Hwang Hosts Job Skills Forum in Newtown
Sen. Tony Hwang (at podium) hosted a Job Skills Forum on Jan. 25 at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown.
The free forum brought together job skills and career services experts who offered advice to area residents on how to find success in their job search and career planning efforts.
Sen. Hwang said, “This event is about helping people. People who are out of work. People who want to pursue new careers. People who are simply looking for advice, support and assistance as to what resources are available to them. The devastating emotional impact of unemployment and job loss should not be overlooked. We want people to know that others within our community care and want to help.”
The forum featured presentations by four panelists.
Those who could not attend can contact Sen. Hwang at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov and at 800-842-1421.
*Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport . On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com
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