Newsroom - 2009

December 9, 2009

REP. JOHNSON URGES FARMERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF FEDERAL LOANS NOW AVAILABLE
USDA offering relief to farmers hurt by crop damage

State Representative Susan Johnson (D-Windham) is urging local farmers to apply for low-interest federal loans to recoup losses caused by severe weather earlier this year.

“This loan program will provide Connecticut’s farmers with a much-needed financial boost during these difficult economic times,” said Representative Johnson. “It is often forgotten that farming isn't just a hobby, it's a multi-billion-dollar industry that provides jobs to thousands of Connecticut residents."

Earlier this week, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated six Connecticut counties, including Windham, as primary natural disaster areas because of above average rainfall and flooding that occurred from May 12 to June 4. This USDA designation allows farmers and small businesses impacted by the weather to apply for low-interest emergency loans through the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA).

It is estimated that some farmers lost over 30 percent of their crops because of the severe rainfall, hail and flooding. Crops affected included tomatoes, corn, peaches, grapes, pumpkins and tobacco.

Representative Johnson said “Our farmers really need this help, so I am hopeful that the loans will be processed quickly.”

For more information, please visit www.fsa.usda.gov or call the local USDA office at (860) 871-4095. Representative Johnson added that people can contact her directly if they are encountering problems or have questions.

December 1, 2009

WINDHAM TECH’S NURSING PROGRAM GETS BUDGET AX

by HTNP.com Staff

After years of providing affordable training to more than 60 classes of nursing students, Windham Technical High School’s licensed practical nursing program will be cut.

The popular program is another victim to the statewide budget reduction plan.

Windham Tech will join nine other technical high school LPN programs across the state in an effort to shave an estimated $1.7 million from a projected $466.5 million budget deficit, Gov. M Jodi Rell announced last week.

There are currently 20 students enrolled in the LPN program at Windham Tech.

“The program allows adults to go to school closer to home and at a reasonable cost,” Windham Tech Principal Kirk Murad said. “Our teachers do a great job and our students are well-respected when they’re placed.”

Students at Windham Tech pay $4,850 for tuition for the 16-month program, about 20 percent of the program’s overall cost. The remainder of the cost is absorbed by the state.

Murad said 20 nursing students were set to graduate in January and the future of the program was uncertain since he had yet to receive official word on whether the program will end.

According to Jeffrey Beckham, a spokesman for the state Office of Policy and Management, the nursing programs will be “indefinitely suspended” beginning after January graduations.

“It’s a difficult cut, they’re all difficult at this point,” he said.

There are a number of other nursing programs in the state, Beckham said, and teaching adults was not a part of the core mission for technical high schools.

One local state lawmaker said cutting the program is a small cut that has a huge impact on the lives of those benefiting from the program.

“I don’t see where cutting a tech school is going to help,” said state Rep. Susan Johnson, D-Willimantic. “You’re hurting people who are using their resources to make a living.”

She fears cuts to a nursing program during a nursing shortage would hurt the economy as well.

“You cut these areas and the economy constricts,” she said.

In poor municipalities like Windham, Johnson said, cutting an affordable education program is detrimental to the local population.

“It’s good to have the government be able to pitch in,” she said.

Cutting the local program and thereby forcing aspiring nurses to go elsewhere for training also causes people to move away from the area, hurting the local economy, Johnson said.

The school’s close proximity to Windham Community Memorial Hospital was good for Windham’s economy as well, she said.

“To cut back on a program when we have a nursing shortage is a terrible thing to do, and it’s going to get worse,” Johnson said.

LPNs work under the direction of registered nurses in all aspects of patient care.

The program at Windham Tech includes classroom work, labs and hands-on clinical experience with area health-care providers.

This story includes reports from the Waterbury Republican-American.

December 1, 2009

REP. JOHNSON ALERTS SENIORS TO CONNPACE CHANGES
Some clients could lose ConnPACE Medicare D Premium subsidy

State Representative Susan Johnson (D-Windham) urged seniors who are ConnPACE clients to review their Medicare Part D coverage to make sure they are in compliance with changes recently adopted by the state Department of Social Service (DSS).

To ensure the State Department of Social Services (DSS) continues to pay for an individual's Medicare D premiums under ConnPACE, the state’s prescription drug program for seniors, recipients must now be enrolled in a DSS benchmark Medicare D plan. The enrollment into the benchmark plan must be completed during the current Medicare D enrollment period which runs until December 31st 2009.

“I understand that many folks can find these changes somewhat confusing,” Rep. Johnson said. “Picking a benchmark plan will guarantee that your Medicare D Premiums will continue to be paid under the ConnPACE program. It is important to switch your coverage if you are not already enrolled in one of the benchmark plans.”

