Issues

Growing Connecticut’s Economy
Connecticut ranks dead last in job growth with no net business growth since 1990. Meanwhile, our state economic development policy is in shambles, our roads are increasingly congested and there’s little mass transit. Not exactly a welcome mat for new jobs.

There is much we can do! As a member of the majority, Tom has been working to correct these problems, endorsing a comprehensive jobs bill that provides support for small businesses, funding and tax breaks for entrepreneurs, and training for a 21st century workforce.

I look forward to working with Dan Malloy on building CT’s economy and creating jobs. He has issued a comprehensive plan on Jobs and Economic Security <read>.  I also support efforts creating jobs, such as this plan for A Bioscience Connecticut <read>.

Improving Education and Working for Property Tax Relief
Improving education and fixing its funding problems is a major struggle that Connecticut families are facing. One of the impediments to improving public education in Connecticut is the over-reliance on the property tax. About 70 percent of Glastonbury’s budget goes toward the funding of its schools, and the percentage is climbing each year. For towns without Glastonbury’s commercial tax base, the problem is even worse. The unintended consequence of the pressure to expand local grand lists is the development of precious open space—thus destroying the character of our towns. There must be a bigger commitment from the state to finance public education.

Tom created opportunities for municipalities to save money on employee health care and town services and provided state mandate relief – to offset property taxes. He fought for a $2,800,000 increase in state funding to Glastonbury which can be used to directly lower property taxes.

Protecting Our Environment and Preserving Open Space
Preservation of Connecticut’s open space and farmland is an important priority. Connecticut is one of the most densely populated states in the nation. We are losing farmland and open space to development more rapidly than almost every other state in the nation. Tom is a  lifelong conservationist. As former President and Director of the Glastonbury Land Heritage Coalition, he fought to preserve hundreds of acres of land here in Glastonbury. Tom has been continuing that effort statewide. He is a strong advocate for “smart growth” in our state to combat the sprawl and grid lock overtaking our beautiful state.

Tom was named of Connecticut’s 2009 Environmental Champions by the non-partisan CT League of Conservation Voters for his advocacy of open space, farmland, and “complete streets” legislation.

Energy Cost & Oil Dependency
There needs to be a reduction in the cost of energy and our dependence on oil. Connecticut residents pay some of the highest utility and gasoline prices in the country. There is much we can do to attack this problem.Tom has been working to have our utilities contract directly with the generators to cut our the middleman, called bilateral contracting. he has also been encouraging more conservation and efficiency efforts across the state and an increase in distributed generation, including expanded use of fuel cells in the state.

Supporting Seniors and Families
Tom protected health care for seniors and children, cuts costs for the CT Home Care Program for Elders, strengthened the Care4Kids childcare program, and improved the state’s response to domestic violence.

AARP questionaire: Tom speaks up everyone, including Seniors.