February 2, 2010 MAJORITY LEADERS’ JOBS GROUP ANNOUNCES PLAN
TO JUMP-START JOB CREATION AND POSITION CONNECTICUT’S ECONOMY FOR LONG-TERM GROWTH Among Group’s Recommendations: Realignment of Tax Credits,
Investment in Green Jobs and Energy Efficiency, Smarter Government,
and Leveraging Private Capital for Entrepreneurs
A group led by House Majority Leader Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield) and Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney (D-New Haven) today announced a series of recommendations designed “to jump-start job creation in Connecticut and lay the foundation for long-term prosperity.” READ MORE
January 14, 2010 HOUSE DEMOCRATS LAUNCH COMMISSION TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES
FOR REGIONALISM, MUNICIPAL COST SAVINGS
AND EFFICIENCIES Speaker Donovan: ‘We can be doing more with less;’
Commission aims to enact legislation in 2010
House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) and House Majority Leader Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield) today launched a commission that will seek to identify opportunities for more regional collaborations designed to create efficiencies and save money for municipalities. READ MORE
January 11, 2010 REP. MERRILL PROTECTS SERVICES FROM HARMFUL CUTS
Speaker Donovan and Majority Leader Merrill held a news conference to emphasize the House Democrats' commitment to saving and creating jobs, and opposing the Governor's deficit plan which would result in the loss of 5,000 jobs. The leaders were joined by Meriden Mayor Mike Rohde and organizations that would of experienced job losses if the Democrats hadn't rejected the Governor's plan. Hospitals, community and school based health clinics, and daycare centers were among the groups that spoke at the press conference.
December 18, 2009 STATE LOSING OUT
ON FEDERAL FUNDING
FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Lawmakers urge governor to allow state to receive federal dollars Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden), House Majority Leader Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield) and State Representative Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden), House Chairman of the Planning & Development Committee, held a press conference at the State Capitol complex in Hartford today to highlight the millions of dollars in federal economic development funding the state is losing out on because the governor refuses to allow regions to apply for the grants. READ MORE
December 17, 2009 DENISE MERRILL: REPUBLICANS TO BLAME
FOR ECONOMIC ILLS OF STATE
State Rep. Christoper Coutu, R-Norwich, recently wrote an article that is typical of how Republicans respond to the budget crisis: Attack those trying to solve the problem, make misleading statements and offer no real solutions. READ MORE
December 15, 2009 HOUSE DEMOCRATS’ PLAN WILL SAVE JOBS, BALANCE BUDGET Governor’s cuts cost jobs, federal dollars
House Democrats today announced a comprehensive, $200 million-plus plan to reduce the state’s budget deficit without sacrificing some 5,000 jobs statewide that would be eliminated through Governor M. Jodi Rell’s planned budget cuts.
READ MORE
December 8, 2009 LATINO LAWMAKERS OPPOSE RELL'S PROPOSED FUNDING CUTS Lawmakers fight Rell's plan for cutting deficit Latino lawmakers on Tuesday criticized Gov. M. Jodi Rell for proposing a 25 percent cut to important programs that help the minority group. READ MORE
November 16, 2009 MAJORITY LEADER MERRILL NAMED
A
2009 ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION House Majority Leader Denise Merrill has been named a “2009 Environmental Champion” by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) for her leadership concerning important environmental bills and for her 100% score on environmental issues acted upon during this year’s General Assembly session.
READ MORE
August 16, 2009 TAB TO KEEP STATE HEALTHY MUST BE PAID
Connecticut is trapped in a fiscal hole caused by the global economic crisis. Day after day, the legislature and Gov. M. Jodi Rell struggle on to reach a budget agreement. And every day comes the call from the public: "Can't you all just agree on something already?" READ MORE
August 4, 2009 MAJORITY LEADER MERRILL APPOINTS GIRL SCOUTS CEO
TO SUSTINET OBESITY TASK FORCE
State Representative Denise Merrill, House Majority Leader, has appointed Jennifer Smith Turner, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut, to the Childhood and Adult Obesity Task Force, created in the SustiNet Health Partnership law. READ MORE
July 30, 2009 MAJORITY LEADER MERRILL APPOINTS UCONN PROFESSOR
TO SUSTINET HEALTH PARTNERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS
State Representative Denise Merrill, Majority Leader, is announcing the appointment of Jeffrey A. Kramer, Ph.D., Director of the Programs in Healthcare Management and Insurance Studies within the School of Business at the University of Connecticut, to the SustiNet Health Partnership Board of Directors.