Representative Johnson encouraged all ConnPACE clients who are not currently enrolled in one of the benchmark plans to contact the Connecticut CHOICES program at 1-800-994-9422 for assistance with enrollment as soon as possible.

The Medicare D benchmark plans that qualify for Payment of Premiums under ConnPACE are:

• Aetna Medicare Rx Essentials
• Bravo Rx
• Cigna Medicare Rx Plan One
• First Health Part-D-Premier
• Health Net Orange Option 1
• HealthSpring Prescription Drug Plan-Reg 2
• Medco Medicare Prescription Plan-Value
• Advantage Star Plan by RxAmerica
• Silverscript Value
• AARP Medicare Rx Saver
• Community CCRx Basic
• PrescribaRx Bronze

If you are already covered by one of the above plans your premium will continue to be covered by ConnPACE.

Representative Susan Johnson is serving her first term representing the 49th Assembly District in Windham. She serves on the Education, Energy& Technology, and Finance Revenue & Bonding Committees.

November 18, 2009 

REP. JOHNSON JOINS COALITION TO CLOSE STATE’S ACHIEVEMENT GAP
Campaign LEARN stresses urgency of implementing effective solutions to close gap

State Representative Susan Johnson (D-Windham) joined with fellow legislators yesterday to announce the creation of Campaign LEARN (the Campaign for Leadership in Education, Achievement, and Reform Now). Lawmakers, education advocates, and equal rights organizations plan to use to stress the urgency of implementing effective solutions to address the current achievement gap between children of color and their peers.

The 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress scores revealed that Connecticut’s achievement gap at all levels, in all subjects, for all disadvantaged groups, was among the largest in the nation.  In the fourth grade, for example, Connecticut’s African-American students were found to be 3.0 grade levels behind white students. By eighth grade, this gap widened to 4.4 grade levels.  This means that that the average African-American eighth-grader performed math on the level of a white student halfway through the third grade.

“It is simply unacceptable that Connecticut, one of the richest states in the country, has the largest achievement gap in the country,” said Rep. Johnson a member of the Connecticut Legislature’s Education Committee. “There should be no difference in education among children in different communities — our children in Windham should be doing as well as the children in neighboring towns. This growing disparity cries out for immediate action”

“Improving educational opportunity and performance is an ongoing challenge, and it is important that we keep moving forward each year,” said State Representatives Douglas McCrory (D-Hartford), who works at the Hartford Adult Education Center and is a member of the legislature's Higher Education Committee. “It is critical that we welcome and remain open to ideas that have real potential in closing the achievement gap.”

The gap between Connecticut’s Latino and white students on the eighth grade math test is slightly smaller (3.9 grade levels), but still large enough to make it the worst in the nation.  In no grade level or subject area was Connecticut’s socio-economic, racial or ethnic achievement gap better than sixth worst in the nation.

Campaign LEARN partners will sponsor a series of education town hall meetings throughout Connecticut during the next few months to discuss how to most effectively close the persistent racial and ethnic achievement gap. The lawmakers intend on using the information obtained at these forums to create legislation for the 2010 session of the General Assembly.

Campaign LEARN partners include a host of advocacy organizations that see access to quality education as a civil rights issue.

“The Connecticut Black Alliance for Educational Options is pleased to be at the forefront in launching this campaign because it provides an unprecedented opportunity to build bridges between the parents and children most impacted by the worst racial and ethnic achievement gap in the nation and the emerging champions of education reform in the state legislature who are committed to closing this gap once and for all,” said Danielle K. Smith, State Director of the CT BAEO.  “There could be no more opportune moment in history to take action in fulfilling the promise of equality in education and Connecticut is ripe for an important breakthrough.  Campaign LEARN partners understand that parents and community members have an important role to play in making change happen and we are committed to building and sustaining the public need to educate all of Connecticut’s children at a high level.”

“Campaign LEARN promises to be exactly the kind of grassroots advocacy movement that Connecticut has been waiting for,” said Michael Sharpe, President of the Connecticut Charter School Network.  “This campaign is greatly needed and the fact that the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus have made the achievement gap a priority is a very important step in the right direction.  We applaud CT BAEO for taking the lead in convening this coalition and we’re happy to be a part of this effort.”

“It’s no secret that Connecticut has the largest achievement gap in the nation and that this gap disproportionately impacts Black and Latino children in our state.  But it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Ron Jarrett, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships of ConnCAN.  “When we focus on doing what works for kids, there is no limit to the progress that we can achieve.  ConnCAN is pleased to be working in collaboration with state partners on Campaign LEARN.  We believe that this campaign will be tremendously important for the education reform movement as a whole.”

