HOUSE DEMOCRATS • CHRISTOPHER G. DONOVAN • 2007 PRESS RELEASES

2007 Press Releases

November 21, 2007

MAJORITY LEADER DONOVAN HEADS HOME TO MERIDEN
TO DISCUSS HEALTHCARE

House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) has scheduled meetings around the state to explore the potential for significant savings associated with healthcare pooling through the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership. A meeting in Meriden has been scheduled for Monday, November 26th at 4:00 p.m. in Meriden City Hall. 

Rep. Donovan is expected to be joined at the meeting by members of the Meriden legislative delegation, municipal leaders, union officials and employees.  Members of the public are encouraged to attend.

The Connecticut Healthcare Partnership would achieve millions in annual taxpayer savings through “pooling.”  Municipal employees would join the state employee health insurance plan, creating a large pool of insured lives leading to increased bargaining power and lower costs.

November 15, 2007

MAJORITY LEADER DONOVAN, MUNICIPAL LEADERS, UNIONS:
HEALTHCARE PLAN WILL SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) today outlined the financial benefits of the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership as part of the overall vision for affordable, quality healthcare coverage for the state’s un- and underinsured residents.  Rep. Donovan was joined at a press conference in the Legislative Office Building by state legislators, municipal officials, municipal employees, healthcare advocates and organized labor.

The Connecticut Healthcare Partnership achieves millions in taxpayer savings through “pooling.”  Municipal employees would join the state employee health insurance plan, creating a large pool of insured lives leading to increased bargaining power and lower costs.

“Good benefits at a better price, it’s a simple prescription for healthcare,” Rep. Donovan said. “Saving money on healthcare is in everyone’s interests. Just look at the partnership we have here today - legislators, municipal leaders, town employees, unions, healthcare advocates - we are all interested in a good plan that costs less.”

Examples of potential savings based on what towns currently pay for healthcare versus what the state pays for comparable benefits, are:

Rep. Donovan has scheduled meetings with municipalities around the state to further explore the significant savings associated with healthcare pooling.

“In order to forge this partnership, we need dialogue and understanding,” Rep. Donovan said. “We will build this partnership town by town.”

“All municipalities are searching for cost-effective means of providing quality health care for their employees,” Meriden Mayor Mark Benigni said. “I'm excited about the potential of this partnership and I'm looking forward to being part of the process.”

Sal Luciano, Executive Director Council 4 AFSCME, said, “In the last six years the cost of health insurance has gone up almost 90% – about five times the rate of inflation. This is not sustainable. The long term solution to fixing healthcare is to create an efficient, affordable, high quality state administered single payer plan. The short-term solution is to expand participation in existing healthcare purchasing coalitions, or to create new coalitions. Several states have already passed such legislation or established Blue Ribbon Commissions recommending the use of purchasing pools. It’s time for Connecticut to follow suit.”

Joyce Okonuk, First Selectwoman for the Town of Lebanon, said, “My community appreciates the efforts that Chris Donovan is making to help solve the healthcare dilemma that all municipalities face in the state of Connecticut - the costs of which are being borne by the tax payers.  I look forward to the proposal he brings back to us after his investigations.”

October 30, 2007

LEGISLATURE APPROVES MILLIONS FOR MERIDEN

Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden), along with the Meriden delegation to the General Assembly, announced House and Senate approval of bond authorizations (SB 1502) for capital improvement projects throughout Connecticut.  The bond package includes more than $13 million for projects in Meriden.

Bonding for Meriden includes:

In addition, Meriden has been designated a Transit-oriented Development Pilot Project and will be eligible for funding to develop areas surrounding transit stations.

The bonding bill awaits action by Governor Rell. 

October 24, 2007

MAJORITY LEADER ASKS FOR STATE OVERSIGHT OF HUSKY HMO
HUSKY insurance provider’s Florida office raided by federal agents

Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden), citing a federal raid on the Tampa, Florida offices of WellCare Health Plans, asked the State Department of Social Services (DSS) to investigate the impact on Connecticut’s HUSKY and Medicaid recipients.  WellCare is one of four HMOs contracted by Connecticut to provide health insurance for state residents under the umbrellas of Husky and Medicaid.

In a press release, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida James R. Klindt today announced that law enforcement personnel with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and state and federal agencies executed a search warrant at the headquarters of WellCare Health Plans, Inc., located at 8735 Henderson Road, Tampa, Florida.

