Sherman Democratic Town Committee Newsletter 07/23/2019

Hot Topics, Newsletter

 

 

 

Welcome to the newsletter of the Sherman Democratic Town Committee, particularly to our new subscribers. Our goal is to share with local Democrats news and resources to help us stay involved for positive change on a state and local level. We are committed to working for and with the citizens of Sherman to promote issues, initiatives, and candidates that will make Sherman a better place to live and work.


Upcoming Event:
2019 Sherman House and Garden Tour

URGENT: Need for tour destinations. 

Please send any ideas and suggestions for homes or gardens that might be added to our tour, to shermandems@gmail.com

Saturday September 21, 10 am – 1 pm

This self-guided tour affords one-day-only access to several of the region’s most magnificent private residences and their gardens. Ticket holders will receive a program that describes what to expect at each home, along with addresses. In past years, the Sherman House & Garden Tour has featured lakeside estates, historically significant homes, working farms and horse properties, and Sherman’s most architecturally stunning abodes.

A party with refreshments will take place after the tour.

The Sherman House & Garden Tour is sponsored by the Sherman Democratic Town Committee. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the Guido Tino Scholarship Fund.

Tickets will be available at local retailers later this summer.


From Our First Selectman to our Readers

Whew….where has the time gone! These first 18 months blew by and it will already be election time in 4 months.  I will be running again and there’s a lot of good stuff to run on. This second year of being First Selectman has been particularly busy and a lot has been accomplished.

I promised all through my campaign to lead a fiscally responsible effort and that’s been accomplished. This year we actually lowered taxes by 2.5% without cutting services and still added extra dollars to our capital fund.  (The previous year we kept the budget flat.)

In response to the high salts and chlorides that’s been in the town’s well water, we continue to make progress on putting potable water from Town wells into Town buildings. Through research and action we are going to achieve it this year.

Just this last week we installed an air monitor to measure baseline air quality in preparation of the Cricket Valley Power Plant starting up. After the plant opens for business, we will continue measuring and make a comparison to see if our Sherman air quality is adversely affected.

Throughout my term I have tried as hard as I possibly can to be responsive to the day-to-day needs of our citizens. Along the way, I have directed traffic, weed whacked grass for better sight-lines, hauled dead animals out of yards and driveways, and even chased cows a couple of times.  Our Town entities are better coordinated now, our Town employees are working well together, and it all makes for more efficient and effective services for our citizens. In addition, many people have remarked to me that they appreciate the town having a less “political” feel to it. If I helped in any of that good vibe, then I am pleased. Through NIXLE and social media I have done my best to communicate emergencies and other sudden public announcements concerning the health and well-being of Sherman residents. Not only has our Housing Commission been reinvigorated, but other boards and commissions are robust with wonderful volunteers who donate their valuable time to make Sherman the wonderful place it is to live.

I have continued to try and find ways to better serve the Sherman Senior citizens by increasing the budget for them and also by trying to find a new space for the Senior Center. But this remains a challenge. Another challenge will be to re-imagine Happy Acres Farm. I have already put the wheels into action on that and by the fall there should be a tangible plan on how to go forward.  In the meantime, we are painting both the house and barn, and making essential repairs on the barn.

All of the accomplishments that I have listed are the result of teamwork with Sherman citizens of all parties, ages, and social structures involved. If there’s one thing that I can truly lay claim to is that I am pretty good at getting folks to work together for the good of the Town.  This job has been the honor of my life!

The Newsletter Interviews State Senator Kushner

Just one year ago, the Newsletter pointed out the significance of the November 2018 election. The deadlock in the State Senate had blocked significant action on many important issues and our then-State Senator, Michael McLaughlin, had voted against such initiatives as the Family Leave Bill and an increase in the State minimum wage.

How times have changed!

Just after the close of the 2020 legislative session, the Newsletter interviewed our new State Senator, Democrat Julie Kushner.  Kushner told us of her experiences in the new Democratic-majority State Senate.

Much was Accomplished.

“We got so much done,” Julie exulted. For starters, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed her signature issue, the nation’s most generous family leave policy. As Chair of the Senate’s Labor & Public Employees Committee, Julie took the lead in shepherding the bill through the legislature and getting the Governor’s approval. The act gives workers twelve weeks of paid leave (at 95 percent of their pay, up to $900 a week) to care for a newborn or a newly adopted baby or to deal with an illness in a loved one.

Julie also played a central role in passing an increase in the Minimum Wage. The new law increases the minimum wage in Connecticut from its current $10.10 per hour to $15.00 per hour. This fall the rate will go to $11.00 per hour. Then, in a series of steps, it will rise to $15.00 in June 2023. Thereafter, the state minimum wage will be pegged to the U.S. Department of Labor’s employment cost index to take future inflation into account. The Connecticut Department of Labor estimates that these increases will raise wages for approximately 130,000 Connecticut workers this year and more than half a million by 2024.

Julie also expressed pride in two other sets of laws. The “Trust Act” prohibits Connecticut law enforcement from turning over undocumented immigrants to federal immigration officials unless Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has obtained a warrant signed by a judge, the person is guilty of a serious felony, or the person is on a terrorist watch list. And the legislature passed three new gun laws: “Ethan’s Law” requires both loaded and unloaded firearms to be safely stored in homes where there are minors under age 18.  Another law prohibits storing a pistol in an unattended vehicle unless it is in a locked glove box, or a locked safe. A third prohibits the manufacture of “ghost guns,” guns created (sometimes using 3-D printers) without a serial number and plastic guns that can pass through security measures.

But…

Despite the legislative session being remarkably successful, Julie lamented the failure to act on health care issues. The “Connecticut Option” would have created a public health insurance option for small businesses and non-profits, provided for additional subsidies for low- and middle-income residents, beyond those authorized by the Affordable Care Act. It collapsed in the face of heavy opposition from the private health insurance companies, including CIGNA, who reportedly threatened to leave the state if the bill was passed, costing thousands of jobs. This, despite the fact that CIGNA has received millions of dollars in State of Connecticut grants and state and local tax credits for creating jobs, while continuing to shrink the size of its Connecticut workforce, and despite the fact that CIGNA has stopped selling coverage directly to individuals and families in the state, while earning $21.5 billion in profits over the last ten years.   “We shouldn’t have to choose between helping hundreds of thousands of Connecticut citizens and protecting jobs,” said Julie.

Julie was also disappointed by the lack of progress on moving towards a more progressive tax structure. “There is not enough revenue to address the big issues Connecticut faces,” said Julie. “We need a focus on shifting taxes to the super wealthy, going forward.”

Many Constituencies Shape a Bill.

At a more personal level, Julie told us that she hadn’t anticipated how complicated it is to pass legislation. Her familiarity with contracts and negotiations and with labor conditions, gained through long years as a UAW official, helped her see her way through the complex process. But in labor negotiations, she noted, there are just two parties – the workers and the management. In passing a bill, there are many. A bill has to be formulated; details must be worked out with many individual members and caucuses in the legislature. The support of advocates has to be ensured; push-back from Republicans and hesitancy on the part of the Governor has to be resisted. Finally, the bill must be brought to the Senate. But “I like puzzles and challenges,” said Julie. “It’s exciting to be able to keep the pieces in place until it becomes a law.”