Partners in Campaign LEARN include the General Assembly’s Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, the Connecticut Black Alliance for Educational Options (CT BAEO), the State of Black Connecticut Alliance (SBCT), the Connecticut Commission on Children, the African American Affairs Commission (AAAC), the Connecticut State Conference of NAACP Branches, the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN), and the Connecticut Charter Schools Network.

August 28, 2009

CRRA SUSPENDS PLAN FOR ASH LANDFILL

By David Hinchey
Staff Writer

FRANKLIN - Officials from the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority have decided to suspend indefinitely its plans for a proposed ash landfill in Franklin.

News of the suspension has been met with cheers from opponents, but CRRA officials said this morning it is only a suspension of the proposal while they search for other alternatives.

While opponents said the landfill would pollute local waterways and pristine woodlands - not to mention increase truck traffic in the region - the CRRA said it was the best possible location to dispose of its ash.

The CRRA board of directors met Thursday and said, based on directives from state officials, it would suspend its efforts “indefinitely” and focus on other options.

“Based on its understanding of the directives received from state leaders, CRRA will suspend its efforts to develop an ash landfill in the state of Connecticut indefinitely and … immediately focus on consideration of environmentally sound options for long-term disposal of ash residue from its resource recovery facilities, including disposal at other in-state and out-of-state landfills and other options that the CRRA finds beneficial,” reads the resolution, which passed unanimously Thursday.

While the resolution was passed, CRRA officials aren’t crossing the proposed Franklin site off the list just yet.

“All we’re doing is suspending it. We’re not completely closing the door on it,” said CRRA spokesman Paul Nonnenmacher this morning.

Nonnenmacher said the next step for CRRA is:

• Exploring privately owned landfills to deposit ash.
• Developing the CRRA’s own landfill out of state.
• Exploring beneficial ways to recycle the ash, such as using it for building materials if permitted to do so by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Nonnenmacher said all of those alternatives would result in higher trash costs for municipalities, however.

The proposal was for CRRA to locate an ash landfill in Franklin that would likely be between 90 and 95 acres entirely in Franklin. It would also need to purchase between 400 to 500 acres of land in Franklin and South Windham.

The proposed location would have been off Route 32, adjacent to the former Franklin Mushroom Farm and near the Shetucket River.

The CRRA’s plan called for 60 dump trucks each day traveling Route 2 and using Route 32 to access the site, bringing a total of 300,000 tons annually.
Franklin would have received as least $1.5 million in fees, as state law requires the CRRA to pay at least $5 per ton for the site.

CRRA officials said, after a three-year study of the entire state, they felt Franklin was the best site and best met the DEP’s strict regulations.

CRRA conducted a 16-month, $1.5 million on-site study that confirmed the location was best suited for the proposed ash landfill.

Nonnenmacher said, in the meantime, CRRA will continue to use a Wheelabrator Technologies-operated ash landfill in Putnam, as the CRRA has a three-year deal with Wheelabrator.

He said the CRRA is seeking long-term proposals to deposit ash because the Putnam facility at its current rate would reach capacity in June 2018.

However, Nonnenmacher said if the CRRA could get a 20-year contract at a “decent rate” to deposit ash, then it would “increase the likelihood” of the CRRA not pursing the Franklin site.

CRRA said previously it would enter an agreement if it cost less than constructing and operating its own ash landfill.

According to a CRRA news release, since CRRA stopped using the Hartford landfill in December 2008, it has sent the ash to Putnam, which drove up the cost of trash disposal by 14 percent.

Nonnenmacher said the tipping fees at a proposed CRRA ash landfill in Franklin would be $9 per ton less in Franklin than in Putnam.

Opponents of the plan - including high-level state officials - rejoiced upon hearing news of the suspension.

“This is tremendous news,” said Gov. M. Jodi Rell in a statement this morning. “I am extremely gratified that the CRRA listened to our concerns and the concerns of the people in Franklin.”

“I am hopeful that the trash authority will find an alternate site that best suits its needs,” Rell added.

State Sen. Edith Prague, D-Columbia, one of the most vocal opponents of the proposal, was happy to hear the news.

“It’s just wonderful,” Prague said, adding the proposed landfill “would have changed the whole ambiance of Franklin.”

“It’s just so exciting,” Prague said.

“It’s just pristine, beautiful property,” she said of the land that was considered for the proposed landfill.

Prague said the land slated for the proposed landfill should stay as is, but the people who should decide what happens to the area are the residents of Franklin.

“We don’t need another landfill,” Prague said, adding the CRRA should go to the Putnam facility. “It’s where they need to go. Period.”

