Thumbs up, thumbs down
Thumbs up to the signing of “Ethan’s Law,” a gun-safety measure that requires firearms to be secured in the home, whether loaded or unloaded. The ceremony to mark Gov. Ned Lamont’s approval of the bill was held last week in Guilford, the site of a 2018 tragedy where a 15-year-old died at the hands of an unsecured handgun. The bill passed both houses of the Legislature with overwhelming majorities, showing there is hope, in Connecticut and beyond, to come together for common-sense safety measures that could save countless lives.
Thumbs downto environmental risks caused by firefighting foam that contains hazardous PFAS chemicals and is now being used and stored at more than 300 fire departments across the state, experts say. Jeff Morrissette, the state fire administrator, told the Hartford Courant there is “no way of knowing” how much of the foam is being used to fight fires and for training firefighters in Connecticut. PFAS compounds like those found in the firefighting foam that leaked into the Farmington River recently have been linked to various ailments including reproductive problems and kidney cancer, and are notoriously difficult to clean from the environment once introduced.
Thumbs up to the state of New York, which along with Maine was one of only two states nationally to eliminate religious and philosophical exemptions to vaccination laws. Connecticut tried and failed to take that step in this year’s legislative session, and needs to try again next year. People who opt out of vaccinations for nonmedical reasons put themselves at risk but also other people, who may be too young to be vaccinated or cannot on doctor’s recommendations. With previously eliminated infectious diseases on the rise, the danger is real.
Thumbs downto the continued spread of invasive species in local waters. In response, the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection is offering training for citizens interested in volunteering to monitor local boat launches for the presence of invasive plants and animals, such as zebra mussels, which can drive out local animals. At the same time, invasive plants can form dense mats, making boating, fishing, swimming and other recreational activities nearly impossible, according to DEEP.
Thumbs up to plans to increase the use of wind power in Long Island Sound. The measure was one of several victories chalked up by environmentalists this past session, and now talks are underway on how to make the most of a natural resource without affecting local fisheries or the economy. The law authorizes the state to purchase up to 2,000 megawatts of offshore wind power, which is the largest authorization by load of any state in the region and a major step up from previous levels.
Thumbs up to news in a new study that found the racial disparity between white and black cancer patients in accessing timely treatments has virtually disappeared in states where Medicaid expanded under the Affordable Care Act. Having access to insurance can significantly impact outcomes in cancer patients, the study’s author found. And while Connecticut was the first state to expand Medicaid under the ACA, that gain remains under threat, with a lawsuit in Texas calling into question the entirety of the law, including Medicaid expansion.