Her experience confirmed “what I have said for years,” Julie told us. “It’s not drafting the legislation that’s the big challenge, but having people advocating and building movements over many years. Large coalitions worked for years on family leave and on increasing the minimum wage. The passage of the bills would not have been possible without that.”

Looking towards 2021

Julie is already thinking about the next session of the legislature, which convenes in February 2020. The even-year sessions of the legislature can only consider non-budget items, but she is already thinking about how to work on health care and taxation. For instance, she hopes that a commission on progressive taxation can be formed, so as to lay the groundwork for action in 2021. Identifying coalitions to support action and finding potential allies are key.

Meanwhile, her schedule of events were filled through June. And then a long-awaited vacation!

To contact Julie,visit her site by clicking here. Or call her legislative assistant, Javier Smith, at 860-240-0509, or 1-800-842-1420. To sign up for Julie’s e-newsletter, click here.

Days above 90 degrees: from 10 to 40?


Heat Buckled Highway 

Increases in potentially lethal heat driven by climate change will affect every state, including Connecticut, in the decades ahead, according to a July 16, 2019 report by the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The report found that historically, Connecticut has averaged about 10 days per year with a heat index above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. That would increase to 40 days per year on average by 2050 if no action is taken to reduce heat-trapping emissions. The days with a heat index above 100 degrees Fahrenheit would increase to 13 per year on average and CT’s larger cities would experience the highest frequency of these days.The heat index is what we feel the temperature to be when we factor in relative humidity.

Heat cramps, caused by the loss of body salts and fluids during sweating, can be painful. Heat exhaustion is how the body responds to loss of water and fluids from heavy sweating. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, dizziness, weakness, thirst, and heavy sweating. The most serious is heat stroke, which happens when the body gets so hot it cannot regulate its core temperature. People going into a heat stroke stop sweating, so their bodies cannot get rid of the excess heat,  Chart below is from *1  and indicates four heat index ranges with their corresponding physiological problems.

On Saturday, July 20th, Danbury reported a record high heat index of 105 degrees.

Tracy Babbidge, who works in the air control division of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), said the study serves as a “good reminder for us to review that we are doing everything we can and should be doing to deal with the issues of climate change and reducing emissions.”  Current climate change is mostly caused by the fossil fuel emissions that increase atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide. Note that “Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.”

Babbidge said that Connecticut is enrolled in the Global Warming Solutions Act, which many refer to as Connecticut’s central climate commitment. It requires the state to reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions to at least 10% below 1990 levels by 2020, and to at least 80% below 2001 levels by 2050.

The number of high heat-index days was calculated by averaging projections from 18 high-resolution climate models between April and October. The report looked at these conditions for three possible futures.

The “no action scenario” assumes carbon emissions continue to rise and the global average temperature increases nearly 8 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels by century’s end.

The “slow action scenario” assumes carbon emissions start declining at mid century and the global average temperature rises 4.3 degrees Fahrenheit by century’s end. In the “rapid action scenario,” global average warming is limited to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit — in line with the Paris Agreement.

The report states if the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement is met and future global average warming is limited to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, by late century the United States would see half the number of days per year, on average, with a heat index above 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and almost 115 million fewer people would experience the equivalent of a week or more of “off-the-charts” heat days.

Connecticut is a member of the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of governors committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

On June 1, 2017, President Donald Trump declared his intention to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement. The U.S. can’t exit the agreement until Nov. 2020, the day after the next presidential election.

Editor’s note: Sections of this article were from a scientific blog  and an article in the CT News Junkie.
*1 – Click here to see additional weather bio-indices. 

Upcoming Sherman Events

Sherman Dems Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, July 24th, 2019, 7:30 pm
Sherman Senior Center
8 CT-37, Sherman

Sherman Board of Selectman Meeting
Thursday, July 25th, 2019, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Mallory Town Hall Meeting Room
9 Rt 39 North, Sherman
To see the town calendar, click here

2019 Sherman House and Garden Tour
Saturday September 21, 2019 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Details forthcoming

Important Links

Donate to the SDTC  http://www.shermandems.org/donate/

Sherman Democratic Town Committee Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ShermanDTC/

About Us

We are an organization of inclusion, not exclusion. We have a longstanding history of attracting both Democratic and unaffiliated voters and endorsing both Democratic and unaffiliated candidates. We work to represent the wide variety of Sherman citizens who hold many different viewpoints and opinions.

Paid for by the Sherman Democratic Town Committee, Bob Gamper Treasurer

Sherman Democratic Town Committee Newsletter 03/11/2019

Hot Topics, Newsletter

 

 

 

Welcome to the newsletter of the Sherman Democratic Town Committee, particularly to our new subscribers. Our goal is to share with local Democrats news and resources to help us stay involved for positive change on a state and local level. We are committed to working for and with the citizens of Sherman to promote issues, initiatives, and candidates that will make Sherman a better place to live and work.


Upcoming Event: The Second Community Conversation

Sherman Firehouse’s Charter Hall
Saturday March 16, 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Meet with our newly elected State Senator Julie Kushner to learn about pending State Senate action on paid family leave, raising the minimum wage, tax reform, supporting quality schools, protecting the lake and Sherman’s air quality, and other issues. Continue the discussion began in January at the Senator’s First Sherman Conversation..

Shermanites with all political viewpoints are welcome.

Bring your questions and concerns.

The First Community Conversation with State Senator Kushner—Highlights

On Jan 26th, our new State Senator Julie Kushner held her first “Community Conversation” with Sherman area residents at Charter Hall. Chaired by long-time SDTC member Barbara Ireland, all Shermanites, regardless of their politics, were invited to dialog with Julie.

If you missed the conversation or just want to experience it again, then click here to see the video.

Julie’s Committees

Senator Kushner began by describing her first days in the State Senate. She will Co-Chair the Labor Committee, serve as Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Environment, and will be a member of the Housing, Transportation,Education, Appropriations, and Executive and Legislative NominationsCommittees. . .

Life of a Bill

Julie described how bills are introduced, discussed, and acted upon. After a bill is introduced, committees may hold public hearings during which residents may appear or send in written comments. For more information, click here to find a bill of interest and whom to contact. Or ask Julie..Julie has already co-sponsored about 50 bills!

Bills of Note

Senator Julie talked about bills of special concern to her. First and foremost is her signature issue which she introduced,.the paid family leave bill (SB1), To read the bill, click here. It allocates 12 weeks leave at full pay for a new child and for illness in family members. Funded through a payroll tax, most Connecticut workers (also potentially self-employed workers) are covered. Elections matter! Our Republican State Representative, Richard Smith, voted against the bill.

She also co-sponsored the Minimum Wage Bill (SB2) which would raise the minimum from $10.10/hour to $15 over the next few years. To read the bill, click here. Our neighboring states, New York and Massachusetts, have minimum wages much higher than Connecticut’s. Again, Representative Smith voted against the increase.. An audience member then expressed concern about this legislation on small businesses and, went on to describe other needs of small businesses.

Of special interest to Sherman, Senator Kushner introduced SB585, which requires an air quality study in towns that may be impacted by the nearby, soon-to-open, Cricket Valley gas burning power plant.. To read the bill, click here. An air quality monitoring station is now operating at Kent School,The bill adds state support for using the data for longitudinal studies. An audience member wanted the Connecticut Attorney General, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Department of Health to also address this issue.

