HOUSE DEMOCRATS • CHRISTOPHER G. DONOVAN • 2006 PRESS RELEASES

2006 Press Releases

December 19, 2006

MAJORITY LEADER BLASTS MEDICAID HMOS
HUSKY Insurance providers appeal court order to open their books

Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) today blasted HMOs receiving state dollars under the HUSKY plan for appealing a Superior Court decision that would allow the state to monitor their spending of taxpayer dollars. Despite being paid almost $700 million in taxpayer money, the HMOs have refused to disclose how much they reimburse doctors who provide care under HUSKY.

Rep. Donovan said, “The HMOs are acting like rogue business partners who are hiding the books.  We are currently unable to see if taxpayer money is being spent wisely.  What kind of stewards would we be if we blindly allowed these HMOs to spend hundreds-of-millions of state dollars?”

The state Freedom of Information Commission ruled the HMOs provide a government service and are therefore subject to disclosure rules - the Superior Court upheld that decision – but the HMOs (Community Health Care Network, Anthem Blue Cross-Blue Shield and HealthNet) today appealed.

“The Governor and her DSS Commisioner should stand up for taxpayers and actively oppose the HMOs latest legal delaying tactic.  So far, Governor Rell has not put the weight of her office behind this fight,” Rep. Donovan said.

HUSKY provides more than 300,000 of the state’s children and their parents with health insurance.

December 1, 2006

LAWMAKERS LOOK TO OPEN THE BOOKS
OF HMOs RECEIVING STATE DOLLARS
State financed HMOs must be accountable to taxpayers

Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) today joined legislators and healthcare advocates to demand access to information from HMO’s receiving state dollars under the HUSKY plan and announce informational hearings to take place later this month.

Rep. Donovan said, “Let the light shine in; that’s all we are asking. We expect some daylight and accountability when insurance companies are paid hundreds of millions of dollars by state taxpayers. If HMOs won’t voluntarily provide us with the information we are seeking, we will force them by statute.”

The hearings would bring together doctors, patients and insurance companies and would be the first step toward crafting legislation to ensure accountability and improving access to care for HUSKY patients (A recent report commissioned by the Department of Social Services found that most providers would not accept new HUSKY or Medicaid patients).

Despite being paid almost $700 million in taxpayer money, the HMO’s have refused to disclose how much they reimburse doctors who provide care under HUSKY.

“No other state contractor would be allowed to conduct business behind a curtain,” Rep. Donovan said. “We formed a partnership with the HMOs to deliver critical services and our partner is hiding the books.”

The state Freedom of Information Commission and Superior Court have already ruled that the state has a right to financial data on HUSKY reimbursements.

HUSKY provides more than 300,000 of the states children and their parents with health insurance.

November 3, 2006

MERIDEN DELEGATION ANNOUNCES GRANTS
FOR THE PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE

House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden), Rep. Emil “Buddy” Altobello (D-Meriden) and Rep. Cathy Abercrombie (D-Meriden) announced two grants for the preservation of open space in Meriden through the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program administered by the Department of Environmental protection.

A grant of $47,548 was awarded for 11.3 acres at 789 Hanover Road in the Harbor Brook flood plain. The land is characterized by a large wetland that supplies Harbor Brook. Sodom Brook is located adjacent to this parcel and Harbor and Sodom Brooks drain into Hanover Road. The property is located near Wilcox Tech School and Platt High School.

In addition, a grant of $13,000 was awarded for 2.2 acres of a small, undeveloped, wooded parcel that sits at the base of the City's Elmere Reservoir and water filtration plant. The site is surrounded by city owned land. There is a small pond on the property, which is known as "frog pond."

Rep. Donovan said, “These land acquisitions are victories for Meriden. DEP listened to the Meriden Delegation and put this funding on the front burner.”

Rep. Abercrombie said, “Any time we can preserve land for open space, especially around flood control, it is a win-win situation for Meriden.”

“I am very pleased that Meriden was awarded the two grants,” Rep. Altobello said. “The ‘frog pond' parcel is located within the ‘critical watershed protection zone’ of the Elmere Reservoir while the Hanover land purchase is an essential acquisition for completion of the citywide flood control project".”

October 26, 2006

DONOVAN ASKS MERIDEN RESIDENTS
TO MAKE A DEPOSIT AT THE FOOD BANK

House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) asked residents to make a donation of non-perishable canned goods to the New Opportunities, Inc. food pantry. New Opportunities of Greater Meriden is holding a food drive Saturday from noon - 3:00 p.m. at its Pratt Street location.

“Your donation will directly help another Meriden family,” Rep. Donovan noted. “If you have the means to make a donation, please drop off a can or two at the New Opportunities food drive.”

Rep. Donovan continued, “The pantry desperately needs your donations. We must fill the shelves before temperatures turn freezing. One can is a great donation, 100 cans is a great donation - please participate in this critical food drive.”

New Opportunities of Greater New Meriden is located at 191 Pratt Street in Meriden.

Representative Christopher G. Donovan serves as Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives. He represents the 84th Assembly District of Meriden.

October 6, 2006

MERIDEN DELEGATION ANNOUNCES GRANT FOR EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS

House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden), Rep. Emil “Buddy” Altobello, Rep. Cathy Abercrombie and Sen. Tom Gaffey announced the State Bond Commission has approved $140,952 for technology wiring and communications improvements for educational purposes in Meriden.

The district-wide bond package will be utilized to upgrade the technology infrastructure in Meriden schools as part of an overall plan to keep students competitive in an increasingly technology dependent economy.

Rep. Donovan said, “Aging schools do not have the infrastructure to support the demands of today’s technology. Meriden students will benefit from this investment in our schools.”

