Biography

In September of 1994, Andy Fleischmann won a six-way primary - the most competitive primary in Connecticut that year - to become the Democratic candidate for the 18th District Assembly seat; he went on to win election to the House of Representatives that November. He has won reelection six times since then, and is now serving his seventh term in the House.

Rep. Fleischmann serves as Chairman of the Education Committee, Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee for Elementary and Secondary Education, and is a member of the Joint Committee on Government Administration & Elections.

In 2007, Rep. Fleischmann helped win passage of the largest increase in state support for education in over 20 years.  He played a crucial role in eliminating the cap on Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funding for dozens of communities in Connecticut, and also raised the foundation of the grant, meaning that state support for local schools will increase by more than $180 million in FY07-08 alone.  He also was a key player in developing legislation that expands after-school programs, enhances early childhood education, and strengthens accountability in education.

 In 2006, Rep. Fleischmann played a lead role in strengthening state support for special education, winning more than $20 million additional for the special education excess cost grant.  He also helped win passage of one of the nation’s strongest school nutrition bills; advocated for a new law that requires reporting of rates of infection in Connecticut hospitals; and supported additional property-tax relief for senior citizens with financial need.

In 2005, as Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee for Elementary and Secondary Education, Rep. Fleischmann helped win a major increase in state support for local school systems, more than $40 million in total.  Also in 2005, Rep. Fleischmann was the House’s leading proponent of legislation empowering the Attorney General to sue the Federal government for its failure to fund the mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act.  He helped draft legislation that established Connecticut’s Early Childhood Education Cabinet. And, as a leading advocate of campaign finance reform, Rep. Fleischmann was proud to help win passage of the nation’s strongest campaign finance law during the 2005 special session. 

The Connecticut Federation of Educational and Professional Employees, the CT After-School Network, the Connecticut Citizens Action Group, the State Library Association, the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, the Freedom of Information Commission and the Society of Professional Journalists have all recognized Representative Fleischmann for his legislative accomplishments.

An alumnus of Hall High School in West Hartford, Fleischmann received a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, graduating from its Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. He earned a master’s degree in history from Stanford University, where he focused on issues in modern U.S. public policy. When the House is not in session, Rep. Fleischmann serves as Chief Operating Officer of SpeedReading People; a training and consulting firm. He, his wife and daughter reside in West Hartford.