Susan Allen, a Franklin resident and a member of two citizen groups opposing the project, used “thrilled,” “excited” and “over the moon” to describe how she felt after hearing the news.

Allen said she found out about CRRA’s plans after she received a call from Prague. She said she proceeded to thank Prague “profusely.”

“I feel like that piece of property dodged a bullet,” Allen said. “I’d love to see it protected for future generations.”

Allen also thanked the CRRA for listening to concerns from the public and state officials.

Franklin First Selectman Richard Matters was less euphoric on the news. “We may have won the battle, but not the war,” said Matters. “It doesn’t solve the problem.”

Matters said the state needs to rethink its solid waste disposal policies and “we need to push recycling.”

He said the good part about CRRA suspending the proposal is the Town of Franklin doesn’t have to spend funds on engineers, lawyers and experts.

Across the Franklin border, Windham officials were happy with CRRA’s decision as well.

“I was just ecstatic,” Windham First Selectman Jean de Smet said. “What a relief.”

De Smet said from the start, she believed the state needs to shift its focus on how it deals with its solid waste. “We need to look at the big picture,” she said, which includes recycling.

De Smet said the land in South Windham, which would have been encompassed in the landfill proposal, should be preserved.

She said she believed all towns in the area shared the vision of greenway protection along the region’s rivers, including the Shetucket River.

State Rep. Susan Johnson, D-Windham  - who co-sponsored a bill with Prague and state Rep. Kevin Ryan, D-Montville, to block the CRRA from acquiring the land and building in Franklin  - was also happy.

“I was very, very, very pleased,” Johnson said, adding, from the start of the proposal, she didn’t understand why eastern Connecticut should be a “dumping ground” for the entire state.

“We are the last green valley,” she said, adding the area is home to plants and wildlife. “We need to preserve our open spaces.”

Johnson said the state’s focus should be on cleaning up brownfields and not creating them, adding officials should look into recycling the ash into building materials, such as concrete.

The ash landfill proposal has gone through numerous stages since it was unveiled to the public on March 26, 2008.

Those stages including a referendum on the issue, where Franklin residents, by a 4-1 margin, approved the non-binding question asking if the landfill should be opposed. The vote total was 498 voters saying “yes” - or 39 percent.

There were 97 “no” votes, or votes in support of the landfill.

State legislators also attempted to block the proposal via legislation, but that bill was vetoed by Rell.

While Rell vetoed the bill to block CRRA from acquiring the land, she also said she does not believe Franklin is a suitable site.

Recently, CRRA sent out form letters to all of the other Connecticut towns, asking if they would be interested in hosting a landfill. As expected, most - if not all - have said “no.”

Opponents of the landfill also held a rally in Hartford earlier this week, which was attended by opponents and state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who also voiced concerns about the proposal.

June 18, 2009

NEXT MOVE IS RELL'S ON BILL TO BLOCK ASH DUMP

By ALAINE GRIFFIN
The Hartford Courant

Opponents of a plan to create an ash dump in Franklin are closely watching Gov. M. Jodi Rell's office this week, hoping she will sign legislation that blocks the project.

The Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority says its plan to dump ash from its trash incinerators at the Franklin site is safe. But a group of residents have fought the project, taking their battle to the Capitol. Both the House and the Senate this session passed legislation barring the CRRA from buying land in either Windham or Franklin for an ash dump.

Rell spokesman Adam Liegeot said Wednesday that the governor has until Tuesday to act on the measure.

In a letter to Rell this week, Sen. Edith G. Prague, D-Columbia, said a veto by the governor "would show complete disregard for the well-being of those it would harm the most." An ash dump in Franklin would destroy "pristine" land there and pollute residents' drinking water, the letter states. Also signing the letter were Reps. Kevin Ryan, D- Montville, and Susan Johnson, D-Windham.

The letter follows recent allegations by environmentalists that the CRRA is using "last-minute scare tactics" to push for a veto, telling municipalities the legislation would mean the state would lose its ability to site landfills, forcing towns and cities to pay more to ship ash outside Connecticut.

Sylvia Broude of Toxics Action Center, a New England environmental watchdog group, said that more than 80 percent of residents in Franklin voted against the ash dump plan in a non-binding vote this spring and that at least 15 towns in eastern Connecticut oppose it.

"Scare tactics are nothing new for the CRRA," Broude said. "CRRA has not been able to demonstrate a need for this new ash dump, and this is clearly their effort of last resort. State money needs to go into reducing waste instead of finding more harmful ways to burn and bury it." Since the Hartford landfill closed at the end of December, the CRRA is sending ash to a private landfill in Putnam or out of state.