Julie: More State Revenue, Not Less Spending

Sherman First Selectman Don Lowe raised concerns about proposals to consolidate auto and property tax collections by the state. To read the bill, click here. He felt they would negatively impact small towns such as Sherman.

Julie commented, “We don’t have a spending problem in CT, we have a revenue problem. We have to ask our super-wealthy people to put more in.” We need an equitable way to bring in revenue, she elaborated, balancing the resources and needs of small and big towns, of richer and poorer people. One source of potential revenue is from currently un-taxed property owned by not-for-profit organizations such as hospitals. Reform of tax laws, she added, must be addressed in a holistic way, not piecemeal..

Schools

Several audience members raised concerns about the impact of the proposed regionalization of small school districts. How do we ensure that the needs of students take precedence over cost efficiency, while still making the system more efficient through regionalizing services such as special education, supervision, and high level management? Other speakers voiced support for UConn, asked about the proposed consolidation of community colleges and state university branches, wanted more development of trade schools, apprenticeship programs, and adult programs at schools such as Abbott Tech. Some were concerned with the statewide issue of funding teachers’ retirement plans. “We need to address this issue,” said Julie, “without threatening them.”

The Six Underfunded State Sponsored Post-Employment Benefit Plans

Another discussion focused on the problem of funding these plans. Julie said that Connecticut is in the middle of U.S. states with respect to what it offers new retirees, yet it has the third worst funding ratio for its biggest fund. Because the problem was long in the making (almost 100 years), it will be long in the fixing. State payments into the system will rise until 2023 then drop; by about 2032, the State will be in “a strong position,” and by about 2045 pensions will be fully funded. It’s a balance between becoming solvent without being too hard on state employees, who have already “given up more than $17,000 in wages and benefits”. One audience member observed, “People focus on how much we are spending on ‘state workers,’ forgetting they are really talking about spending on the services that the state delivers.”

Supplementing the above, a fresh approach is being undertaken that has other states interested. In lieu of cash, the state may donate some of its real assets as an in-kind contribution to its pension funds.

Audience Concerns 

The “conversation” with the audience continued. While many attendees asked questions or raised concerns to Julie, more often the questions served as a springboard for discussions within the audience. In several instances, audience members made plans for longer term interactions and joint projects among themselves.

Other issues raised by participants included:
•    Invasive species in Candlewood Lake
•    A proposed program for universal testing of children for dyslexia  
•    The impact of road salting on water quality
•    Investing in infrastructure, and in particular, in developing east-west public transportation in Connecticut
•    The problem of wage theft
•    Addressing the impact of the then-ongoing shutdown of the federal government in Connecticut.

To contact Julie,visit her site by clicking here. Or call her legislative assistant, Javier Smith, at 860-240-0509, or 1-800-842-1420. To sign up for Julie’s e-newsletter, click here.

With these issues warmed-up, the next conversation with Julie, this Saturday, March 16th at 1 pm, should be a lively one!

Time to Make the Sausage & Lots of It!

Since the Connecticut General Assembly convened for its 2019 session on January 9th, 3,629 bills have been introduced!.It’s the same number as in 2017 of which 265 became law. Brought on by the nation’s “Blue Wave” 2018 election, the new Democrat trifecta—Governor, House and Senate: all Democrat-controlled—has issued a crop of bills that reflect their mandate in content and perhaps will have their likelihood of success.

With the Governor’s budget just released in February, fiscal realities are soon to meet up with social ideals in the ugly grind of lawmaking that is traditionally likened to watching sausage being made. Yet, we can already report real legislative progress. .

Five new Democratic Senators, creating a majority of 23-13 in the Senate, and 12 new Democrat State Representatives, creating a majority of 92-59 in the House,.have brought new enthusiasm and commitment to creating laws favoring social and economic equality and opportunity, For example, Senate Bill 2 would raise the minimum wage to $15. Senate Bill 1 would allow people paid time off and job security in the event of a new child or family illness. Co-sponsored by our Senator Kushner, it is already on the calendar for a vote by the entire Senate. Stymied for years in a Republican-controlled General Assembly, this bill is expected to become law providing a compassionate, practical means towards saving families from spiraling into homelessness and poverty from job loss caused by illness.

Julie Kushner has wasted no time in learning about local issues that affect her constituents and responding to them with proposed bills, all while signing on to dozens of bills that affect the state’s government and it’s citizens. As noted in the previous article, Julie Kushner has sponsored two bills that are very important to Sherman: one addressing Candlewood Lake’s potential infestation of mussels, and another establishing an air quality study in CT towns that may be affected by the Cricket Valley Power Plant.

To follow Julie’s actions as State Senator or to contact her, click here.

Most of the bills facing the General Assembly address the overarching issue of CT’s fiscal deficit. Governor Lamont campaigned on fixing it and his newly released budget addresses it. Highway tolls (see the article below), legalizing marijuana, school regionalization, and expanding gambling are proposals, among others, aiming to save or earn money for the state. Their fates are less certain because some measures are controversial (marijuana and gambling) and others challenge Connecticut residents to weigh the benefit of the whole population against individual disadvantage (school regionalization, tolls, and certain taxation proposals). However, with a newly enlarged and emboldened Democrat majority in power, these bills may succeed, albeit with much grumbling.

These are only a few of the major issues you are likely to hear about over the next year. On just about any subject, “there’s a bill for that”—and often more than one.  Bears in your backyard? You can support a bill for hunting them or a bill for researching nonlethal methods of bear control.

To learn more about whatever issues you are passionate about, or maybe if you are just in the mood to see if anything is being done about your pet peeves, check out legiscan.com. It’s a robust resource, easy to navigate, and even kind of funny. The “Legislation 101” piece describes how a bill makes it through the legislature in Connecticut, and to realize that as ugly as it gets here, it’s worse in Tennessee and Nebraska (according to the author). By the way, as measured by public interest and activity over the last 72 hours until now, March 10, the number one trending CT bill requires immunizations against the meningococcal virus and human papillomavirus.(HB07199).

Highway Tolls in Connecticut?

On February 27th, the Sherman Board of Selectman approved a resolution to oppose the establishment of tolls in CT. First Selectman Lowe said tolls::

  • Financially penalize low-income individuals
  • Are among the least efficient taxation devices
  • Will increase local traffic as drivers circumvent the toll-roads

Currently, two bills in the House (HB’s) one in the Senate (SB) have been introduced to address highway tolls:

  • To (1) require the Commissioner of Transportation to submit a tolling proposal to the General Assembly; and (2) create the Connecticut Transportation Finance Authority (HB07280). This bill requires a vote in both houses within 15-days of the Committee hearing, if not, the bill is automatically approved by the General Assembly.
  • To exempt low-income residents from paying tolls in the event electronic tolling is implemented in the state (HB06968)
  • To establish electronic tolls on major highways and raise revenue for transportation infrastructure projects.(SB00102)

Also click here to read the 500-page report submitted to the then Governor-Elect Lamont by his transportation advisory panel.

The map below is from that report according to www.notollsct.org which shows 83 possible toll locations in red dots.The report itself does not recommend implementing that many.

Last Wednesday, March 6th, hundreds of proponents and opponents descended on the state Capitol for the hearing on electronic highway tolls.