READ MORE
July 10, 2009 MAJORITY LEADER MERRILL PRESENTS STATE GRANT
PROMOTING IMPORTANCE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION
State Representative Denise Merrill (Storrs/Mansfield), House Majority Leader, today joined the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation in presenting a $5,000 grant to Denise Abercrombie for the stabilization of her barn, located at 185 Old Turnpike Road, in Mansfield. READ MORE
May 22, 2009 MAJORITY LEADER MERRILL APPLAUDS PASSAGE
OF REGIONALISM LEGISLATION Regionalism and Sales Tax Sharing Equals Win-Win for Cities and Towns
State Representative Denise Merrill, House Majority Leader, applauded House passage of a bill that will more efficiently deliver government services and save taxpayers money. The legislation gives cities and towns the ability to implement cost saving measures and offers real property tax reform through voluntary regional cooperation incentives. READ MORE
May 6, 2009 REP. MERRILL PLEASED ARMY CORPS CONNECTICUT PROJECTS
WILL INCLUDE MANSFIELD HOLLOW LAKE
State Representative Denise Merrill welcomed an announcement Wednesday that a project involving Mansfield Hollow Lake will be included as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ civil works initiative in Connecticut. READ MORE
May 5, 2009 MAJORITY LEADER MERRILL APPLAUDS WATER COMPANY’S APPLICATION
TO REDUCE CUSTOMERS’ WATER BILLS Rate Reduction Would Affect 77 Mansfield Households
State Representative Denise Merrill today applauded an announcement by the Connecticut Water Company (CWC) that the company has filed an application with Connecticut’s Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) for permission to reduce customers’ water bills for the last six months of 2009. READ MORE
April 23, 2009 REP. MERRILL SCHEDULES BUDGET FORUM
AT MANSFIELD TOWN HALL
State Representative Denise Merrill, House Majority Leader, will hold a budget forum at Mansfield Town Hall in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. READ MORE
April 22, 2009 MAJORITY LEADER MERRILL SAYS EARTH DAY IS A GOOD TIME TO SUPPORT THE USE OF REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS
State Representative Denise Merrill, House Majority Leader, said, “As we celebrate Earth Day, today, it would be a good time to adopt a greener lifestyle by joining me in supporting the use of reusable shopping bags. READ MORE
April 21, 2009 RENESON LOISEL OF WEST HAVEN APPOINTED TO THE COMMISSION ON CULTURE AND TOURISM BY HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER MERRILL
Reneson Loisel of West Haven has been appointed to serve on the state’s Commission on Culture and Tourism by State Representative Denise Merrill, House Majority Leader. READ MORE
April 21, 2009 MAJORITY LEADER DENISE MERRILL OFFERS E-NEWS TO INTERESTED CONSTITUENTS
State Representative Denise Merrill, House Majority Leader, is making E-News available to her constituents in the 54th Assembly District and anyone else who would like to sign up. READ MORE
March 29, 2009 BIKEWAY PROJECT GETS FED FUNDS
Mansfield’s Birch Road Bikeway Project was selected to receive $300,000 in stimulus funding, according to state, local and federal officials this week. READ MORE
March 24, 2009 REP. MERRILL, LAWMAKERS, ADVOCATES, PROMOTE CONSUMERS
USE OF REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS
State Representative Denise Merrill, legislators and environmental advocates today announced their support for legislation that would impose a five cent fee on plastic shopping bags provided by retail stores. READ MORE
March 17, 2009 REP. SCHOFIELD, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS URGE SPEEDY IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW PROGRAM SAVING SENIORS AND STATE MONEY
Legislative leaders joined State Representative Linda Schofield (D-Simsbury) Tuesday at a news conference in calling for speedy implementation of a proposal authored by Rep. Schofield called ConnPACE Plus which provides $4.6 million in state savings and was included in the deficit mitigation plan that passed the General Assembly and was signed into law by the Governor. READ MORE
March 16, 2009 REP. MERRILL ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO UCONN’S MONITOR COMPLIANCE AND STEM CELL ADVISORY COMMITTEES