CRRA President Tom Kirk said Wednesday that the CRRA for a while now has talked publicly about the prospect of towns and cities paying more to have ash shipped out-of-state if an ash dump is not built in Connecticut.

"This is something we've been saying all along," Kirk said. "By no means is it a scare tactic."

Coventry officials have called on Rell to veto the measure, saying the legislation is bad public policy.

John Elsesser, Coventry's town manager, said another town leader — not the CRRA — contacted him recently about the legislation.

After a brief discussion at a town council meeting Monday, leaders decided to write to Rell, asking her to veto the legislation. Environmental issues and the plans' ties to Franklin were not the impetus behind the letter, he said. Town officials, he said, believe state regulatory agencies are charged with vetting such plans and that legislators put those standards in place.

"The issue for us is that it's poor public policy," Elsesser said. "The legislature has passed a bill basically circumventing an established procedure for this type of facility. If this is the accepted practice, next time any type of statewide facility is needed, this is going to be common practice."

Elsesser said that one group should not be allowed to "legislatively say, no, not here," and that scientists should decide whether a location is the right fit for such a facility.

"There's a process for this in the state," Elsesser said. "And we should let it work."

Copyright © 2009, The Hartford Courant

May 27, 2009

SEN. PRAGUE & REP. RYAN PROTECT FRANKLIN FROM LANDFILL

State Senator Edith Prague (D-Columbia), State Representatives Kevin Ryan (D-Montville) and Susan Johnson (D-Windham) announced that a bill preventing an ash landfill from being built in Franklin has passed both chambers of the state legislature.  Senate Bill 3, An Act Prohibiting the Acquisition or Use of Certain Parcels of Land as Ash Residue Disposal Areas, passed the Senate by 27 to 4 and the House voted 95 to 51 to pass it.  It now awaits the Governor’s signature.

Senate Bill 3, co-sponsored by Sen. Prague, Rep. Ryan and Rep. Johnson, prohibits the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority (CRRA) from condemning, purchasing, leasing, or using land in Franklin for an ash residue disposal area.

“The original CRRA proposal called for dumping tons of ash per day on a site in Franklin that would put at risk the drinking water in a local aquifer and the nearby Shetucket River, which supplies drinking water for the nearby town of Sprague,” Sen. Prague said. “The plan’s disastrous impact on the regional environment would be compounded by the incompatibility of dozens of large, ash-laden dump trucks making repeated, daily trips along the rural roads in and around Franklin.”

“I urge Governor Rell to sign this bill at her earliest opportunity,” Sen. Prague added.

“We are very proud of our vote today — Connecticut citizens spoke and we acted,” said Rep. Ryan.  “I would like to thank local advocates, especially Last Green Valley, for all of their hard work in protecting the character of our community for future generations.”

The CRRA proposal to turn a 350-acre site off Route 32 into a landfill has been opposed by area residents, environmental advocates, and lawmakers for many years.  Earlier this month, Franklin voted four-to-one to block the landfill in a town referendum.  Windham passed a resolution to oppose the landfill last year.

"I was pleased to co-sponsor this legislation with Senator Prague and Representative Ryan,” stated Rep. Johnson.  “I am very proud to be a member of this legislative body because they recognize that placement of an ash landfill in Franklin and Windham would adversely impact the aquifer a potential source of pure drinking water.”

Rep Johnson added, “Additionally, the resultant truck traffic would be a burden on the state road that has not been upgraded for more than thirty years.  The landfill in Putnam has enough room to accommodate ash from our incineration facilities for a period of at least 15 to  25 years.  There is no need at this time to create an additional Brownfield in Eastern Connecticut.  I look forward to working with officials in the Legislature and Connecticut citizens to formulate a statewide zero waste management policy."

Landfill opponents were troubled by the possibility of increased pollution, more traffic and loss of open space.  Of particular concern was the potential for toxins to seep into the ground and the water supply.  The proposed site sits atop a local aquifer that provides pure drinking water to many residents and adjoins the banks of the Shetucket River, which supplies drinking water to the nearby town of Sprague.  Precautions were incorporated into the CRRA's plan to prevent adverse effects, but most experts, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, agree that all landfills eventually leak.

May 20, 2009

MEASURE TO KILL LANDFILL PASSES SENATE
Hard fight seen in the House

By Mike Savino
Chronicle Staff Writer

HARTFORD — A bill that would halt the ash landfill proposed in Franklin moved one step closer toward approval Tuesday after receiving strong endorsement from the state Senate.

Sen. Edith Prague, D-Columbia, proposed the bill, which was approved 27-4, to stop the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority from pursuing its plan to put an ash landfill on land adjacent to the old Franklin Mushroom Farm.

