HOUSE DEMOCRATS • JACK HENNESSY • NEWSROOM - 2007
Newsroom - 2007
July 6, 2007
Representative Jack Hennessy (D-Bridgeport) encourages enrollment in a new summer energy conservation incentive program for residential or commercial customers of United Illuminating (UI). The program, called Summer Saver Rewards, provides incentive credits to UI customers to conserve electricity this summer.
“I am happy that United Illuminating has developed a program to save my constituent’s money on their energy bills. This program promotes conservation during the peak demand summer months. I hope many will take advantage of this worthwhile program,” Rep. Hennessy said.
The program is open to customers that are served by UI for the entire period of July 1, 2007 through September, 2007, and July 1, 2006 through September 2006. Customers must have had continuous service at the same location for both time periods.
If you reduce your energy consumption by ten, fifteen or twenty percent compared to the same period in 2006, you’ll earn a credit on your electric bill equal to that percentage. Any customer who uses less electricity during the 2007 period (July 1, 2007, to September 30, 2007) will earn a credit equal to the percentage of the billed generation charges for the eligibility period.
Customers that would like to enroll in the program and read more about it may do so online at
www.uinet.com You may also call Rep. Hennessy’s office at 1-800-842-8267.
Jack represents the 127th Assembly District in Bridgeport and is currently serving his second term.
May 10, 2007
Representative Jack Hennessy (D-Bridgeport) announced today the signing by the Governor of a bill he authored that directs municipalities to reimburse taxpayers that are erroneously charged marshal fees by the municipality for back taxes owed.
After the city had mistakenly withdrawn funds from her credit union account, Mame Williams called her Rep. Hennessy and asked for help. She told him the city had mistakenly issued a marshal’s warrant to collect back taxes; taxes she had already paid. Although the city returned the money, she was not reimbursed the marshal and transaction fees which amounted to $200.00. Neither the city nor the marshal would reimburse her for this loss.
“It was then I decided to present Bill #5722, An Act Concerning Reimbursement Of Marshal Costs Where There Is An Error By The Tax Assessor Or Tax Collector, to correct this problem,” Rep. Hennessy said. “The bill, which holds the municipality legally responsible for reimbursing the taxpayer, was unanimously approved by my colleagues in the House of Representatives and Senate.”
"It's nice that Rep. Hennessy watches out for the little guy,” said Ms. Williams.
The bill became Public Act No. 07-50, with the signing by the Governor on Tuesday, May 22.
Jack represents the 127th Assembly District in Bridgeport and is currently serving his second term.
May 10, 2007
Representative Jack Hennessy (D-Bridgeport) hailed the passage by the legislature a bill he authored that directs municipalities to reimburse taxpayers that are erroneously charged marshal fees by the municipality for back taxes owed.
After the city had mistakenly withdrawn funds from her credit union account, Mame Williams finally called her state representative and complained to Rep. Hennessy. She told him the city had mistakenly issued a marshal’s warrant to collect back taxes, taxes she had already paid. Although the city returned the money, she was not reimbursed the marshal and transaction fees which amounted to $200.00. Neither the city nor the marshal would reimburse her for this loss.
“It was then I decided to present Bill #5722, An Act Concerning Reimbursement Of Marshal Costs Where There Is An Error By The Tax Assessor Or Tax Collector, to correct this problem,” Rep. Hennessy said. “The bill, which holds the municipality legally responsible for reimbursing the taxpayer, was unanimously approved by my colleagues in the House of Representatives and Senate.”
"It's nice that Rep. Hennessy watches out for the little guy,” said Ms. Williams.
The bill now goes to the Governor for signing.
Jack represents the 127th Assembly District in Bridgeport and is currently serving his second term.
April 13, 2007
Representative Jack Hennessy (D-Bridgeport) hailed the Democratic state budget proposal as a win for taxpayers and a win for Bridgeport. Under the proposal, taxpayers would see income and property tax cuts and municipalities could expect additional aid for education and property tax relief.
The budget proposal includes an additional $14.7 million for education and town aid over and above what Bridgeport received for 2007 (an 8.3% increase).
“Our budget takes into account the struggles that our city faces and makes every attempt to maximize state dollars,” Rep. Hennessy said. “Our work is evidenced by the proposed $14.7 million increase over the governor’s budget.”
Property taxpayers would also win thanks to an increase in the property tax credit on income taxes from $500 to $1000. Democrats also included an income tax cut for 88% for the state’s residents – joint filers making under $150,000 would see their income tax rates drop from 5% to 4.75%. The tax rate would stay at 5% on incomes up to $150,000. The proposal would also enact an earned income tax credit for low income families.
The Democratic plan also involves pumping $300 million into health care programs designed to help children and seniors. The HUSKY program would also be expanded to cover parents and pregnant women. A funding increase also goes to hospitals, physicians, clinics, dental care, vision, chronic disease hospitals and personal care assistants – the first such increase since 1989.
