Home Stretch - Help Us Achieve Passage on Important Bills Before Session Ends 5/6/08
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LWVCT Master Action Alert – May 6, 2008
Given the projected revenue shortfall, this list solely reflects a limited number of bills that LWVCT has been working on that seem to still be “in play.” Bills are listed by public policy area. With your active support, we have a chance for passage.
House Democrats: 800-842-8267 or 860-240-8500 House Republicans: 800-842-8270 or 860-240-8700 Senate Democrats: 800-842-1420 or 860-240-8600 Senate Republicans: 800-842-1421 or 860-240-8800
OpposeGovernment Policy AreaPhoto ID Amendments placed on numerous bills. Key feature: would fundamentally alter the right to vote by requiring any person who appears to vote in person to produce photo identification. The Supreme Court’s decision turned on the fact that government issued photo identification cards can be obtained in Indiana for free. Just because a law may be constitutional does not mean that it is good policy. Proponents of the amendments will claim that a photo ID is necessary to prevent voter fraud – don’t believe them. A recent investigation shows that during the past 15 years the State Elections Enforcement Commission received 39 complaints of voter fraud on Election Day. The SEEC dismissed 29 of those complaints and took action on the remaining 10 (less than 1 per year). Of those 10, few, if any, would have been prevented by requiring a photo ID. Status: Calls needed to your entire delegation.
Natural Resources Policy AreaAmendment LCO 4870 on HB 5730 that might permit intensive use and activities on Class I&II water company lands. Key feature: amendment will allow control of land as specified in regulations, however, regulations do not impose the same restrictions on the sale or use of Class I and II land as that imposed by the governing state statute, CGS S. 25-32. We do not want to create an option for water companies to skirt strong state statutes that restrict the lease or sale of class I and II land, by creating an inadvertent “exemption” by only requiring the application of weaker regulations. Status: Call Senator Handley’s (D) office urging her to amend the bill to include requirement to follow all applicable statutes and regulations. Alert your legislators to oppose the amendment as written AND request to amend the amendment to include requirement to follow all applicable statutes and regulations.
HB5641 AAC Conservation ZonesKey Feature: essentially sets state standards for conservation development subdivisions that may very likely “tie the hands” of municipalities to set their own standards, particularly for conservation developments. Status: Calls needed to your entire delegation and to Environment Co-Chair Roy (D).
SupportGovernment Policy AreaSB 333 An Act Concerning Comprehensive Ethics ReformsKey Features: mandatory training on code of ethics for state officials, refinement of code of ethics (eg, gift policy), permits courts to consider reducing or revoking pensions of public officials and employees convicted of a crime, makes illegal certain campaign finance practices, increases public agency “transparency”, eg, online posting of meeting dates and meeting minutes. Status: The Senate passed the bill on 5/5/08 without the House amendment that would have exempted corrupt state employees from the pension reduction/revocation provision. Contact your delegation and GAE co-chair Christopher Caruso (D) urging that Senate and House resolve differences and find a way to pass a much-needed Ethics Reform bill. This long-overdue bill has many good elements and should be passed this year.
SB 444 AAC An Act Concerning Certain Revisions And Technical Changes To The Election Laws.Key Features: within budgetary resources expand training, increased voter privacy via privacy sleeves and screening around booth, addition to Voters’ Bill of Rights. Status: Calls needed to Representatives and GAE co-chair Rep. Christopher Caruso (D); passed Senate.
SB 446 An Act Concerning Voters Who Change Party Affiliation Key Feature: Shortens the waiting period from 3 months to 1 month for a voter who changes party affiliation for his or her enrollment privileges to take effect in the new party. Status: Calls needed to your entire delegation to urge getting SB 446 on the floor for a vote.
Natural Resources Policy AreaHB 5716, LCO Amendment #5642, formerly known as HB 5603 An Act Concerning Enhancements To The Inland Wetlands And Watercourses Act. Key Feature: Aids our local volunteer boards by clarifying that protecting wetlands is the primary purpose of the Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Act. It would allow our towns to rely on comments provided by the state Department of Health, expert environmental review team reports, local water companies and the Department of Environmental Protection in reaching decisions about wetlands. Status: Calls needed to your Representatives, House Speaker Jim Amann (D) and House Majority Leader Chris Donovan (D) to urge getting 5642 on the floor for a vote.
HB 5734, AAC New and Expanded Bus Transportation Service Throughout Connecticut Key Feature: reallocates $5 million in last year's bonding bill to be used to purchase vehicles and equipment needed to improve bus transit in the state. Status: Calls needed to Senators, particularly Sens. Williams (D), Looney (D), McKinney (R) and DeFronzo (D) to urge their support; passed House on 5/5/08.
HB 5787 AAC A Study of CT's Economic, Energy and Climate Security. Key Feature: A $120,000 study due on 1/1/09, funded from the renewable energy investment fund, to analyze the impact that the creation of a clean energy department would have on energy shortages, price increases, opportunities for clean energy industries, reducing carbon emissions, increasing renewable energy, energy conservation, and energy independence. Status: Calls needed to your Representatives to urge getting 5787 on the floor for a vote. |
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