The facility would hold ash created from CRRA’s trash-to-energy plants and would replace a similar facility CRRA closed in Hartford at the end of last year.

The bill is now slated for discussion in the state House of Representatives. Rep. Kevin Ryan, D-Montville, co-sponsor of the bill, could not be reached for comment, but Prague said she expects the House to take up the matter early next week.

Even though the bill passed by such a large margin, Prague said she is worried CRRA’s lobbying efforts could gain enough support in the House to defeat the bill.

“We’re doing our best to lobby everybody,” but CRRA will do the same, Prague said.

CRRA spokesman Paul Nonnenmacher said the quasi- state agency has a legislative liaison working with legislators to garner support. He also said opponents of the bill have not presented any facts to prove their argument and CRRA is working to encourage legislators to “look at the facts.”

“This is too important to the state not to,” he added. Nonnenmacher also said he is not surprised the bill passed easily because, he said, Prague is “very powerful in the Senate.”

In an effort to win support in the House, Prague has added an amendment to her bill that would also block a proposed plant in Waterbury that would burn food waste for energy.

Waterbury has five representatives in the House.

Nonnenmacher said he was “disappointed” the legislators are not using the “strict regulatory process they put in place.” He believes the state should allow CRRA to conduct its year-long evaluation and submit an application to the state Department of Environmental Protection before challenging the proposal.

CRRA is currently conducting numerous studies on the proposed site, including a highly anticipated water test, and hopes to submit an application to the DEP by this summer.

But Nonnenmacher said CRRA could decide not to apply, and the DEP could reject the proposal even if it does.

“The DEP is a very careful agency,” he said. “They don’t grant permits like this lightly.”

State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal told Windham’s selectmen he is taking a more patient approach after the town sent him a letter asking him to review the project thus far.

He said his office will continue to monitor the project, but also said the project is in the “preliminary stages” and CRRA and the DEP still have to conduct their reviews.

Franklin First Selectman Richard Matters said he and the other selectmen are taking the same approach.

“We’re going to continue to do what we’ve been doing, monitoring the progress of the wells and reviewing data,” he said.

CRRA recently said the landfill’s footprint will be between 90 or 95 acres contained entirely in Franklin, but the quasi- state agency will need to purchase as many as 500 acres in Franklin and South Windham.

The project could generate at least $1.5 million in revenue for Franklin each year based on CRRA’s projection of 300,000 tons of ash brought to the site annually.

CRRA plans call for 60 dump trucks making the round trip each day along Route 2 and using Route 32 to access the site, but Franklin’s town engineering consultant said as many as a dozen additional trucks daily would need to take away water to a treatment facility.

May 6, 2009

BUDGET CAP POSES PROBLEMS EVEN WHEN THERE’S NO MONEY TO SPEND

By Keith M. Phaneuf
Journal Inquirer

HARTFORD — When it comes to state spending, the focus of most discussions at the Capitol these days is on how to reduce it.
But an unintended side effect of the state’s constitutional spending cap, coupled with a historic infusion of emergency federal aid, could leave Connecticut legally barred from funding basic programs in a few years — even if the economy rebounds and tax revenue is sufficient.

That’s because all federal aid, even the nearly $2 billion in emergency stimulus funding the state will receive across this fiscal year and the next two, counts as "spending" under the rules of the constitutional cap.

At the same time, budget proposals both from Gov. M. Jodi Rell and from the legislature would reduce non-federal aid — in other words, state tax dollars — that the state would spend next fiscal year.

That means that state spending is likely to stay flat or shrink slightly in the next year.

And because the amount of allowable spending growth under cap rules is determined in large part by past spending, Connecticut’s budget cap should fit very tightly a few years down the line — at the same time that historic levels of federal aid are set to disappear.

"I am more worried about 2012 than about 2010," House Majority Leader Denise W. Merrill, D-Mansfield, said Tuesday during a panel discussion on spending cap issues at the Legislative Office Building.

"People don’t think about the spending cap as being a problem" during a recession, said Rep. Susan Johnson, D-Windham. "But it’s a real issue."

William J. Cibes Jr., a Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 1990 who served as budget director under Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr. in the early 1990s, predicted health care and higher education programs would be hard hit by this combination of a tightening cap and vanishing federal aid.

"And these are the budget areas most recognized as protecting our most vulnerable citizens or providing the foundation for future economic development," Cibes said.

Johnson has introduced a bill that would change how federal aid is counted against the cap, to guard against this problem.
This isn’t the first time the state’s spending cap system has been accused of snarling the budget process.

