Lamont details plan for $2.6B in COVID-19 aid
Connecticut is receiving an unprecedented windfall from the federal government after the passage of the American Rescue Plan, and Gov. Ned Lamont has issued a sweeping proposal on how to spend those billions of dollars. The governor said equity was at the heart of his decisions on how to spend the money, with five guiding principles: defeating COVID19, investing in our future, creating a more affordable Connecticut, economic growth that works for all and modernizing state government.
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The big story
Lamont outlines stimulus spending plan:
A plan submitted to the General Assembly Monday outlines how the governor proposes spending $2.6 billion in direct aid Connecticut received through the American Rescue Plan that passed Congress earlier this year. It includes major proposed expenditures for unemployment, housing assistance, aid to state colleges and universities and programming to support youths including summer camp scholarships and free admission this summer for kids to state museums and other attractions. Over three years, $33 million would be used to fund community health workers who would help high-risk families and children. Gun violence prevention initiatives in Connecticut’s cities would get a $3 million boost in funding. Another $30 million would expand broadband access in public places and low-income communities. Workforce development initiatives would receive more than $100 million in funding over three years. And $200 million would be used to fund continued COVID-19 testing over the next two years. “Our proposal places a special emphasis on equity, investments in children and families, and making our state even more prepared in the event of another public health emergency or crisis,” Lamont said, in a written statement. The legislature’s appropriations committee will review the governor’s proposals and make any adjustments.
Five things you may have missed
Schools will not be required to offer remote learning next year:
Connecticut school districts will not be required to have a remote learning option when students return for the start of the next school year, the state Department of Education told superintendents this week. “It remains broadly accepted that in-person access to school is the best longterm approach for most students to be educated,” a notice from the state education department reads. Bridgeport Superintendent of Schools Michael Testani told The Connecticut Mirror he was “extremely pleased” by the decision. “I believe strongly that kids need to return to in-person learning,” he said. “It has been more than a year away from the classroom for some students.” The state said remote learning could continue in certain instances, like on snow days. State data show that 74.1% of school districts were operating with five days a week of in-person classes from April 19-23.
Regulators consider fining utilities for poor Isaias response:
Eversource and United Illuminating, the state’s two largest electric utilities, are facing potential fines after state regulators determined the companies failed to adequately prepare for Tropical Storm Isaias last August that resulted in more than 1.3 million total power outages across Connecticut. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority said Eversource’s response was particularly poor. The company has shown a “lack of preparedness, lack of communication, lack of coordination and lack of timely restoration” according to Michael Caron, one of three PURA commissioners. Regulators plan at a future proceeding to indefinitely reduce the utilities’ return on equity, a measure of profitability. That would cost Eversource about $25 million a year, and United Illuminating about $1.3 million annually. Eversource has defended its response, saying the utility worked as quickly as possible to restore power after a storm that turned out to be more devastating than forecasters had initially predicted.
Bill eliminating religious vaccine exemption signed into law:
Lamont on Wednesday signed a bill to eliminate the state’s religious exemption for mandatory school vaccinations, ending a yearslong debate that started amid the worst measles outbreak in the U.S. in decades in 2019. While Connecticut’s overall immunization rate remains high, lawmakers grew worried about pockets of vulnerability in certain communities in Connecticut and an increase in the number of students claiming religious exemptions. “When it comes to the safety of our children, we need to take an abundance of caution,” Lamont said. He echoed others who said the measure was needed to protect children who cannot receive vaccinations for medical reasons. Those students will continue to be exempt. The same day Lamont signed the bill, parents opposed to the measure vowed to file federal and state lawsuits challenging the new law, saying it was government overreach and runs afoul of the First Amendment.
GOP fighting new taxes on gas, trucks: Republicans in the state legislature have partnered with the grassroots group that fought back against proposals for electronic highway tolls in an effort to block new taxes on tractor-trailer trucks as well as a climate change initiative that’s expected to lead to an increase in gasoline prices. The regional Transportation Climate Initiative would require petroleum wholesalers to pay for emission credits under a cap-and-trade plan, which would raise gas prices by an estimated 5 cents per gallon in the first year. The fees on tractor-trailers, which would be based on miles driven, would raise about $90 million annually for transportation initiatives. At a Wednesday news conference, Republicans said both measures would drive up the price of other goods like groceries and home heating oil due to increased transportation costs. The No Tolls CT group plans to hold rallies across the state in opposition to the proposals.
’Combat pay’ proposed for frontline state workers: In acknowledgment of the thousands of state employees at prisons, hospitals and nursing homes who remained on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Lamont has proposed $1,000 “combat pay” bonuses for those workers. The request, amounting to about $12.5 million for nursing home workers and $10 million for frontline state employees, is included in Lamont’s spending proposal for federal American Rescue Plan funds. “We had a lot of frontline state employees — they couldn’t telecommute, they couldn’t Zoom. … So we want to say thanks for the incredible work that you did on behalf of the people of Connecticut when we needed it.” Out of 50,000 full-time state employees, as many as 14,000 would qualify for the bonus, about 80% of whom work in agencies that operate around the clock like the state police.
Odds and ends
Miriam Delphin-Rittmon,
commissioner of the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, will be heading to Washington to join the Biden administration as assistant secretary for mental health and substance use at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Delphin-Rittmon has led DMHAS since 2015. Her new position is subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate. She follows former state education Commissioner Miguel Cardona to the Biden administration, where he’s serving as U.S. education secretary. … Corey Paris won a special election in the 145th House District in Stamford Tuesday, succeeding Patricia Billie Miller, who vacated the seat after being elected to the state Senate. The 29-yearold Democrat defeated his GOP challenger Juan David Ospina by a nearly 3-to-1 margin. … Secretary of the State Denise Merrill recently awarded the Democracy Cup to the Connecticut cities and towns that had the greatest turnout in the November 2020 election. The winners were Burlington (91.94% turnout) in the small town category, Newtown (90.17%) in the midsize town category, Glastonbury (88.66%) in the large town category and Stamford (79.68%) in the city category. With expanded absentee ballot access due to COVID-19, more than 650,000 Connecticut voters cast their ballot that way, Merrill said. … Rep. Rosa DeLauro took aim at Food & Wine magazine this week after the publication declared Connecticut pizza was No. 2 behind New Jersey in terms of states that dish out the best pies. “I am dropping the hammer on this incessant debate and hereby declaring Connecticut pizza the best pizza in the country. Gavel out,” said the New Haven Democrat and chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee. … Fitch Ratings, the Wall Street credit reporting firm, in a new report says Connecticut has gained back 60% of the jobs lost since widespread businesses closures were ordered at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s better than Massachusetts and New York, but below the national job recovery rate of 63%. Connecticut’s unemployment rate stands at around 8%, but Fitch noted it could much higher if people who have left the labor force over the past year are also counted.