“We need to closely monitor this situation,” Rep. Donovan said. “I have advised the DSS of the Florida raid on WellCare and have asked for the Department to review our contract with the company.  We must make sure the interests of our state and our children are protected.”

September 6, 2007

MAJORITY LEADER CALLS FOR STATE IDENTITY THEFT HOTLINE

House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden), in a letter to Department of Revenue Services (DRS) Commissioner Pam Law, requested more information on the loss of taxpayer data from a stolen state computer and called for the initiation of a hotline to assist residents whose personal data has been compromised.

“Right now, impacted taxpayers are being asked to clean up DRS’s mess,” Rep. Donovan said. “I want the commissioner to set up a hotline to foster a user-friendly, streamlined process for dealing with the loss of personal information and the potential for identity theft.  The state should be handling this issue.”

Rep. Donovan has been identified as one of the individuals whose personal information was stored DRS laptop computer that was stolen from a state employee’s car.

Rep. Donovan said, “As an individual personally affected by the situation and as an elected official, this incident raises serious questions and concerns.  The public deserves answers.”

The commissioner has been asked to provide information on the loss of data, on DRS’s response to the loss of data, and on the department’s response to impacted taxpayers.

The DRS laptop contained names and social security numbers for 106,000 individuals, about 10 percent of all taxpayers.

September 5, 2007

MAJORITY LEADER DONOVAN’S PERSONAL INFO
LOST IN STOLEN STATE LAPTOP
Urges support for other’s whose private information has been compromised

House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) has been identified as one of the individuals whose personal information was stored on a Department of Revenue Services (DRS) laptop computer that was stolen while a state employee was on vacation.

The DRS laptop contained names and social security numbers for 106,000 individuals, about 10 percent of all taxpayers. These taxpayers, including Rep. Donovan, have had confidential information compromised and now face the threat of identity theft.

Rep. Donovan received a letter from DRS directing him to call a credit monitoring service.  The service attempted to sell him credit protection coverage at a cost of over $100.  A second letter from DRS, received after Rep. Donovan called the monitoring service, noted that the state would pay for the monitoring. “I’m sure, acting on the state’s advice in the initial letter, that there are people who paid for this service themselves.  They should be reimbursed immediately,” Rep. Donovan said.

The identity theft monitoring will cost the state approximately one million dollars. In addition, the state had to develop a new search engine on the DRS website as well as initiate an internal investigation.  “What else is being done and what is it costing the taxpayers?” Rep. Donovan asked. “I don’t feel like we are getting the whole story.”

Rep. Donovan continued, “I worry that there are 106,000 Connecticut residents who don’t have enough information to protect themselves from identity predators.  The Department of Revenue Services created this problem.  They state should be working directly with taxpayers to solve it – a letter isn’t enough.”

Rep. Donovan is preparing a series of questions for the Commissioner of DRS to answer in order to help other taxpayers who have been impacted by the stolen laptop. “I am not satisfied with the state’s response so far.” Rep. Donovan said.

June 25, 2007

MERIDEN RESIDENTS WINNERS IN STATE BUDGET

By Christopher G. Donovan

Democrats in the General Assembly were looking out for your interests while the budget compromise was being negotiated.  While the governor and Republicans were fighting to protect the rich (looking to phase out the estate tax and opposing tax cuts for 95% of Connecticut income tax filers), we made sure to produce a budget that is a win for everyone - there is something for property taxpayers; there is something for people in need of healthcare; there is something for teachers and students.

Granted, we were a little late, but it was worth the wait. Thank you for your patience.

Access to affordable, quality health care was a rallying cry for House Democrats this session, highlighted by changes to the state’s HUSKY Plan, designed to bring health care to every child in Connecticut. We increased reimbursements paid to hospitals and private Medicaid providers like physicians and dentists – the first such increase in these Medicaid fees since 1993, expanded eligibility thresholds for children and families in HUSKY and enhanced outreach programs to better promote the HUSKY Plan and maximize enrollment among eligible residents.  The bottom line is a lot more Meriden residents will have access to quality healthcare.

As a part of this budget, we increased education funding to cities and towns to historic levels. Meriden education grants swell $5 million for the upcoming fiscal year with further increases scheduled for 2009.  Senator Gaffey and I were also able to include $1.4 million to shred the outstanding bill for the magnate school – a huge outstanding burden of taxpayers’ shoulders. Other town aid earmarked for road repairs and lost tax revenues from hosting state property jumps 5.1 million over last year.