A 2007 report from the nonprofit Connecticut Health Foundation concluded that the cap, adopted by voters in 1992 to complement the new state income tax, has encouraged the use of budget gimmicks and have weakened accountability.
These consequences include increased borrowing and, at times, the forfeiture of available federal aid.

In November 1992, four out of five voters agreed to amend the state constitution to require a cap, which was designed to ensure the state budget, excepting a few areas, doesn’t grow beyond taxpayers’ ability to pay for programs and services.
The largest spending exceptions are debt service and grants to poorer cities.

But since debt service is exempt, critics say, state officials often opt to borrow money for ongoing programs rather than pay cash out of the budget.

The Democrat-controlled Appropriations and Finance committees have recommended nearly $1 billion in borrowing to support the next state budget. Connecticut already is one of the most indebted states per capita in the nation, with more than $16 billion in bonded debt.

The cap system also has led officials to employ "intercepts," an accounting gimmick used to move huge sums of money outside normal restrictions.

Technically, the cap rules restrict spending of state dollars removed from the general fund and most other major funds that make up the state budget.

But legislatures and governors at times have established special accounts to "intercept" revenue before it lands in the general fund. Money spent out of these special accounts, therefore, doesn’t count against cap limits.

And in 2000, the legislature and then-Gov. John G. Rowland arranged a complicated fiscal swap so Connecticut actually would receive $40 million less in federal aid.

They cut a hospital tax by $80 million while at the same time reducing state payments to hospital to cover treatment of uninsured patients by roughly the same amount.

Why make the switch?

Because a tax cut doesn’t count as spending under cap rules, but grants for uncompensated care do. At the same time, though, Connecticut forfeited $40 million in federal reimbursement it was receiving for those uncompensated care payments.

"The cap has a lot of problems that people don’t even know about," Merrill said. "I don’t think the public wants the cap to be used this way."

March 28, 2009

THE FUTURE IS GREEN
Local and state leaders gather for Friday night energy summit

By DAVID HINCHEY
Chronicle Staff Writer

WILLIMANTIC — It was a night to go green in the Thread City Friday night, as 40 plus residents crammed into a meeting room to learn about energy assistance programs, green jobs and a public power authority.

The energy forum was hosted by local state Rep. Susan Johnson, D-Willimantic, and featured fellow state Rep. Vickie Nardello, D-Prospect, who chairs the state legislature’s energy and technology committee.

Also present were members of the Windham Renewable Energy Committee, William Leahy, director of Eastern Connecticut State University’s Institute for Sustainable Energy and Shirley Berger of CT Legal Services.

With escalating energy prices, legislators expressed concern of the high rates being borne by ratepayers.

“Most of us are paying too much,” Nardello said of electricity rates, adding a proposal to form a public power authority “will lower prices.”

Nardello elaborated on the proposal after the forum, which would look to create the Connecticut Electric Authority after the forum.

The bill — HB 6510, which passed Nardello’s committee last week — would essentially make the public power authority the purchasing agent to buy electricity.

She said the authority would buy directly from power generating companies with the benefit of combining ratepay­er purchasing power or pooling.

“Who looks after the interest of the ratepayer?” Nardello asked rhetorically, noting shareholders and lobbyists represent the utility companies.

Also, the authority could finance and purchase power plants to make sure there’s an adequate power supply. “It’s an essential need,” Nardello said, adding electricity should be “priced fairly.”

Nardello said she has heard from residents who complain about high energy costs, but — more recently — she’s heard from manufacturers and businesses.

She said deregulation approved in 1998 and enacted in 2000 did not turn out as legislators had hoped and there were many unin­tended consequences from the vote, which included higher utility costs.

Johnson seemed supportive of the proposal. “It would bring con­trol back to Connecticut,” she said.

“It’s a lot of money out of our economy,” Johnson said after the forum regarding why the issue is important in the state.

She said one option that might help ratepayers is the creation of a public power authority.

Meanwhile, other panelists discussed the creation of “green jobs.”

Leahy said part of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is to create jobs and put people back to work.

He said the stimulus package seeks to create 2 million jobs in green fields, jobs that would allow people to be certified in fields such as weatherization or solar installation.

March 24, 2009

REP. SUSAN JOHNSON, REP. VICKIE NARDELLO, ATTORNEY GENERAL RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, CONGRESSMAN JOE COURTNEY  HOST INFORMATIONAL FORUM ON ENERGY

State Representative Vickie Nardello, Chair of the Legislature’s Energy Committee; State Representative Susan Johnson; Congressman Joe Courtney; and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal will host an energy forum on Friday, March 27th at 6:30 p.m. in the Windham Town Hall.