“We’ve got to bring our infrastructure into the 21st century, and we’ve got to do it now,” said Governor Lamont, who was joined by scores of toll supporters at the Legislative Office Building. “This is about jobs…This is so key to economic growth and opportunity in this state.. ”, as reported in the Hartford Courant. It also said “Lamont’s budget calls for tolling all vehicles on I-95, I-91, I-84 and Route 15….The precise locations of the gantries and the tolling rates have not been determined. State residents with an E-ZPass would receive a discount of at least 30 percent, according to Lamont’s budget.” Lamont ran on a plan for tolls only on tractor-trailer trucks but now says that would not raise enough to fix Connecticut’s roads and bridges.

Almost all Republican legislators are against it and propose an alternative, a 30-year, $65 billion plan that would rely on state bonding to fix CT infrastructure. In his budget proposal, Some legislators want to wait to see how much funding Connecticut receives from the federal government for infrastructure improvements before making any moves on tolls. The Federal Highway Administration has already said Connecticut is in “new territory,” because no other state has undertaken tolling existing highways – and certainly not all the existing highways.

Clearly, this issue challenges Connecticut residents to weigh the benefit of the whole population against individual disadvantage.

Upcoming Sherman Events

Budget Workshop
Mallory Town Hall
Wednesday, March 13th, 2019  7pm
To see the town calendar, click here

A Community Conversation
              with State Senator Kushner
Emergency Services Facility – Firehouse- Upper Level
1 Rte. 39
Sherman, CT 06784
Saturday, March 16, 2019 1 -3 pm

Important Links

Donate to the SDTC  http://www.shermandems.org/donate/

Sherman Democratic Town Committee Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ShermanDTC/

About Us

We are an organization of inclusion, not exclusion. We have a longstanding history of attracting both Democratic and unaffiliated voters and endorsing both Democratic and unaffiliated candidates. We work to represent the wide variety of Sherman citizens who hold many different viewpoints and opinions.

Paid for by the Sherman Democratic Town Committee, Bob Gamper Treasurer

Results of the Sherman Democratic Town Committee Caucus

Uncategorized

A caucus was held on Monday, January 21st, 2019 to endorse candidates for the Democratic Town Committee and to transact other business as may be proper to come before this caucus.

The results of last night’s caucus to elect a new slate of officers for the Sherman Democratic Town Committee.
Chair – David Silvay
Vice Chair – Alexis Mace
Treasurer – Thomas Conley
Deputy Treasurer – Bob Gamper
Secretary – Marie Mennonna
The outgoing Chair, Joel Bruzinski, praised the “talent, passion and dedication” of the folks he worked with. He noted that his tenure was meaningful, rewarding, and gratifying.

Sherman Democratic Town Committee Newsletter 01/17/2019

Hot Topics, Newsletter

 

 

 

Welcome to the newsletter of the Sherman Democratic Town Committee, particularly to our new subscribers. Our goal is to share with local Democrats news and resources to help us stay involved for positive change on a state and local level. We are committed to working for and with the citizens of Sherman to promote issues, initiatives, and candidates that will make Sherman a better place to live and work.


Upcoming Event: A Community Conversation

Sherman Firehouse’s Charter Hall
Saturday January 26, 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Meet with our newly elected State Senator Julie Kushner to learn about pending State Senate action on paid family leave, raising the minimum wage, tax reform, supporting quality schools, protecting the lake and Sherman’s air quality, and other issues.


Bring  your questions and concerns.

Interview with State Senator Kushner

Connecticut Democrats won big in November, reelecting Chris Murphy to the U.S. Senate, Jahana Hayes to the U.S. House of Representatives, Ned Lamont to the Governorship and Julie Kushner to the State Senate.

The State Senate, which had been split 19-19 in the last session, now has 23 Democrats to 13 Republicans. The new Senate has a record 13 women, all but one of them Democrats.

On January 9th, Julie took the Senate seat held by Republicans since 1992 and on which Mike McLachlan sat for the past decade. Julie’s large victory over her fellow Danbarian is due to a big Danbury margin. In Sherman, she fell 26 votes (49.3%) short of winning, a better result than the same Democratic effort two years ago. Kushner’s campaign focused on expanding health care access, pay equity and paid family leave to attract and retain more people in the state and to stabilize Connecticut’s financial future. Whereas McLachlan, one of the Legislature’s most conservative members, campaigned on sharp cuts to the state budget and more limited government.

Now Julie faces the real work of turning election hopes into ongoing policy. Early in January, just before the legislative session began, the SDTC Newsletter talked with our new State Senator (and her knowledgeable husband, Larry) about her early impressions and intentions for the job.
Julie Kushner (right) is sharing her experiences and plans with SDTC Newsletter staff (counterclockwise) Alexis Mace, John Ehrenreich and Jeff Ginsburg

Julie is appointed Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee(leveraging her long labor union career) and Vice Chair of the Committee on the Environment whose.chair is another newly-elected Senator, Christine Cohen, from CT’s eastern coast. Although the General Assembly is supposedly a part-time job and the full Senate meets only once a week during the early months of the five-month session, committee meetings are scheduled for up to five days per week, so Julie plans to commute daily between Hartford and her Danbury home.

Julie’s new legislative aide, Javier Smith,.is bilingual and will manage her office, constituent services, the flow of communications, and assist with legislative matters. Several bipartisan State Senate offices and the Democratic caucus provide help with legal research, policy analysis, and communications.

Julie’s intention is “to be bold and make noticeable changes for Connecticut.” In a short period of time, she intends to enact a “not watered down” paid family leave program and to increase the minimum wage .

All of Connecticut’s neighboring states (see chart below) have enacted paidfamily leave laws; only CT does not pay for a leave to care for a loved one at home, even for a new or sick child.. Last year, the Connecticut State Senate turned down a paid leave proposal, with our own former Senator McLachlan voting “no”.

The most generous in the nation, Massachusetts, will provide up to 80% of pay for 12 weeks to care for a family member, Rhode Island’s “Temporary Caregiver Insurance” program is limited but provides up to 4 weeks partial wage replacement.

Also shown above, Connecticut’s minimum wage, at $10.10 per hour, lags behind all its neighbors. Then-Senator McLachlan voted against last year’s bill to increase it to $15 per hour. Rhode Island Democratic Governor Gina Raimondo has said she’d like to see the minimum wage increase from $10.50 to $15 per hour.

Julie also wants to work to create a fair taxation system for Connecticut. “Paying taxes is difficult for people and they need to feel confident that taxes are fair.” She notes that proposals have been floated to end the estate and gift taxes in the state, which would only benefit wealthier citizens. She is not necessarily opposed to these proposals, but they should also reform other taxes on income, property, sales, gasoline, and others.

Julie worries that throughout the state “we are falling behind” in creating a more equitable system of educational opportunities at all levels: from universal pre-K, post-secondary vocational training programs and on through college.

As Vice Chair of the Committee on the Environment, she plans to address environmental issues such as the DEEP’s refusal to monitor the air qualityimpact of the Cricket Valley electric plant currently under construction in nearby Dover, NY. She will also work to protect Candlewood Lake in a way that meets the needs of diverse interest groups, including the power company, lakefront homeowners, and recreational users. She wants wants Connecticut to become a greener state.

Julie stresses her desire to remain close to the needs of her constituents and her district. She will meet in a variety of venues with constituents. Her websiteand Facebook pages are being reformulated to provide easy ways for communicating with her, and she can be reached by email at Julie.kushner@cga.ct.gov.