Jack represents the 127th Assembly District in Bridgeport and is currently serving his second term.
March 23, 2007
Vice-Chair of the Planning and Development Committee Jack Hennessy (D-Bridgeport) said today the Planning and Development Committee favorably voted on Senate Bill 1215, An Act Implementing a Process of State-Wide Responsible Growth at the public hearing to be held on Friday, March 23.
“Included in this bill is language to ensure the lowering of property taxes in response to the state’s taking on more of the funding share in education, state owned property taxes, and increases in grants to municipalities,” said Rep. Hennessy.
The bill incorporates many of the recommendations of a policy report, “Developing Connecticut’s Economic Future,” issued by 1000 Friends, a state-wide smart growth education and advocacy organization. The report decries the over reliance on the property tax that has municipalities competing for projects that grow the tax base without studying the long-term affects on economic stagnation and segregation, urban sprawl, and transportation issues. The result is disjointed development and land use planning and projects that do not regionally complement each other and ignore development in cities in favor of the suburbs.
The bill mandates the full funding of the Pilot (payment in lieu of taxes) program, in which municipalities are reimbursed for taxes on properties owned by the state. Bridgeport’s has approximately 40% state owned property and will see an increase in revenue as a result of the bill.
Also included is an increase in education cost-sharing and ensuring that economic development projects are shifted toward the cities to combat urban sprawl and to the infrastructure that can better support growth.
“Our state cannot economically survive the continued ad-hoc approach to development that municipalities must implement with the current tax revenue structure,” Rep. Hennessy said. “We must push for sustainable economic development in our cities with an eye to future needs.”
Jack represents the 127th Assembly District in Bridgeport and is currently serving his second term.
February 1, 2007
Representative Jack Hennessy (D-Bridgeport) testified in favor of House Bill 5285, which he authored, at the Insurance and Real Estate Committee public hearing on January 25 in the Legislative Office Building. The legislation would establish a uniform automobile liability rate throughout the state.
“Bridgeport has one of the highest property tax and insurance rates in the country. This is contributing to the mass exodus out of the cities and state because people cannot afford to live here anymore,” Rep. Hennessy said. “This year the legislature has been charged by the people to address the serious problems of urban sprawl, high taxes, insurance rates and stagnant economy.”
An insurance rate is defined as the cost of a given unit of insurance (for example, per $1,000 of assessed value). If the cost to rebuild a wooden house is $100,000, the rate would be multiplied by that amount. In this case, if the rate is $1.50 per $1,000, then the premium would be $1,500. If the house were made of marble, the rate and the premium for coverage would be higher because of the cost of replacement. The rate would also increase if the house were built in an area frequently hit by natural disasters. The same analogy applies to automobile insurance rates. Insurance companies base the disparity in rates and premiums on increased probability of accidents and theft in urban centers.
“When I moved to Bridgeport, my auto insurance rates more than doubled,” said Rep. Hennessy. “I am a professional truck driver with a 16-year safe driving record. That distinction doesn’t garner any benefit in Bridgeport.”
“We should be working to make our urban centers the economic engines they are supposed to be. We need to attract people to the cities instead of driving them out,” Rep. Hennessy added.
Jack represents the 127th Assembly District in Bridgeport and is currently serving his second term.
January 4 , 2007
REP. JACK HENNESSY NAMED VICE-CHAIR OF
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Speaker of the House James Amann (D-Milford) today announced that Representative Jack Hennessy (D-Bridgeport) has been appointed House Vice-Chair of the Planning and Development Committee (P&D).
“Representative Hennessy worked tirelessly for his constituents last session and I am sure he will continue that steadfast dedication as Vice-Chair of P&D,” Rep. Amann said.
The Planning and Development Committee has cognizance of all matters relating to local governments, housing, urban renewal, fire, sewer and metropolitan districts, home rule and planning and zoning; regional planning and development activities and the State Plan of Conservation and Development, and economic development programs impacting local governments.
In addition, Rep. Hennessy will serve on the Environment and Finance Revenue and Bonding Committees.
The Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee is responsible for the revenue side of the budget-writing process. The Environment Committee has cognizance of all matters relating to the Department of Environmental Protection, including conservation, recreation, pollution control, fisheries and game, state parks and forests, water resources and flood and erosion control; and all matters relating to the Department of Agriculture, including farming, dairy products and domestic animals.
"The combination of committees I will be serving on will put me in a key position this session to be able to deliver for the City of Bridgeport,” Rep. Hennessy said. “I am very pleased that Speaker Amann had the confidence to appoint me as Vice-Chair of the P&D Committee.”
Jack represents the 127th Assembly District in Bridgeport and is currently serving his second term. |