William Leahy of Eastern Connecticut State University’s Energy Institute, Shirley Bergert of CT Legal Services, the Windham Energy Committee and other special guests will be speaking at the forum.

Information on existing state, local and federal programs and funding opportunities for energy conservation and weatherization will be discussed as well as ideas and proposals presently before the state legislature.

Rep. Johnson would like to encourage all to participate in the forum and reminds everyone to tune in earlier at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27th to 1440 AM radio ‘Let’s Talk About It’ where she will be joined by Rep. Vickie Nardello in a discussion on where the state is and will be heading regarding energy issues.

February 27, 2009

REP. JOHNSON DECRIES CUTS IN KEY BOND ITEMS FOR WINDHAM

State Representative Susan Johnson (D-Windham) voiced her concerns about bond items already approved for projects in her district that have been put on hold in Governor Rell’s budget.

“At a time when we are struggling to stoke our economic activity, putting a hold on these projects mid-stream is very detrimental for Windham and the state,” Rep. Johnson said.

Among the items put on hold:

• $650,000 for restoration of historic properties along Main Street in Willimantic
• $450,000 to the town of Windham for a feasibility study of a whitewater park in Willimantic
• $1,000,000 for emergency room improvements and addition of a heliport at the Windham Community Memorial Hospital
• $814,500 for acquisition and improvements of a central office building in Willimantic for the Windham Regional Community Council, Inc.
• $500,000 for building additions and renovations for the Windham County 4-H Foundation.

The items had all been previously approved by the legislature, but removed from possible consideration by the State Bond Commission in the Governor’s two-year budget proposal.

Rep. Johnson represents the 49th district in Windham and serves on the Education, Energy and Technology and Finance Revenue and Bonding Committees. Constituents who wish to communicate with Representative Johnson may call her office at the State Capitol at 1-800-842-8267 or contact her via e-mail at Susan.Johnson@cga.ct.gov.

February 18, 2009

REP. JOHNSON URGES PARTICIPATION IN
TAX CREDIT OUTREACH PROGRAM

State Representative Susan Johnson (D-Windham) urged constituents to take advantage of the National Women’s Law Center’s (NWLC) Tax Credit Outreach Campaign to insure that all possible tax credits are taken on their tax returns.

“In this time of financial strain and uncertainty, it is very important that families claim all the credits possible to offset the rising costs of every day necessities,” Rep. Johnson said. “I applaud the NWLC’s efforts.”

The NWLC notes on their web site that every year, millions of families fail to claim federal and state tax credits for which they are eligible, leaving billions of dollars unclaimed.

Families filing their 2008 tax returns may be eligible for up to:

• $2,100 from the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit;
• $1,000 per child from the federal Child Tax Credit; and
• $4,824 from the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.

This year, families making $8,500 or more will be eligible for a refund from the federal Child Tax Credit.  Almost 3 million more children will be eligible for the Child Tax Credit as a result. By providing tools and information to parents, service providers, and advocates, the NWLC Tax Credit Outreach Campaign helps families receive the money they are entitled to.

Sign up to get more information at www.nwlc.org on tax credits and other issues that matter to you.

Rep. Johnson represents the 49th district in Windham and serves on the Education, Energy and Technology and Finance Revenue and Bonding Committees. Constituents who wish to communicate with Representative Johnson may call her office at the State Capitol at 1-800-842-8267 or contact her via e-mail at Susan.Johnson@cga.ct.gov.

January 23, 2009

REP. JOHNSON RECEIVES COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

State Representative Susan Johnson (D-Windham) was sworn in by Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz on January 7, 2009, as the new State Representative serving the 49th General Assembly District. Johnson succeeded Walter Pawelkiewicz (D-Windham) who has retired after ten years in the position. The ceremony took place at the State Capitol in Hartford Connecticut during the opening day of the 2009 session of the state legislature. Pawelkiewicz attended the session as Representative Johnson's guest to see his successor take her oath of office.

New Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) has appointed Johnson to serve on the Finance, Revenue and Bonding, Energy and Technology, and, Education Committees. Johnson stated that she is honored and pleased to be appointed to these committees as she will be able to work directly on many critically important issues discussed with her by Windham residents during her election campaign.

Prior to her election to the State House of Representatives Johnson served on Windham Board of Selectmen, Windham Board of Assessment Appeals, and Windham Zoning Board of Appeals. She currently chairs the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, but expects to soon resign from that position to fully concentrate on her legislative responsibilities.

Connecticut legislators serve two year terms. The 2009 session is scheduled to end on June 3, 2009. Constituents who wish to communicate with Representative Johnson may call her office at the State Capitol at 1-800-842-8267 or contact her via e-mail at Susan.Johnson@cga.ct.gov.