Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Money
  • Election 2020
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Money
    Election 2020
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

House Dems name new chairs for key budget committees

  • by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas
  • December 29, 2010
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

As Connecticut heads into the worst budget session in history, House Democrats announced Wednesday new leadership for their two top budget-writing committees.

“We have the basis for a terrific team,” said House Majority Leader J. Brendan Sharkey of Hamden.

The House chairmanships of the Appropriations and the Finance, Revenue and Bonding committees became vacant following Rep. Cameron C. Staples‘ decision not to run for reelection and Rep. John C. Geragosian‘s being named a state auditor for public accounts Tuesday.

“The good news is they are being replaced by wonderful new leaders,” said House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan of Meriden.

One of those new leaders is Rep. Toni Walker of New Haven, who will head the Appropriations Committee. That committee will be responsible for divvying up what is expected to be a smaller pot of money as the state makes cuts to erase a$3.67 billion deficit.

Harp

From left, Rep. Toni Walker, Majority Leader J. Brendan Sharkey and Speaker Chris Donovan

Donovan said this “money committee” is going to face a lot of pressure in the coming months and he chose Walker because “her help during the budget fight was very valuable” last year.

Walker said she is ready for the task and joked she is already practicing saying “no” to programs she would like to be able to afford to fund.

As co-chairwoman of the Human Services Committee for the last two years and member of the Appropriations Committee for the last five, Walker said this is a job she is all too familiar with.

“We’ve been going through this cleansing process… for the last couple of years because of budget issues,” she said during a press conference Wednesday. “So, right now I think the most important thing is to make sure…the funding that we do have leads to jobs.”

All legislative committees have both a House and Senate chair. Walker’s co-chair will be Sen. Toni Harp. They are both from New Haven. Sharkey said it is not uncommon for both leaders of powerful committees to be from the same part of the state.

“It’s pretty well understood that any efforts to steer more money toward one community would be quickly identified,” he said.

Another “money committee” that will be responsible for generating new revenue– the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee– will be co-chaired by Rep. Patricia M. Widlitz of Guilford.

“People respect her. She is very thorough, serious and really concerned about the state. When we look at finances we need someone that people can work with, respect and will put in the hard work. So that’s why we picked Pat.” Donovan said on why he chose Widlitz to lead the tax-writing committee.

Widlitz,  has been a member of that committee for almost a decade and was previously the co-chair of the Environment Committee. Sen. Eileen Daily of Westbrook will remain the co-chair of that committee.

This is the first time in recent memory four women will lead the state’s top budget-writing committees. The finance and appropriations committees will be responsible for setting the stage for solutions to close the state’s massive budget deficit.

Donovan said the leaders for these committees are studying up now “so they can hit the ground running.”

Also selected for another key committee chairmanship was Rep. Gerald M. Fox, a Democrat from Stamford, to co-chair the Judiciary Committee with Sen. Eric Coleman of Bloomfield. Fox and Coleman both favor repealing the death penalty and Coleman has already said he expects the committee to introduce a bill. Senate President Don Williams, Gov.-elect Dan Malloy and Donovan have also said they support repeal of the death penalty.

The House leadership announcements come one day after Senate Democrats announced their committee assignments. Democrats have the majority in both the House and Senate and will enjoy having a Democratic governor for the first time in 20 years.

Other committee leadership appointments include:

  • Appropriations: Co-chairs, Rep. Toni Walker and Sen. Toni Harp, both from New Haven. Ranking Republicans, Rep. Craig Miner of Litchfield and Sen. Robert J. Kane of Watertown
  • Finance Revenue and Bonding: Co-chairs, Rep. Patricia Widlitz of Guilford and Sen. Eileen Daily of Westbrook. Ranking Republicans, Rep. Sean J. Williams of Watertown and Sen. Andrew W. Roraback of Goshen
  • Judiciary: Co-chairs, Rep. Gerald M. Fox of Stamford and Sen. Eric D. Coleman of Bloomfield. Ranking Republicans, Rep. John W. Hetherington of New Canaan and Sen. John A. Kissel of Enfield
  • Education: Co-chairs, Rep. Andrew Fleischmann of West Hartford and Sen. Thomas P. Gaffey of Meriden. Ranking Republicans, Rep. Marilyn Giuliano of Old Saybrook and Sen. Toni Boucher of Wilton
  • Environment: Co-chairs, Rep. Richard Roy of Milford and Sen. Edward Meyer of Guilford. Ranking Republicans: Rep. Clark J. Chapin of New Milford and Sen. Sen. Andrew W. Roraback of Goshen
  • Government Administration and Elections: Co-chairs, Rep. Russell Morin of Wethersfield and Sen. Gayle Slossberg of Milford. Ranking Republicans, Rep. Tony Hwang of Fairfield and Sen. Michael McLachlan
  • Transportation: Co-chairs, Rep. Tony Guerrera of Rocky Hill and Sen. Andrea Stillman of Waterford. Ranking Republicans, Rep. David Scribner of Brookfield and Sen. Toni Boucher of Wilton
  • Planning and Development: Rep. Linda Gentile of Ansonia and Sen. Steve Cassano. Ranking Republicans, Bill Aman of South Windsor and Sen. Len Fasano of North Haven
  • Banks: Co-chairs, Rep. William Tong of Stamford and Sen. Bob Duff of Norwalk. Ranking Republicans, Rep. Mike Alberts of Woodstock and Sen. Scott Frantz of Riverside
  • Energy and Technology: Co-chairs, Rep. Vicki Nardello of Prospect and Sen. John Fonfara of Hartford. Ranking Republicans, Rep. Laura Hoydick and Sen. Kevin Witkos of Canton
  • Insurance: Co-chairs, Rep. Robert Megna of New Haven and Sen. Joseph Crisco of Woodbridge. Ranking Republicans, Rep. Chris Coutu of Norwich and Sen. Kelly
  • Labor and Public Employees: Co-chairs, Rep. Zeke Zalaski of Plantsville and Sen. Edith Prague of Columbia. Ranking Republicans, Rep. John Rigby of Winsted and Sen. Anthony Guglielmo of Stafford.
  • Human Services, Co-chairs, Rep. Peter Tercyak of New Britain and Sen. Anthony Musto of Trumbull. Ranking Republicans, Rep. Lile Gibbons of Old Greenwich and Sen. Joe Markley

 

 

 

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Miguel Cardona’s ideas about education were forged in Meriden, CT. Now he will bring them to Washington, D.C.
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas and Adria Watson

Miguel Cardona's experiences in Meriden will likely be front-of-mind as he coordinates policy as U.S. Secretary of Education.

State Rep. Scanlon launches tax fairness debate with proposed $450M break for poor, middle class families
by Keith M. Phaneuf

A new proposal Tuesday would give middle class families with children their largest state income tax break in a decade.

Treason is in the air
by David Holahan

Abraham Lincoln had been elected but had yet to assume the presidency when southern states started seceding from the Union in the months before his March 4, 1961 inauguration. Four others would follow that spring. American soldiers —like Robert E. Lee, who had taken an oath of loyalty to the nation that he had served since 1825— defected to the Confederacy. By joining the rebellion Lee and fellow travellers became, in effect, traitors.

The change in leadership must not lead to complacency
by Jenna Van Donselaar

We are beginning 2021, and most people are far done with election talk. Sure, the polls are closed, and the results are in, and it is time to move on. I am weary from the hours I spent texting voters this fall, and I’d like to think all my efforts were worth it. But the work is far from done.

Trump’s reaction to defeat further confirms urgency for school focus on social emotional skills 
by Sandra M. Chafouleas 

Imagine what would happen if a preschooler didn’t “use their words” when they got upset about sharing, instead stomping around yelling while adults simply observed in silence. Think about what the school climate would feel like if a student punched another during recess while others watched without seeking help.  Now consider the actions – and inactions – by Trump Jan. 6 as the electoral vote counts occurred at the U.S. Capitol.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion The change in leadership must not lead to complacency
by Jenna Van Donselaar

We are beginning 2021, and most people are far done with election talk. Sure, the polls are closed, and the results are in, and it is time to move on. I am weary from the hours I spent texting voters this fall, and I’d like to think all my efforts were worth it. But the work is far from done.

Opinion Treason is in the air
by David Holahan

Abraham Lincoln had been elected but had yet to assume the presidency when southern states started seceding from the Union in the months before his March 4, 1961 inauguration. Four others would follow that spring. American soldiers —like Robert E. Lee, who had taken an oath of loyalty to the nation that he had served since 1825— defected to the Confederacy. By joining the rebellion Lee and fellow travellers became, in effect, traitors.

Opinion Trump’s reaction to defeat further confirms urgency for school focus on social emotional skills 
by Sandra M. Chafouleas 

Imagine what would happen if a preschooler didn’t “use their words” when they got upset about sharing, instead stomping around yelling while adults simply observed in silence. Think about what the school climate would feel like if a student punched another during recess while others watched without seeking help.  Now consider the actions – and inactions – by Trump Jan. 6 as the electoral vote counts occurred at the U.S. Capitol.

Opinion Is Trump leading a cult?
by Elena Sada

My experience as a former cult member and researcher in the field of Social Sciences earned me the ability to identify narcissism and cultish tendencies. Furthermore, as a former  New York City resident who kept abreast of interviews with the city’s apparent “movers and shakers,” I often questioned Trump’s qualifications as a leader, let alone as national presidential leader.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO