Press Releases
February 7, 2008
Three Bristol area legislators who attended a reception at the St. Anthony Church Parish Hall Tuesday pledged their support for legislative initiatives to provide constitutionally permissible assistance to economically threatened religious and private schools in Connecticut.
The legislators, state representatives Ron Burns, R-77th District, William A. Hamzy, R-78th District, and Frank N. Nicastro Sr., D-79th District, said they would support legislation to appropriate funds for the purchase of textbooks that then would be loaned to religious and private schools and help relieve the financial burden many of the schools are facing.
The legislators said they also would support a measure to establish tax credit programs under which corporations receive tax credits for donations to scholarship funds that provide tuition assistance to low- and middle income families, enabling them to enroll their children in religious or private schools they otherwise could not afford.
Neither proposal would directly support the religious missions of parochial schools and would not lead to legal challenges on constitutional grounds, the legislators said.
“The state and Connecticut taxpayers have a compelling interest in keeping religious and private schools open and affordable to low- and middle-income families. Catholic schools save Connecticut taxpayers more than $400 million every year. If large numbers of Catholic schools are forced to close over the next few years and public schools have to accommodate the large influx of new students that would result, much of that $400 million saving would quickly turn into a loss. In Bristol alone, 972 students attend private or religious schools and 679 of those students are residents,” Representative Burns said.
“We as legislator s can be very supportive of these proposals. But since the 2008 legislative session is a short one, it would make enactment of these measures more likely if supporters like yourselves would turn out in large numbers if a public hearing can be scheduled,” Representative Nicastro said at the reception.
“Parochial and private schools play a very important role in educating children in the Greater Bristol area and elsewhere in Connecticut,” Representative Hamzy said. “When those schools need assistance to remain open and continue to provide a quality education, it is in the state’s interest to provide them with whatever help it can, as long as it does not support those schools’ religious missions. In Bristol, schools like St. Anthony’s, St. Joseph’s, St. Matthew’s, and St. Paul junior high and high school have educated thousands of Bristol area students over the years and will continue to do so well into the future, as long as they have the resources they need to get the job done.”
State representatives Ron Burns, R-77th District, left, and Frank N. Nicastro Sr., D-79th District, center, look on as state Representative William A. Hamzy, R-78th District, right, speaks at a reception at St. Anthony Parish Hall on Tuesday, February, 5th. The legislators discussed possible initiatives to help religious and private schools in Connecticut, many of which are operating under significant financial constraints that threaten their future in Bristol and elsewhere in the state.
January 31, 2008
State Representative John “Corky” Mazurek (D-Southington, Wolcott), Transportation Committee Co-Chairman State Rep. Antonio Guerrera (D-Newington, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield), State Rep. Gerald Fox, III (D-Stamford), State Rep. Frank Nicastro (D-Bristol), and State Sen. Sam Caligiuri (R-Cheshire, Southington, Waterbury, Wolcott) announced today a new proposal aimed at mandating personal accountability and zero tolerance of dangerous driving by 16- and 17-year-olds.
Under the lawmakers’ proposal, in the event of a 16- or 17-year-old being ticketed for their first offense of either reckless driving, DUI, refusal to take a breathalyzer, drag racing, or a passenger restriction violation, the police officer on the scene would be required to immediately seize the driver’s license and within 24 hours deliver it to the Chief of Police with a written explanation of the incident. In the event of a subsequent ticketing for any of those violations, the police officer would be required to seize the driver’s license and within 24 hours deliver it to the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicle with a written explanation. The police would also be required to secure safe transportation for the vehicle’s occupants. These would be administrative sanctions that would take place immediately and are in addition to criminal penalties currently in the law.
Following the seizure of the teenager’s license, the proposal calls for the suspension of that license by increasing mandatory lengths of time depending on whether it is the teen’s first, second, or third offense. Before obtaining their license back, the teen would be required to show proof that they have completed a driver retraining program. In addition, a parent or guardian would be required to accompany the teenage driver to get their license back.
“The centerpiece of this proposal is the immediacy of it,” Rep. Mazurek said. “When you are dealing with 16- and 17-year-old drivers, they have to realize the repercussions of their actions, and that should not be delayed by administrative procedures. Front-line police officers need the tools to act on-the-spot when they know that a teenager will cause a danger on our streets.”
Rep. Fox stated, “Our most inexperienced drivers continue to operate motor vehicles at high rates of speed – a combination that often ends in tragedy. We need to send the message that speeding has real consequences and will not be tolerated.”
Rep. Guerrera said, “Teen driver safety is one of the Transportation Committee’s top priorities this year. We will focus on everything from speeding to drunk driving to reckless driving. Safety on the roads is our guiding principle.”
“We have to protect our children at all costs and sometimes it means taking a tough stand,” explained Rep. Nicastro. “Too many children’s lives are being lost due to reckless driving and we have to do everything in our power to stop it. Our children think that they are invincible but they find out too late that it’s not true – it’s very sad. We have to do something about this.”
Senator Caligiuri added, “I am delighted to be working with Representative Mazurek and other legislators in a bipartisan manner as our efforts to address these serious teen driving issues should not be political. Too often, we pick up our newspapers or turn on the news to learn of yet another horrendous accident involving teen drivers. And, sadly, these accidents are too often the result of recklessness and dangerous behavior. We have a responsibility to pass the best laws we can to try to prevent more of these tragedies.”
The group of legislators held a town hall meeting in Wolcott last December at which they heard comments from parents and concerned citizens about ways to toughen laws to prevent teenage reckless driving.