On the tax side, we were very disappointed in the governor for her rejection of property tax reform and income tax relief for Connecticut residents. House Democrats fought for a budget that provided tax cuts to 95% of taxpayers, doubled the property tax credit to $1,000, and created an earned income tax credit for the working poor. Almost everyone in Meriden would have enjoyed a significant tax cut. Governor Rell chose to veto this tax relief plan and insisted on increasing the cigarette tax, so we were forced to compromise on a budget that holds the line on taxes (not a bad runner up).

Much of the current state budget surplus of about $1 billion is being used to help pay down long term debt, pay off bonds and increase the balance in the state’s ‘rainy day’ fund.

I am very proud of our accomplishments and am happy the governor belatedly came to the table to work out a budget agreement to punctuate the 2007 legislative session.  You may not have stayed up until 5:30 Saturday morning to watch the debate, but the late night (or early morning) was worth it - Meriden will benefit from this budget.

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

April 13, 2007

WE WANT A TAX CUT
By Christopher G. Donovan

Democrats have heard you loud and clear. Your utility bills provide a shock each month. You have real concerns about healthcare costs and access to affordable insurance.  Your expenses keep piling up. We hear you, and are doing something about it by lowering your income taxes and by providing more money for healthcare, education and property tax relief.

In contrast, Governor Rell wants to raise your income taxes over the next two years. With the rising costs of home energy, gasoline and health care this is not only irresponsible, but offensive to the hard-working citizens of this state.

Our plan offers an income tax cut and doubles the property tax credit on income taxes from $500 to $1000. That’s worth repeating:  an income tax cut and the property tax credit doubles.

Taking effect this year, the plan will offer much-needed relief to our overburdened taxpayers. Joint filers making under $100,000 would see their income tax rates drop from 5-percent to 4.75-percent.  Those up to $150,000 would still see a ½ percent cut compared to the governor’s budget, as well as receiving the property tax credit.  We also include an earned income tax credit for low income families.

Additionally, showcasing a commitment to education, our budget will provide an increase in state aid to municipalities. Meriden can expect to receive $6.2 million more – a change of 11.8-percent over and above what we received last year (a helping hand for city services while providing more relief for property taxpayers).

The Democratic plan also involves pumping $300 million into health care programs designed to help children and seniors. The HUSKY program would be expanded to cover more parents as well as pregnant women. We include a funding increase to hospitals, physicians, clinics, dental care, vision, chronic disease hospitals and personal care assistants – the first such increase since 1989.

This budget proposal also does a terrific job of addressing energy concerns. In addition to creating an incentive program for the biodiesel industry, the budget will provide funds to clean up our diesel school buses. It also builds in a sales tax exemption of all Energy Star approved products, such as windows.

You choose: do you want the higher taxes of the governor’s budget, or the Democrats’ tax cut and increased services? 

Governor Rell is advocating a budget that does nothing to relieve the back-breaking burdens that Connecticut’s middle and working class citizens deal with on a daily basis. Democrats are providing relief.  We represent you in Hartford and are listening to you.

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

January 23, 2007

MERIDEN DELEGATION ANNOUNCES STATE DOLLARS FOR LOCAL PROGRAMS

House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden), Sen. Tom Gaffey, Deputy Speaker Emil “Buddy” Altobello, and Rep. Cathy Abercrombie announced the State Bond Commission is expected to approve funding for the Rushford Center and H.C. Wilcox Technical High School.

“The Meriden legislative delegation is a strong team and we worked hard to secure this funding,” Rep. Donovan said. “State funding helps keep local projects moving forward and important local programs operating.”

Wilcox Technical High School is expected to receive a $50,000 for alterations and improvements to the facility.  Rushford Center has an $800,000 grant on the agenda to finance HVAC upgrades.

Rep. Altobello, an alternate member of the Bond Commission, said.  “The old Veterans Memorial Hospital that houses Rushford is a city owned building, so this money is direct aid to Meriden.  I am very pleased that we were able to get all these projects on the governor’s `radar screen for consideration at Friday’s Bond Commission meeting.”

Rep. Abercrombie said, "I'm very pleased to hear that the governor is releasing these much-needed funds for Rushford and Wilcox.  Rushford provides very important services to our young people and we need to support them.  Wilcox Tech is an important part of the community teaching our youth a trade in order to successfully enter the workforce after graduation."

The State Bond Commission is also expected to approve the following School Readiness Grants for Meriden-based programs:

The State Bond Commission meets Friday (January 26th) at 10:30 a.m. in room 1-E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.