The General Assembly convened to make court-mandated fixes to the state’s campaign election laws. Under current law, candidates are eligible for public funds to finance their campaigns via the Citizens Election Program (CEP). Part of the current law allows qualifying candidates without an opponent to receive grants for their campaigns.

Rep. Chapin’s amendment would have resulted in unopposed candidates in a given election cycle being unable to receive public funding. The non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis projected that the state could save $300,000 or more if the amendment was adopted by the General Assembly. Unfortunately, the amendment was defeated in the House, largely along party lines.

“I’m disappointed that a majority of my colleagues believe they can justify giving grants to candidates who don’t even have an opponent,” said Rep. Chapin. “The fiscal outlook in the upcoming years is dire. I believe we need to save anywhere we can, in an effort to close the budget deficit. It’s certainly a better option than raising taxes or borrowing more.” 
The Legislature did pass a fix to the campaign finance bill which included increasing grants for gubernatorial candidates.

Rep. Chapin opposed the measure saying that he believed that $3 million should be more than enough for a gubernatorial candidate to run a successful campaign.  The bill since has been vetoed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell. It is anticipated that the General Assembly will convene in the near future to take another crack at fixing the campaign finance system.

“These four laws passed by the legislature are important efforts aimed at curbing and deterring domestic violence cases in Connecticut,” said Rep. Chapin. “I was honored to be appointed by the Speaker to the Domestic Violence Task Force, and I look forward to continuing work on this issue in future legislative sessions.”

Public Act 10-91 requires local and regional school boards, as part of the in-service training they must offer to certified employees, to include information on preventing teen dating violence and domestic violence as part of the health and mental health risk reduction education information they must provide. The law also requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to help and encourage the boards to include domestic violence and teen dating violence as a separate topic in their in-service training programs for certified professional employees. The act also allows boards to permit paraprofessionals and other noncertified employees to participate voluntarily in the in-service training programs for certified personnel.

Public Act 10-137, in part, requires a schedule for the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) to make payments from the marriage license surcharge fund to organizations providing shelter services for domestic violence and rape victims.

A third law, Public Act 10-161, allows for domestic abuse victims or someone who reasonably believes it is necessary to vacate a dwelling due to a fear for the tenant’s or the tenant’s child’s personal safety, to terminate a lease or rental agreement without penalty, after giving 30 days notice to their landlord.

Public Act 10-144 allows the Judicial Branch to establish a pilot program for electronic monitoring of family violence offenders. The chief court administrator is required to apply for federal grants to fund the program. The law also enhances existing, and creates additional, employment protections for family violence victims, including allowing the use of leave time to deal with family violence issues.

The electronic monitoring provision was effective immediately, while the enhanced employment protections are effective on October 1, 2010.

In many ways, this legislative session will be similar. As Connecticut residents continue to struggle with job losses, smaller household budgets, and increasing costs on just about everything, the legislature will again be looking for solutions to the state’s financial difficulties.

The days of budget surpluses seem so distant, yet deficit mitigation plans are becoming old hat as we look under the same rocks over and over again.

And once again this year, the General Assembly will convene in the face of a large budget deficit, already projected to be around $500 million for the current fiscal year. If the recent past is any indicator of future behavior of the Majority, the Legislature will end up paying lip service and apply only what amounts to a Band-Aid to the state’s fiscal woes.

This is a pattern that needs to stop.

Years of steady employment and rising state revenues have led to increased spending and the creation of new programs as well as the expansion of existing ones. It is clear now, at least to some of us, that state government needs to be streamlined in order to ensure its viability moving forward.

So, how do we get there? One of the first things we can do to get state government in-line with where it needs to be is to inject some common sense into the process.

As an example, state government should not spend more than it can realistically take in. That’s a concept familiar to many families in New Milford and the Greater Danbury area, but it’s a far too infrequent thought on the minds of many in Hartford.

We should also enact a bonding cap to help contain the number of non-essential projects, otherwise known as pork, which receive state funding.

In essence, state government needs to live by the axiom that most state residents live by: Borrow only what you can afford to pay back.

Have you ever stood in line at a store when someone’s credit card is rejected? Maybe that’s what we need, someone to play the role of a surly cashier — telling us that we’ll have to put the non-essential item back and go without, as disappointing as it may be for some of us.

The General Assembly needs to focus on funding core government functions, and help the non-profit and private sectors fill in the holes.

We need to recognize that the more government tries to do, the less it does well. This economy has forced most non-profits and small companies to learn how to become ultra-efficient. Government could learn a thing or two if we would only take a time-out from our excessive spending habits.