Also included in the legislators’ proposal are changes to the state’s “reckless driving” statute. Currently, a driver can be charged with “reckless driving” if that person is driving at speeds of more than 85 miles per hour. The lawmakers want to add the phrase “or 25 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, whichever is less,” to that statute.
December 12, 2007
State Representatives William Hamzy (R-78), Frank Nicastro (D-79), Ron Burns (R-77) and Elizabeth A. Boukus (D-22) today announced the state Bond Commission has approved $375,000 in grant funds for the purchase and renovation of a Head Start facility in Bristol. The bond commission approved the allocation during its meeting this morning at the State Capitol complex in Harford.
The funding will reimburse the Bristol Community Organization (BCO) $290,000 for the purchase of the facility, located at 254 Lake Avenue, and provide $85,000 for renovations to the building. BCO, which has operated two head start classrooms as a tenant at the property for the past 10 years, purchased the building in September after it was placed on the market.
Renovations include replacement of the roof, electrical and lighting upgrades and parking lot improvements. Future plans call for creating administrative and possible additional classroom space at the facility.
“We certainly appreciate Bristol’s state legislators in supporting this initiative and getting it on the bond agenda, said BCO Executive Director Thomas H. Morrow. “We look forward to receiving the money and making the necessary repairs.”
“I’m very pleased Governor Rell placed this on the Bond Commission agenda,” said Rep. Hamzy. “The Bristol delegation has been working on this application for several months and it is great news for Bristol that it will move forward shortly.”
The Bristol delegation worked very closely on this to see it become a reality,” said Rep Nicastro. “For the future of our city, it is a positive move for residents and children. I would like to thank the governor for having it on the bond agenda."
This is an investment in Bristol’s future,” said Rep. Burns. “BCO does a wonderful job with their Head Start program. They took a risk in purchasing the building before acquiring state funds, so we know how important it is to them that they continue to operate at this location.”
Rep. Betty Boukus said, "I am very pleased Gov. Rell moved this project through the Bond Commission. I also very thankful to Department of Social Services Commissioner Starkowski for keeping this project on the front-burner and BCO Executive Director Tom Morrow for keeping us informed about the urgent need for this funding."
June 5, 2007
State Rep. Frank Nicastro (D-Bristol/Forestville) hailed legislation to shore up finances in Connecticut’s Teachers’ Retirement Fund (TRF) that passed the House of Representatives and will save taxpayers billions of dollars in the long term.
The legislation would reduce the growth in the TRF’s unfunded liability – estimated at $6.9 billion – by authorizing State Treasurer Denise Nappier to purchase pension obligation bonds at favorable interest rates, thus allowing the state to substitute higher interest for lower interest debt.
“This is a very important step forward to investing wisely in our future. This is a benefit that our teachers deserve, and I am glad that we are taking the appropriate steps to fully fund and guarantee their retirement benefits,” Rep. Nicastro stated.
With a repayment term spread over 25 years, savings on the lower interest debt could reach $2.8 billion. The legislation was first proposed by Speaker Amann and Treasurer Nappier in February.
As a condition of the bond sale, the legislation also commits to fund teachers’ pensions at 100% of actuarial recommended contributions, something the state failed to do from 1992-2005.
Rep. Frank Nicastro is serving his first term representing the 79th General Assembly District. He is a member of the General Law; Transportation and the Select Committee on Veterans Affairs. He is a retiree from the City of Bristol where he served as Mayor for five consecutive terms. He presently serves on the City Council.
May 31, 2007
State Representative Frank Nicastro (D-Bristol/Forestville) voted Wednesday in favor of a tax package in the House of Representatives that includes income tax cuts for 95% of taxpayers in the state and also includes a three-month long summer gas tax holiday.
“This tax cut proposal brings instant benefits to the hard working families that I represent in Bristol/Forestville,” Rep. Nicastro stated. “Connecticut residents deserve an impartial tax system that gives taxpayers a breather, and this legislation does it.”
The package, which passed the House by a vote of 90-58, creates a progressive state tax system that will reduce income taxes on all filers earning up to $272,000. The property tax credit that taxpayers will receive would go up to $1,000 from the current rate of $500, and an earned income tax credit would also be created for the working poor.
The summer gas tax holiday will eliminate the 25-cent per gallon tax on gas up through Labor Day to relieve the burden of high gas prices consumers have been paying at the pump.
The legislation has been referred to as the biggest overhaul of the income tax system ever in the state. All of the Republicans in the House voted against the package, rejecting middle class tax cuts and their own gas tax holiday proposal.
Rep. Nicastro noted, “The time is now for us to modify Connecticut’s tax structure to one that recognizes the needs of working families. It’s time for a change.”
Rep. Frank Nicastro is serving his first term representing the 79th General Assembly District. He is a member of the General Law; Transportation and The Select Committee on Veterans Affairs.
January 4, 2007
State Representative Frank Nicastro, Sr. (D-Bristol) announced today that he will serve on the General Law, Transportation and Veterans Committees.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to serve on each of those committees,” said Rep. Nicastro. “It’s going to be a great experience to have some influence on the issues facing Connecticut. I feel good to be able to represent the people of Bristol and the state of Connecticut.”
Frank Nicastro was sworn in as the state representative for the 79th Assembly District on Wednesday, the opening day of the 2007 legislative session. Representative Nicastro is a retiree from the City of Bristol. He served as the Mayor of Bristol for five consecutive terms and presently serves on the City Council. |