Meet her at Sherman Firehouse’s Charter Hall, Saturday January 26, 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Message from First Selectman Don Lowe

The SDTC Newsletter invited our First Selectman to review his first year’s achievements and to provide a glimpse of what’s in his sights for 2019. 


This first year of my being First Selectman certainly whizzed by! Among last year’s highlights for me was the budget, which came in at a 0% increase. Tight budgeting was a campaign promise and with the help of my fellow selectmen and others, we did just that. And we’ll do it again this year!

Another campaign promise I was proud to make good on was the bathrooms at Veterans Field. My goal was to have them fixed, functional, and clean by Memorial Day weekend. We accomplished that with about 12 hours to spare!  They had been left unusable for the last six years, replaced by unsightly port-a-potties that are now history.

I was also happy to get T-Mobile’s transmitting equipment up at Happy Acres Farm. This arrangement, which took a great deal of negotiating, brings $26,000 of yearly revenue into the Town general fund.

We have also made significant progress on the high level of chlorides found in our Town wells. Soon, we embark on the next phase: remediation.

In response to the Cricket Valley Power plant installation, Sherman will be monitoring its air – both as a baseline measurement now before the plant opens and after it opens. I was the first area CEO to support this endeavor by sending a letter to all surrounding town/city CEO’s and asking for regional air monitoring. I am pleased that the Kent Conservation Commission responded by acquiring, installing, and monitoring our town’s air and that of several others.

Along the way, I bolstered many of our boards and commissions with smart people who have infused new energy into many of our efforts. One of those is Senior Housing and another is an effort to create a new Senior Center.

I have also focused on our emergency management team. Now all aspects from response to communication have been improved. To achieve that, one of my earliest actions was to form an emergency response committee comprising stakeholders throughout town and have them meet regularly.

One immediate change I made in our Town government is a more inclusive Board of Selectman meeting wherein the public has greater opportunity for questions and comments. For the most part, this approach has worked to the Town’s advantage and I will persist with this style of meeting.

One other improvement, although it is somewhat intangible, is stronger communication among Town entities and smoother relationships among groups that need to work together to accomplish their goals.

As we go into my second year, aside from the budget which is always first, there will be extra attention paid to finding a new Sherman Senior Center, finding more efficient and effective ways to handle general Town maintenance, and continued attention to the air that we breathe and the precious water that we drink.

–First Selectman Don Lowe

Notice of Democratic Caucus

To the enrolled members of the Democratic Party of the Town of Sherman

Pursuant to the Rules of the Democratic Party and the State election laws, you are hereby notified that a caucus will be held on Monday, January 21st, 2019 at 7:30 pm, at the Sherman Old Town Hall, located at 8 Route 37 Center in Sherman, to endorse candidates for the Democratic Town Committee and to transact other business as may be proper to come before said caucus.

Dated at Sherman, Connecticut, on the 7th day of January, 2019.

Democratic Town Committee of Sherman

Joel Bruzinski
Chairman

Upcoming Sherman Events

Democratic Caucus
Sherman Old Town Hall,
8 Route 37 Center
Sherman, CT 06784
Monday, January 21st, 2019 at 7:30 pm, at the

A Community Conversation
with State Senator Kushner
Emergency Services Facility – Firehouse- Upper Level
1 Rte. 39
Sherman, CT 06784
Saturday, January 26, 2019 1 -3 pm

Important Links

Donate to the SDTC  http://www.shermandems.org/donate/

Sherman Democratic Town Committee Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ShermanDTC/

About Us

We are an organization of inclusion, not exclusion. We have a longstanding history of attracting both Democratic and unaffiliated voters and endorsing both Democratic and unaffiliated candidates. We work to represent the wide variety of Sherman citizens who hold many different viewpoints and opinions.

Paid for by the Sherman Democratic Town Committee, Thomas Conley Treasurers

Announcing: The Sherman Democratic Caucus

Uncategorized

To the enrolled members of the Democratic Party of the Town of Sherman, Connecticut.

Pursuant to the Rules of the Democratic Party and the State election laws, you are hereby notified that a caucus will be held on Monday, January 21st, 2019 at 7:30 pm, at the Sherman Old Town Hall, located at 8 Route 37 Center in Sherman, to endorse candidates for the Democratic Town Committee and to transact other business as may be proper to come before said caucus.

Dated at Sherman, Connecticut, on the 7th day of January, 2019.

Democratic Town Committee of Sherman

Joel Bruzinski

Chairman

Democratic Candidates Prevailed in the Mid-Term Elections in CT

Press, Press Clipping

Although the Sherman votes for the Governorship and State Senator edged ahead for the Republicans, the margin was narrower than expected based on the mix of registered voters by party line. Sherman’s voting results show a strong shift towards the Democrats as reported in the Town Tribune on November 15, 2018:


Ballotpedia identified six of the races as battlegrounds, including four Republican-held districts and two Democratic-held districts. Democrats won five of those elections, with a sixth election in a Republican-held seat remaining too close to call as of 2:15 p.m. ET on November 14, 2018.Democrats expanded their majority in the 2018 elections for the Connecticut State Senate, winning 22 seats to Republicans‘ 12. As of 2:15 p.m. ET on November 14, 2018, two races remained too close to call, with Democrats expected to win both.[1] Should Democrats win both uncalled races, the party would gain a supermajority.

All 36 Senate seats were up for election. At the time of the election, Democrats and Republicans each held 18 seats, now Democrats hold 20 seats and Republicans hold 11.

Heading into the election, Connecticut had been under a Democratic trifecta since 2011 when Dan Malloy (D) was sworn in as governor. Malloy’s swearing-in ended a period of divided government that had lasted since Gov. Lowell Weicker (I) took office in 1991. Democrats had held majorities in both chambers of the state legislature since the 1986 state legislative elections. Had the Republican Party taken the chamber, it would have broken the Democratic trifecta.

The Connecticut State Senate was one of 87 state legislative chambers holding elections in 2018. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. The Connecticut State Senate was also one of 22 state legislative battleground chambers.

In 2019, half of House Democrats will be members of a fledgling caucus of progressives committed to reforming Connecticut’s tax structure, raising the minimum wage and passing paid family and medical leave, legalizing recreational marijuana and fighting climate change. House members serve two-year terms; there are no term limits imposed on them.

Both amendments to the state consitution were passed:

Amendment 1 requires that all revenue placed in the state’s Special Transportation Fund (STF) be used for transportation purposes, including the payment of transportation-related debts. (88% voted for). Six other states voted similarly in previous years.  For more info, click here

Amendment 2 requires a public hearing on bills to authorize the transfer, sale, or disposal of state-owned properties, such as state parks, forests, and conserved lands, to non-state entities and requires a two-thirds vote of the Connecticut General Assembly to authorize the transfer, sale, or disposal of land under the control of the state agriculture or environmental protection departments. (84% voted for).For more info, click here.

 

 

Sherman Democratic Town Committee Newsletter 11/5/2018

Hot Topics, Newsletter

 

 

 

Welcome to the newsletter of the Sherman Democratic Town Committee, particularly to our new subscribers. Our goal is to share with local Democrats news and resources to help us stay involved for positive change on a state and local level. We are committed to working for and with the citizens of Sherman to promote issues, initiatives, and candidates that will make Sherman a better place to live and work.