Walter Pawelkiewicz of Windham has been appointed to the UConn Committee to Monitor Compliance. The Committee is responsible for the monitoring complinace of the policy and procedures relating to consulting agreements and research projects with private or public entities by a member of the faculty. READ MORE
March 4, 2009 MAJORITY LEADER MERRILL CALLS LEGISLATION EXPANDING
THE BOTTLE BILL A LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENT Praise For Bi-Partisan Support For The Bill
State Representative Denise Merrill (D-Storrs/Mansfield), House Majority Leader, says passage of legislation expanding Connecticut’s bottle bill is a landmark achievement for the environment as well as help reduce the state’s budget deficit. READ MORE
Dear Friends:
Thanks for visiting my home page. I wanted to tell you a little bit about myself and to keep you informed about issues of interest to me and the 54th District.
I entered political life thinking that I might be able to make a difference in peoples’ lives, although I am not sure I knew exactly what form that might take. As a lifelong Democrat from a family that believed that Franklin D. Roosevelt was their salvation, I was brought up to believe that everyone has a responsibility to participate in the life of the community, and that political life is the embodiment of that activity.
My major area of legislative interest has always been education, at all levels and all ages. I believe that we need a better plan for the changing demographics of the state and country. The national commitment to education made after World War II has diminished, as have our investments, particularly in higher education. As families spend more time working, a better system of care for young children is also an imperative. I have spent the last decade trying to make improvements in these areas.
I have also been interested in innovation and industrial redevelopment, particularly linking research and development efforts with start-up businesses in emerging technological fields. And as House Chair of Appropriations over the last two terms, I have sought to change the way we budget by setting goals and looking at actual outcomes of the programs we fund through “results-based accountability”. I hope this will make a difference in the way we think about the programs we fund, and ultimately make government more efficient.
Everyday, people call me with problems and questions about state government. I see this homepage is just one more link between people and state government. I hope you enjoy the visit and find it useful.
Denise Merrill
Rep. Merrill & Sen. Looney Convene the Majority Leaders' Job Growth Roundtable
The Department of Economic Development has recently released a long-awaited economic strategic plan (http://www.ct.gov/ecd/lib/ecd/connecticut_esp-final.pdf) and not a moment too soon. Connecticut has lost roughly 100,000 jobs over the last year. And, while there are some positive indicators, the economy has yet to stabilize.
Every state legislature is contemplating what it can do to get people back to work. To that end, I and my counterpart in the Senate, Majority Leader Martin Looney, have convened a job growth roundtable that includes key leaders in the business and higher education communities, economists, venture capitalists, labor leaders, professors and other elected representatives.
The group meets regularly to discuss how the state can act to get people back to work, how to prioritize ideas, and what partnership opportunities could be created to grow jobs. We hope to have comprehensive legislation ready for the new session.
December 7, 2009
The Majority Leaders’ Job Growth Roundtable, convened by Senator Looney and me, met again on December 7 when we heard from a variety of presenters about green jobs, entrepreneurialism, and housing.
These are great areas to focus on. The high cost of energy is often cited as a barrier to business growth in Connecticut. By developing a green jobs market we can put people back to work and capture energy savings with efficiency measures. Efficiency is, without a doubt, the quickest road to lowering energy costs. If we can be successful, we can dramatically improve Connecticut’s positioning for business growth.
Connecticut has a long history of Yankee ingenuity and today boasts a well educated highly skilled workforce. If we don’t harness the talent and ambition of our inventors, scientists, and business entrepreneurs someone else will. Our presenters discussed actions that the state could take to encourage new business development.
