Sen. Tony Hwang has been recognized as the 2016 Co-Legislator of the Year by the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut.

The award recognizes Sen. Hwang’s efforts in helping craft legislation which provides wage replacement benefits to all of Connecticut’s firefighters diagnosed with cancer.

The award will be presented on Sept. 6 during a ceremony in New Britain.

“I’m honored to receive this recognition of our bipartisan legislative efforts within the General Assembly,” Sen. Hwang said. “This is a groundbreaking proposal which protects the men and women who protect us. We are helping all Connecticut firefighters who are diagnosed with job-related cancers, and in collaboration with municipal leaders we are doing so without adding new financial burdens on cities, towns, and local property taxpayers.”

Sen. Hwang, the ranking Republican senator on the Labor and Public Employees Committee, was part of a firefighter working group which consisted of Republican and Democrat legislators, the Connecticut Council of Municipalities, the Council of Small Towns, municipal leaders and the firefighters union.

Throughout the legislative session, Sen. Hwang co-sponsored “An Act Establishing A Firefighters Cancer Relief Program” Public Act 16-10, which establishes a relief fund used for wage replacement of those who are diagnosed with certain conditions of cancer as a result of their service as paid municipal or volunteer firefighters.

In addition to providing wage benefits, this bill also requires firefighters to take preventative measures to avoid contracting cancer. Eligibility for the relief fund requires firefighters to maintain a healthy lifestyle and undergo regular pre-screening for cancer.

“This legislation is the product of many hours of productive discussions on how to tackle a public policy problem,” Sen. Hwang said. “Our talks brought together different viewpoints from major stakeholders in order to bring about common sense solutions. With this new law, we have accomplished that goal. For everyone working on this important legislation, one mutual goal existed: we were working together to fight cancer and support our firefighters and their families.”

Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport. He can be reached at 800 842-1421 and at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov .

On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com.

https://audioboom.com/boos/4922046-sen-hwang-rails-about-train-and-bus-fare-hikes-by-conndot

There’s still time to speak out on potentially outrageous double-digit health insurance rate hikes. Sen. Hwang updates the Talk of Connecticut’s Brad Davis.

Sen. Tony Hwang and stage 4 metastatic breast cancer survivor Champagne Joy are raising awareness about the need for metastatic breast cancer research.

Hwang and Joy have recorded a public service announcement to spread the word about metastatic breast cancer.

“One third of all women diagnosed with breast cancer will go on to develop metastatic breast cancer,” Joy said. “That means the disease is now further into the body beyond the breast. There is no cure. That’s why we need metastatic breast cancer research now. Visit www.Metavivor.org . Every penny donated goes to metastatic breast cancer research. We’re looking for a cure. We’re looking to save lives.”

*Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport

By Sen. Tony Hwang

I drove up to Hartford twice this week in search of state government and health insurance transparency.

I failed on both attempts.

My travels to Hartford, the Insurance Capital, were for the purpose of voicing my opposition to proposed double-digit health insurance rate increases. The Affordable Care Act has proven to be anything but affordable.

I arrived at the Department of Insurance hearing with a tote back filled with emails I have received from people like you who oppose the rate hikes but were unable to make the trip.

You see, state insurance officials chose to hold these hearings at 9:00 a.m. in the summer when people who are working and trying to make a living could not attend and have their voices be heard.

So, I submitted your comments. I then addressed state insurance regulators and insurance company executives face to face.

I noted that unpredictable health insurance rate hikes year after year are hurting middle class families and small businesses in Connecticut. I told them that proposed rate increases are outrageous and that the system is broken.

My words were blunt and to the point. They had to be in order to convey what so many of you have told me on the phone, at public events, and via email at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov. You are frustrated and angry. You think the deck is stacked against consumers. And you are absolutely right.

The fact is that we, the consumers, have been on a wild and unsettling roller coaster ride of rate increases without any sense of predictability. These huge rate increases are unsustainable, the reasons given for the increases are weak, and even garnering basic information about the public hearing required dedication, persistence and time.

Here’s the kicker: a day before the public hearing on its requested rate increase, ConnectiCare nearly doubled its original request for a rate hike from 24.3 percent to 42.7 percent. A day before!

Surprise, surprise.

I hope the state insurance regulators were able to hear my frustration and determination to oppose the rate increase. I was speaking for you, and I will continue to do so until we are heard.

Don’t like the sound of 42.7 percent rate hikes? Me either.

Want the transparent state government you deserve? Me too.

But please continue speaking out. You can still submit your comments on these unaffordable rate hikes until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10.

Submit testimony at http://www.ct.gov/cid/cwp/view.asp?a=4059&Q=581302 or access the link via www.SenatorHwang.com . Your submissions can be as brief as you like.

Remember: these rate hikes are tax hikes on you, your business, and your families. We have got to fight this, and I thank the community for joining me in this very worthy fight.

*Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport

I attended Tuesday’s health insurance rate hike hearing and submitted dozens of your emails opposing these outrageous proposed hikes.

The hearings continue today, and you can still submit your comments on these unaffordable rate hikes until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10.

Submit testimony at http://www.ct.gov/cid/cwp/view.asp?a=4059&Q=581302 .

Attached is my interview today with Vinnie Penn of AM 960 and stories about the hearings.

http://wtnh.com/2016/08/04/second-round-of-insurance-rate-hike-hearings-thursday/

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/public_opposes_double-digit_anthem_rate_increase/
http://wnpr.org/post/health-insurer-anthem-proposes-double-digit-rate-increase

Don’t want 30 % health insurance rate hikes?

Please join me tonight at 7 p.m. at Sacred Heart University’s Schine Auditorium to discuss these outrageous proposed rate hikes.

Learn how to speak out and be heard!

Can’t make it?

Email me your opinions at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov today.

I will hand deliver your comments to state insurance officials.

You can also send rate hike comments directly to state insurance officials via www.SenatorHwang.com .

Listen to my interview with WICC AM 600’s Mike Bellamy about the upcoming hearings on these double-digit rate hikes.

Please share this information, and I hope to see you tonight!