A Vibrant Event for Jahana and Julie

Did you miss it?  Well over one hundred people – mainly from Sherman but with a sprinkling from neighboring towns – assembled at the Jewish Community Center in Sherman on Sunday night, October 28th, to meet our candidate for U.S. Congress, Jahana Hayes, and our candidate for State Senate, Julie Kushner.

Each of the candidates spoke, answered questions, and then mingled with the crowd. Lots of good food and drinks were consumed. The event was sponsored by the Sherman Democratic Town Committee.
If you missed it, or just want to hear the candidates again, click here and you’ll see the formal presentations and Q&A. (Sorry! We can’t provide you with a rerun of the food, congenial company, and chance to talk directly with the candidates!)

Don’t Blow off the Mid-terms!

This election will determine the next:

  • Governor, considered a toss-up and could shift the Governors’ balance country-wide
  • Lieutenant Governor,
  • Treasurer,
  • Attorney General,
  • U.S. Senator
  • U.S. Representative.
  • Senator to Hartford
  • Representative to Hartford

Also, it will determine two measures affecting our roads and public lands..

Sherman’s Registered Democrats on the Rise

Our traditionally solid red town seems to be reflecting a dwindling Republican makeup and an increased Democrat presence. The number of registered Sherman Democrats over the years was about 610 to 625 and went up by 10-15%.during the last twelve months. During this time period, the Republicans are down from their usual by about 10%. The Independent’s are also down by about 46 to 1074, but remain the largest group

To keep the momentum going on this trend right up to election day, DO reach out to those who may be apolitical or turned off to politics in general with a positive, future-oriented message. DON’T waste time arguing with those in the opposite camp—your opposition to their viewpoint may actually fire them up, and you want them to stay home. Finally, let those persuadables know that they can register on November 6th, no problem. Just go to town hall and register and then walk over to vote.

It’s Not Just Who We Vote For, It’s What …

Amidst all the personalities vying for your vote, two measures on this midterm Connecticut ballot also deserve your informed attention. The are presented on the right side of the ballot.

The Connecticut Chapter of the Sierra Club recommends voting “Yes” on both proposed amendments. Here’s why…

The first is called the Connecticut Transportation Revenue Lockbox Amendment, which would prohibit lawmakers from using the state transportation fund for anything other than transportation purposes.

This guarantees funding for improvements to CT’s transportation infrastructure and transition to “green” transportation while preventing misuse and raiding of this designated money. We have already seen the General Assembly take $155 million from the Clean Energy fund and put it into the General Fund.

The second is the Connecticut Legislative Requirements to Transfer State Properties Amendment which would require a public hearing and a two-thirds majority vote of the Connecticut General Assembly to authorize the transfer, sale, or disposal of state-owned properties (state parks, forests, and conserved lands) to non-state entities.

Currently, no such requirements exist and our public land is often swapped for political favors with no oversight, any advance notice or public comment. Unlike public laws, which can quietly be reversed later, this change in our Constitution could not be easily undone. It will also finally allow Connecticut to catch up with our neighbors in New York and Massachusetts, and in Maine, who already have similar Constitutional requirements for transparency. For additional reasons, click here.

Feel like being inspired?
  • Well, read on…There are many hours between now and November 6th for all of us receiving this email to help turn out voters.During this last push, our focus needs to be on finding every last likely Democrat voter and energizing them to get to the polls.Here are a few ways to do this:
    • Rack your brain to think of  anyone who might be Democrat-leaning, but you are not sure of their interest in this (or any) election. Ask them if they plan to vote, and remind them about the historic importance of this midterm election…and that voting is the exercise of their personal power.
    • Convey the positive vision that Jahana Hayes and Julie Kushner offer… that it IS possible to create a safe, healthy, sane, free, just and equal world for CT residents and for all Americans.  Help is on the way. Good people with good ideas are here.  We just need to vote for them.
    • Come from a place of feeling good about what you believe. Having “the courage of your convictions” anchored in a positive, forward-looking outlook will give you the power of influence that may surprise you.
    • Contact/connect to people in any way you can. Please forward this email to friends and family so they may get a chance to participate as well.
    • There are postcards to fill out, lawn signs to put up, doors to knock on and phone calls you can make.

    Contact Julie’s campaign by clicking here

Nuts and Bolts on Registering to Vote

The time frame to register to vote online for the November 06, 2018 election has expired.

You have the remaining options left to register to vote:

  1. For those applicants who become 18 years old, a US Citizen, or have moved into town between October 31, 2018 and November 5, 2018, you can obtain, complete and submit an application for voter registration at Sherman Town Hall no later 5 p.m. on Monday, November 05, 2018. You’d then vote on Tuesday at Charter Hall (in the EMS building) or
  2. On Election Day, you can appear at Sherman Town Hall  where you can register and vote .

Forms of Identification Accepted:

  1. A birth certificate, driver’s license, or social security card
  2. Current and valid photo identification, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, pay check, or government document showing the name and address of the voter, confirming your address in the town in which you are registering to vote.

Sherman Registrars Office 

Sherman Town Hall, 9 Rt 39 North, Sherman, Connecticut 06784

Website: Sherman Registrars Office            Phone: (860) 350-4694

Sample Ballots

To view the Sherman Sample ballot, click here

To view the New Milford Sample ballot, click here

To view the New Fairfield Sample ballot, click here

What to Bring When You Vote

At the polling place, you’ll be asked for an ID.  If you do not have any, then in most cases, you may sign an affidavit in lieu of one.

There are several options for identification and a driver’s license or have a photo are not needed..
Specifically,

  • Social Security card; or any other pre-printed form of ID that shows your name and address, signature, or photograph.
  • If you’re a first-time voter who registered by mail, you will need to show a proof of residence as well. Acceptable forms include: a current and valid photo ID that shows your name and address; or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document that shows your name and address.
  • If you’re a first-time voter without ID, you may vote a provisional ballot.
Needed: Election Volunteers

The Registrar’s office is seeking volunteers to assist at the various elections and referendums held throughout the year. There are a variety of positions, some for the entire day and some for a half day.

Any registered Democrat interested in volunteering or seeking more information should contact either Bill Perkanis, Registrar, wmpetkanis@gmail.com, or Carol Muska, Assistant Registrar, auli7@sbcglobal.net.

If you know someone who might need a ride to the polls, or if you are willing to volunteer to drive people to the polls on Election Day, go to https://www.jahanahayes.com/polls

Any lawyers amongst you? A lot of people were turned away from the Primary Election polls on August 14th for not having ID and other illegal reasons. To prevent this on November 6th, the campaign is trying to organize attorneys to poll stand in Waterbury on Election night. If you are able to do this or know of other lawyers who might be interested, contact Kayla Briere, the campaign’s Field Director, at kayla@jahanahayes.com.

Some political rhymes

THE SIXTH OF NOVEMBER
by Larry Beinhart
Excerpts referring to the Republicans from his column in CHRONOGRAM

There are many things we need to fix,

so please don’t forget, November Six.

Don’t fear the Russians or dirty tricks

or that someone’s turning it, into a fix.

Their promises are just bait’n’switch,

they’re only cutting taxes for the rich.

They say they love us and they care,

but they’re against clean water and clean air.

Praising democracy with every expression

while they’re working at voter suppression,

it is neither libel nor slander

to say they are doing the gerrymander.

It’s in our hands, it’s not about fate. Even call people who are out of state.