“Our culture is increasingly dependent upon computer technology and our economy is increasingly reliant upon those who have learned to use this technology as if it was second nature to them,” Senator Gaffey said. “These funds will help upgrade computer systems and technology centers so Meriden students become hands-on with the high-tech skills they’ll need in tomorrow’s workplace.”

“Technology is our future, children are our future - together they make a great combination. Any time we can enhance our student’s education, I am all for it,” Rep. Abercrombie said.

“I am pleased to support this initiative as we must do all we can to keep up with other nations as they make strides to incorporate communications technology in their curriculums,” Rep. Altobello said. “It is in Connecticut’s, and the nation’s best interest to continue to allocate resources to this effort.”

October 6, 2006

MONEY FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER CLEARS FINAL HURDLE

House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) today announced major funding for the Community Health Center of Meriden. Rep. Donovan’s proposal for $2.5 million was approved today by the State Bond Commission.

Rep. Donovan and the Meriden Delegation submitted the request for funds in 2005. It was overwhelmingly approved by the General Assembly as part of the bond package.

Rep. Donovan said, “The Community Health Center is Meriden’s MVP when it comes to healthcare. From caring for our children, to serving our seniors and families, the Community Health Center provides critical and quality healthcare to our community. It has been a long road to secure this $2.5 million. It is money the Meriden Delegation and I fought to include in the Bond package last year.”

Funding will cover construction costs to renovate 134 State Street, the current site of the Community Health Center.

Rep. Donovan said, “The expanded Community Health Center will be able to provide more services to more patients. This will be a full service facility, with everything from medical to dental care.”

Representative Christopher G. Donovan serves as Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives. He represents the 84th Assembly District of Meriden.

September 12, 2006

DONOVAN HONORED IN NATION’S CAPITAL

Three major campaign finance reform groups honored House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) with the Seize the Moment MVP award at a ceremony in Washington DC.

National good government groups Public Campaign, Common Cause and Democracy Matters recognized Donovan’s efforts to promote democracy and restore accountability to the voters of Connecticut following a pay-to-play scandal that landed Governor Rowland in jail. Rep. Donovan received his award at a banquet in Washington DC on Saturday, September 9. Also recognized at the banquet were Governor M. Jodi Rell, Rep. Christopher Caruso (D-Bridgeport) and Senator Donald Williams (D-Brooklyn).

Nick Nyhart, executive director of Public Campaign said, “Voters in Connecticut should be proud of these elected officials who support a clean elections system making elections about voters, not political donors.”

With the creation of a publicly funded campaign finance system in 2005, Connecticut has the strongest election laws in the nation.

Representative Christopher G. Donovan serves as Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives. He represents the 84th Assembly District of Meriden.

September 6, 2006

DONOVAN APPOINTS ABRAMS TO STATE MARSHAL COMMISSION

House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) has appointed Meriden attorney James W. Abrams as a member of the State Marshal Commission, which oversees the activities of State Marshals, who serve legal papers, perform evictions and perform other functions related to the courts.

“I thought Jim was an excellent choice because he works with the State Marshals every day as an attorney in private practice. In addition, his legislative experience will help in maintaining the integrity of the program,” Donovan stated.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity,” Abrams stated. “As a legislator, I was involved in the effort to de-politicize the State Marshals, and I’m interested to learn how the system is operating and help where I can.”

In addition to his Wallingford legal practice, Abrams serves as Corporation Counsel for the City of Meriden, as a Magistrate with the State Judicial Department, and as an adjunct member of the faculty at Quinnipiac University, where he teaches communications law.

Abrams served as a State Representative from 1995 to 2005.

Representative Christopher G. Donovan serves as Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives. He represents the 84th Assembly District of Meriden.

August 18, 2006

MILLIONS APPROVED TO CLEAN MERIDEN’S WATER

House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) announced the State Bond Commission today approved $13.2 million in grants and loans to improve Meriden’s sewage treatment plant. The funding is part of a $100 million Clean Water Fund package aimed at cleaning water resources around the state.

Rep. Donovan said, “Meriden’s archaic sewage treatment plant is a prime example of the critical need for this funding around the state. Investing in infrastructure may not be headline grabbing news, but is critical to Meriden’s ability to expand and attract more business and residents.”

Types of projects covered by the Clean Water Fund include:

• Construction and improvements to sewage treatment plants

• Increasing the ability of plants to remove nitrogen from wastewater in order to protect the water quality of Long Island Sound

• Repairs to aging sewage pumping stations and sewers

• Construction of separate storm water systems to eliminate overflows caused by combined sewage and storm water systems.

Connecticut’s Clean Water Fund was created in 1987.

Rep. Donovan thanked Rep. Buddy Altobello, Rep. Cathy Abercrombie and Sen. Tom Gaffey for the team effort to secure this funding.

Representative Christopher G. Donovan serves as Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives. He represents the 84th Assembly District of Meriden.

July 28, 2006

REP. DONOVAN TO SPEAK ON FEDERAL/STATE RELATIONS AT PHILADELPHIA ROUNDTABLE

House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) will be one of the panelists at a roundtable discussion on federal/state relations during the Council of State Governments Eastern Regional Conference in Philadelphia, PA.

The discussion will be moderated by Washington Post columnist David Broder. Other panelists include Governor James Douglas, VT; Governor Ruth Ann Minner, DE; and Senator Kenneth McClintock, Senate President, Puerto Rico.

Rep. Donovan said, “I will be sharing Connecticut’s struggles to fill the gaps left by the federal Medicare Part D program. It will be interesting to hear how other states dealt with similar challenges.”

The roundtable is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. on Monday.