Lastly, we should have all the government we need, but only the government we need, and eliminate duplication and waste wherever possible.

These are all fairly simple ideas, and the current economic climate is proof that it is time for the return of common sense in Hartford.

While the primary focus of the upcoming session will be on the bloated state budget, non-budget issues may come as a welcome relief.

Important issues such as domestic violence and Candlewood Lake safety concerns should not fall victim to the legislature’s incessant debate on fiscal matters.

But at the end of the day, the 2010 legislative session at the Capitol will be defined by whether or not we find the collective courage to make substantive changes to the way state government funds itself and operates, or whether the status quo prevails.

It is my hope we can come together and do the right thing for the people of the state of Connecticut.

Representative Chapin has reached the 100 percent rating during eight of his nine years in the Connecticut General Assembly, according to reports compiled by the House Clerk’s office. 

Rep. Chapin said, “One of the most important obligations of a state legislator is to speak and vote on legislation that comes to the floor and is about to become state law. I also believe it is important to make every effort to vote on each piece of legislation in order to best serve the residents of New Milford who have placed their trust in me to represent their interests in Hartford.”

According to published reports, five women were killed in Connecticut, another woman was kidnapped in downtown Hartford and held hostage for hours before escaping, and an eight-month-old girl was choked and stabbed, though she survived. All seven crimes have been connected to boyfriends, husbands and, in the last case, a father. All have been classified as domestic violence.

“Domestic violence should not happen to anyone,” said Rep. Carson. “Regrettably, it occurs far too often, and it is detrimental not only to battered spouses but also to children in the household. It can lead to a cycle of violence among the next generation.”

Rep. Carson added, “We need to review the programs that are currently available, from telephone hotlines to local family shelters, to be sure they are adequately addressing this problem.”

Rep. Carson, who already serves on the legislature’s Public Health, Program Review and Finance committees, said she was pleased to join the new task force, to help prevent this problem from occurring and assisting the victims.

Rep. Chapin said, “Unfortunately, domestic violence knows no boundaries and continues to be a serious problem in all communities. I look forward to working with a bipartisan group of legislators from across the state to examine what more can be done to reduce this problem and assist those involved.”

“The prevalence of domestic violence in Connecticut is a deeply disturbing reality,” said Sen. Roraback. “But it is a reality that I believe can change. It is my hope that this task force can immediately begin to examine ways to put an end to the cycle of violence. At the same time, we must also pay close attention to meeting the needs of the victims, many of whom are young children. I am eager to take on these challenges and I am proud to serve on this task force.”  

The task force will review domestic violence prevention programs and identify trends. The group will also advise the legislature on how to make it easier for victims to obtain and enforce restraining orders against their abusers.

State Rep. Clark Chapin has been honored with the 2009 Meritorious Service to 4-H Award.

University of Connecticut Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Greg Weidemann presented the award to Rep. Chapin. 

Dean Weidemann said, “Role models like Representative Chapin, who come through our 4-H program and go on to serve in the General Assembly exemplify why the focus of 4-H is helping young people develop leadership, citizenship and public speaking skills.  We seek to have youth become active participants in their communities.  We provide the opportunities and tools to learn important life skills and Clark is proof of that.”

“Many of the things learned in 4-H now help me serve the people of the state in the legislature,” said Rep. Chapin. “Not only leadership skills, but also a concern for the land and the environment are traits young people still learn today in 4-H.” 

In presenting the award, the 4-H noted that Clark Chapin is an alumnus of the New Milford 4-H Dairy Club. He has been a strong supporter of 4-H in the Connecticut general assembly and supports 4-H events held at the Capitol. 

He is a regular feature at the 4-H Fair, judging herdsmanship which grades how clean and neat 4-H exhibits are as well as participating in celebrity events. 

Bonnie E. Burr,  in charge of volunteer management and development, at the Cooperative Extension System, University of Connecticut said, “Clark always makes time to come out of committee meetings to talk with our young people when they come to the Capitol.  He constantly encourages 4-Hers to engage in our citizenship programs and to become more involved in their communities.  His support of the Litchfield County 4-H Fair has strong ties to when he was a 4-Her and showing his dairy heifers at the fair. We can always count on Clark to bring encouragement and insight to any 4-H event he attends.” 

Rep. Chapin has been a state representative for the past nine years, and he is ranking member on the legislature’s Environment Committee.

“I’d like to thank the alliance for this humbling honor,” said Rep. Chapin. “As legislators, we are often on the front lines of issues that impact early childhood education. It is paramount that we support as many initiatives as we can to help the cause.”