Make your votes count, make them shout,

remind the world what democracy’s about.

Move away from exclusion, racism, and hate…

that’s what makes America great.

Don’t say it doesn’t matter or you don’t care.

Do what you must, you must be there.
Upcoming Sherman Events

Election Day Voting
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Emergency Services Facility – Firehouse- Upper Level
1 Rte. 39
Sherman, CT 06784
6 am – 8 pm

Important Links

http://www.shermandems.org/
Donate to the SDTC
http://www.shermandems.org/donate/
Register to Vote
http://www.shermandems.org/how-to-register-to-vote-2/
Vote with an Absentee Ballot
http://www.shermandems.org/how-to-register-to-vote-and-get-an-absentee-ballot/

About Us

We are an organization of inclusion, not exclusion. We have a longstanding history of attracting both Democratic and unaffiliated voters and endorsing both Democratic and unaffiliated candidates. We work to represent the wide variety of Sherman citizens who hold many different viewpoints and opinions.

Paid for by the Sherman Democratic Town Committee, Thomas Conley Treasurers

Meet and Greet Democratic Party Candidates Jahana Hayes (U.S. Congress) and Julie Kushner (State Senate)

Press, Press Release

THE SHERMAN DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE

MEET and GREET

Democratic Party Candidates

JAHANA HAYES (U.S. Congress)

and

JULIE KUSHNER (State Senate)

The Sherman Democratic Town Committee is sponsoring a Meet and Greet with Jahana Hayes, the Party’s candidate for Congress from the Fifth Congressional District and Julie Kushner, the Party’s candidate for State Senate from the 24th State Senate District.

The event will be held at the Jewish Community Center in Sherman, 9 Route 39 North, Sherman, CT 06784, from 7:00-8:30PM on Sunday, October 28.

The candidates will make brief presentations, and answer questions.

Refreshments served.

Sherman Democratic Town Committee Newsletter 10/23/2018

Hot Topics, Newsletter

 

 

 

Welcome to the newsletter of the Sherman Democratic Town Committee. Our goal is to share with local Democrats news and resources to help us stay involved for positive change on a state and local level. We are committed to working for and with the citizens of Sherman to promote issues, initiatives, and candidates that will make Sherman a better place to live and work.


These Mid-Terms Will Be Impactful

This newsletter will focus on the races that will be on the ballot in Sherman on Tuesday, November 6th.

Don’t Blow Off The Mid-Terms!

This election will determine the next Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, Attorney General and Representative in the U.S. Congress. You will also be voting for our next Senator and Representative in Hartford.

Remember:

  1. CT’s Governor’s race could shift the Governors’ balance country wide
  2. The CT Governor’s race is close, considered a toss-up by 2 predictors
  3. This election we have an amazing slate combining experience, diversity & talent
What’s the Issue Driving Mid-Terms?

Nationally and even in Connecticut, the underlying issue that is driving the midterm elections is…transmuting!

Broadly speaking, we’ve moved from “It’s the Economy, Pal” to “It’s The Women, Pal” to “It’s The Turnout,Pal” in just a few weeks. So here’s a recap of that transmutation.

In these last weeks and days before the election, making ends meet in Hartford may matter less to many people than the far more emotional issue: the reprise of white male establishment entitlement vs. women’s rights.

“It’s The Women, Pal.”

This issue is looking like a trend that is just going to intensify in CT and across the country. A Vox article posted on October 8th cites a new poll (conducted by the Washington Post and Schar School of Policy and Government) indicating Democrats have a narrow advantage in 69 competitive House races with seats mostly held by Republicans. And, the article points out, “The new results are being propelled by women voters tending to prefer Democrats, the common theme of 2018. Fifty-four percent of women voters in these districts said they preferred Democratic candidates, and 40 percent preferred Republicans. Men, on the other hand, favored Republicans by 51 percent, compared to 46 percent favoring Democrats.”

The Kavanaugh hearing and appointment threw gasoline on the already burning fires of the #MeToo movement and seemed to give new energy to Democrat candidates here and across the country. However, Republicans were then able to “close the enthusiasm gap” by stoking voters’ rage about how “the Democrats” perpetrated a “hoax” of which, apparently, Dr. Christine Ford was an unwitting pawn. The discussion of white male entitlement vs. women’s rights was quickly absorbed into a partisan political strategy in which Republicans are successfully leveraging rage, first by using it as the energy that will turn out their base, and second by turning it against Democrats, whose anger is now being characterized as turning them into a fearsome “mob.”

These national tides of voter emotion will likely determine the results of the midterm elections, across the country and here in Connecticut as well. Any discussion of real issues has been eclipsed by an all-encompassing focus on voter turnout.

“It’s the Turnout, Pal”

Whatever twists and turns occur between now and November 6th, “It’s the Turnout, Pal”—getting voters registered and committed to showing up at the polls—is the name of the game

 The Governor’s Race: Talking to the Undecided’s and Politically Apathetic

The CT Governor’s race began and continues to be a fairly subdued affair, due to the candidates’ personalities which range from bland to blander. Both Lamont’s and Stefanowski’s inclinations are to stick to issues rather than flame-throwing. Connecticut’s fiscal crisis (“It’s the Economy, Pal”) remains the focus of their debate and the candidates’ solutions continue to embody familiar party lines.

Ned Lamont wants to boost workers, students, and families. He is particularly focusing on those who spend 6.5% beyond 12% of their income on property taxes for home and car. Lamont wants to reduce those taxes  in the form of a state credit. He also wants new funding to cover 25,000 senior renters.

To raise the funds for those ambitions, Lamont wants to :

  • toll CT highways
  • develop new taxable cannabis market,
  • reduce costs at the Department of Correction
  • improve tax collections
  • audit, enforcement and close the “tax gap”
  • tax under-the-table sports gambling
  • hold accountable companies that receive public support
  • ask municipal and nonprofit leaders to do more with less.

Additional benefits Lamont wants to provide are:

  • cutting business taxes
  • pruning regulations
  • streamlining permitting and job training
  • cuting capital stock tax
  • creating a Business Recruitment Board

Bob Stefanowski has offered two Republican bumper stickers—“Let’s Get Rid of Big Government!” and “Honk If You Hate Taxes!” Like the jailed Gov Rowland in 1994, he is promising to eliminate state income taxes. During the latest debate, Stefanowski was unable to provide any details for his plan to close the deficit, which is projected to be $1.9 billion for fiscal year 2020 and rising to $2.5 billion in 2021. Critics of Stefanowski’s economic plan say it will gut municipal aid, education funding and the state’s social safety net and still increase the state debt.

The much-maligned Malloy was actually the first Governor to try to address any of this debt by cutting  state jobs, but overall spending was not affected because of those rising pension, health and debt payment bills.

Stefanowski’s big assumption has never been proven. It is the idea that lower taxes will lead to higher revenues. This idea was pushed by Reagon’s economic advisor whom Stefanowski says endorses his plan.

Stefanowski will raise funds by:

  • contracting out public services to the private sector, starting with the DMV
  • rewarding and protecting whistle-blowers
  • reducing SEBAC* by lowering staff via attrition
  • using zero-based budgeting
  • lowering taxes for the rich so they’ll stay in the state
  • tolling out-of-state heavy trucks

*SEBAC is the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition, made up of 15 public sector employee unions representing roughly 46,000 Connecticut state employees. SEBAC was recognized in 1986 under Conn. Acts 86-411 to negotiate with the State on healthcare and pension benefits for its individual unions’ active members, as well as retirees.

Copied from the issues sections of both Lamont’s website and Stefanowski’s websites, the entries below list issues as posted. Those on the same row approximately overlap, though their framing of the problem and their solutions may be dramatically different.

 Ned Lamont  Bob Stefanowski
 Creating Jobs  Help Small Businesses
 Property Tax Relief for the Middle Class
 Quality, Affordable Health Care  Health and Human Services
 Investing in Education  Education
 Women’s Agenda
 Building a Fair Economy  Rebuild our Economy, Fiscal Framework
 Solving the Housing Crisis  Protecting Municipalities
 Fixing the DMV
 Addressing Climate Change & Expanding   Renewable Energy, Protecting the Environment  Preserving Nature
 Fighting for the LGBTQ Community
 Investing in Infrastructure  Modernize our Infrastructure, Transportation
 Supporting Our Veterans  Veterans
 Combating the Opioid Epidemic
 Preventing Gun Violence  Public Safety
 Investing in Arts and Culture
 Government Accountability, Controlling State Costs
 Keep Our Retirees
 Keep our Graduates

“It’s the Woman, Pal”

Even before the Brett Kavanaugh hearing, the #MeToo Movement had quietly infiltrated Connecticut politics, as shown in a Sacred Heart University/Hearst CT Media Group survey released September 20. Compared to a late August poll, there was an overall uptick for Lamont of a 6.2 lead over Stefanowski (from 36.9 to 43.1). This gain is despite the same poll showing men and Independents leaning toward Stefanowski (43% of men support him; Independents are newly swaying from 26.5 to 29.8 toward him). More than 50% of women are for Lamont, versus 36.5 % for Stefanowski, showing that it is women who are solely responsible for Lamont’s gain in the polls.

“It’s the Economy, Pal ”

As you seek to influence “undecided” friends or acquaintances, especially those with an aversion to politics and drama, “It’s the Economy, Pal ” may be your best bet to get them to the polls.

 

Candidates for the U.S. House Connecticut District 5

Democrat Jahana Hayes, Republican Manny Santos (R) and “Independent Conservative” “John Pistone are running in the general election for U.S. House Connecticut District 5 on November 6, 2018.

The contrast between Hayes and her two opponents could not be clearer:

Santos, the former Mayor of Meriden, is a strong Trump supporter.

Among other things he advocates:

  • arming teachers
  • taking a hard line on immigration (including supporting Trump’s wall and opposing a path to citizenship for Dreamers)
  • repealing the Affordable Care Act
  • imposing work requirements on those receiving Food Stamps, and
  • supporting the Trump tax cuts

Pistone, who describes himself as “too conservative for the Connecticut Republican Party,” believes that “President Trump is the best president we have ever had outside of President Reagan.”

To Santos’ positions, he adds, among other things support for:

  • a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution
  • school vouchers
  • abolition of constitutional protections for people accused, but not convicted of, “terrorism.”

Jahana Hayes, the former National Teacher of the Year, strongly supports public education, of course. She supports:

  • expanded gun controls including a ban on assault weapons
  • a path to citizenship for Dreamers
  • single payer health care, and
  • combating climate change

Perhaps nowhere is the difference between Hayes and her opponents more clear than in her commitment to social justice:

As your representative, I will be committed to addressing the equity gap that exists in our district. I will work to address any inequities that exist in our communities and ensure that the language of our legislation protects the human and civil rights of all people. All people have value and should be treated with dignity. I will fight against racism, xenophobia, classism, economic discrimination, housing discrimination, sexism, homophobia, religious and political persecution and the abuse of any civil liberties that threaten our democratic society.
Supporting Jahana Hayes…
  • Canvassing is held regularly from the Litchfield campaign office (7 West Street, 2nd Floor), Saturdays and Sundays, 11-6. Canvasing is also being organized out of the Danbury Office.
  • Phone banking is held regularly also from the Litchfield office, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
  • If you or anyone you know wants to canvass around Sherman or phone bank from home, contact Emily Armstrong, the northwest corner field organizer for the campaign, at Emily@jahanahayes.com.
  • To help with data entry, go to https://www.jahanahayes.com/dataentry
  • To request a lawn sign, go to https://www.jahanahayes.com/lawnsigns

Check out her website at https://www.jahanahayes.com/ for other ideas.

Supporting Julie Kushner…

Julie Kushner is the Democratic candidate for our Connecticut State Senator, running against the incumbent, Michael McLachlan. Visit Julie’s website.

To recap the site’s introduction to Julie:

Julie Kushner will bring four decades of experience and passion shaped through activism with her into Connecticut’s state senate. From her first organizing wins among secretaries at Columbia University (where they won a higher minimum wage, pay equity, and protections against sexual harassment) to her recent experiences advocating for UAW members in Puerto Rico after the 2017 hurricanes, Julie’s tenacity and dedication bring people together to achieve real change. 

Needed: Election Volunteers

The Registrar’s office is seeking volunteers to assist at the various elections and referendums held throughout the year. There are a variety of positions, some for the entire day and some for a half day.

Any registered Democrat interested in volunteering or seeking more information should contact either Bill Perkanis, Registrar, wmpetkanis@gmail.com, or Carol Muska, Assistant Registrar, auli7@sbcglobal.net.
xx

Upcoming Sherman Events

Sherman Democratic Town Committee Regular Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, October 24th, 7:30pm
Old Town Hall (Senior Center)
All registered Democrats from the town of Sherman are welcomed and encouraged to attend our monthly meetings.

Board of Selectmen Monthly Meetiing
Thursday, October 25th, 7 PM
Mallory Town Hall

Meet & Greet with BOTH Jahana Hayes AND Julie Kushner
Sunday, October 28th, 7 PM
Jewish Community Center
9 CT-39, Sherman, CT 06784

Contact Your Representatives

Sherman is lucky to be represented by two Democratic senators and a Democratic representative in Congress–but don’t think that your phone calls in support of their votes and actions do not matter. Senator Chris Murphy, speaking recently at a campaign-training event, made it clear that tallying up those supportive calls from his constituents helps him maintain a strong case for his positions. Sherman’s state-level representatives are both Republicans.

Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D)
(860) 223-8412  (202) 225-4476

Senator Chris Murphy (D)
(860) 549-8463   (202) 224-4041

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D)
(860) 258-6940   (203) 330-0598   (202) 224-2823

State Senator Michael McLachlan (R) Senate District 24
(860) 240-0068

State Representative Richard Smith (R)  House District 108
(860) 240-8700

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Please contact us at:
shermandems@gmail.com to join our mailing list

Important Links

Sherman Democratic Town Committee
http://www.shermandems.org/
Donate to the SDTC
http://www.shermandems.org/donate/
Register to Vote
http://www.shermandems.org/how-to-register-to-vote-2/
Vote with an Absentee Ballot
http://www.shermandems.org/how-to-register-to-vote-and-get-an-absentee-ballot/

About Us

We are an organization of inclusion, not exclusion. We have a longstanding history of attracting both Democratic and unaffiliated voters and endorsing both Democratic and unaffiliated candidates. We work to represent the wide variety of Sherman citizens who hold many different viewpoints and opinions.

Paid for by the Sherman Democratic Town Committee, Thomas Conley Treasurers