Rep. Chapin was nominated for the award by Children’s Center of New Milford Director Mary Burnham, who praised him for, among other things, his responsiveness to the needs of facilities like the one she operates in New Milford.

“Clark has always been supportive of our needs,” said Burnham. “For instance, whenever I have had questions about bills that might have an impact on our program, he has been responsive.” 

The alliance recognized Chapin and some of his colleagues for “their commitment to improving the educational, health and emotional well-being of young children in the state of Connecticut.”

Support Services
Substance Abuse Services
Connecticut Dept. Mental Health & Addiction Services 800-662-4357
Focus on Recovery Helpline 800-374-2800

Homelessness
National Coalition for Homelessness 800-838-4357

Financial Difficulty
Debt Adjustors, Money Management Inc. 888-845-5669
CHFA Veteran Mortgage Refinance Program 860- 721-9501
US Small Business Admin/Patriot Express 860-240-4894
CT Dept. of Insurance/Consumer Affairs 860-297-3900
CT Dept of Social Services/Veterans Programs 860-424-5024

Emergency Assistance Grants
CT Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Marines’ Fund 800-491-4941
Counseling Needs
CT Military Support Program 866-251-2913
National Crisis Hotline 800-784-2433
National Suicide Support 888-784-2433
Brain Injury Association of Connecticut 860-721-8111
Employment Assistance
CT Dept. of Labor – Veterans Programs 860-263-6514
US Dept. of Labor – Veterans Programs/CT 860-263-6490

Other:
CT Trial Lawyers/VA Appeal Specialists 860-522-4345
Call 211-INFOLINE ANYTIME
Connecticut Department of

Veterans’ Affairs – 2009 Reference Guide for Connecticut Veterans, Active Duty, National Guard and Reserves
Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs Benefits Experts Toll Free 1-866-928-8387 or on the web at www.ct.gov/ctva

VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER ROCKY HILL…………860-721-5893
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER NEWINGTON……….860-594-6604
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER NORWICH……………860-887-9162
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER WEST HAVEN…….…203-931-0460
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER BRIDGEPORT…….…203-336-2570
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER WATERBURY………..203-805-6340
RESIDENTIAL FACILITY, VETERANS HOME…….…..860-721-5833
SUBSTANCE ABUSE SUPPORT, VETERANS HOME….860-721-5817

United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Information Toll Free 1-800-827-1000 or www.va.gov
VA HEALTHCARE – WEST HAVEN 203-932-5711
VA HEALTHCARE—NEWINGTON 860-666-6951
HEALTHCARE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS 203-479-8043
VA CT WOMEN’S HEALTHCARE 203-932-5711
VA HOMELESS PROGRAM 203-931-4036
ERRERA COMMUNITY CENTER WEST HAVEN 203-479-8000
HOMES FOR THE BRAVE BRIDGEPORT 203-338-0669
FEDERAL VETERAN READJUSTMENT CENTERS
HARTFORD VET CENTER 860-563-8800
WEST HAVEN VET CENTER 203-932-9899
NORWICH VET CENTER 860-887-1755

Active Duty, National Guard and Reserves
TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE ADVISOR 860-524-4908
CT NATIONAL GUARD JUDGE ADVOCATE 860-548-3203
CT FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER 800-858-2677
CT NATIONAL GUARD FOUNDATION 860-241-1550
CT MILITARY FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 860-524-4960
EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF GUARD & RESERVE 860-721-5901
NAVY MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY 860-694-3285
TRICARE – HEALTHNET FEDERAL SERVICES 860-326-2073
US NAVY CASUALTY ASSISTANCE (all branches) 800-856-7091

Connecticut’s Military Support Program
FREE & CONFIDENTIAL
COUNSELING 24/7
For Military & Their Families
Group & Individual Sessions
Marriage/Family/Stress/Anxiety Due to Deployment,
Combat & Homecoming
Toll Free 24 hours – 7 Days a Week
1-866-251-2913

“With the increase in the number of charitable donation bins around town, it became clear that legislation was necessary to help in preventing possible fraud related to these collection bins,” said Rep. Chapin. “The new law requires basic safeguards to protect against fraud, including naming the organization that will benefit from the donation, and a requirement that the bins state that the donations will be used for a charitable purpose.”

Rep. Chapin added, “I’m grateful to my colleagues in the legislature for their unanimous support, as well as the Governor for signing the bill.”

The new law will become effective Oct. 1 of this year.