HOUSE DEMOCRATS • JASON ROJAS • NEWSROOM - 2010
Newsroom - 2010
March 16, 2010
Town Gets $288,020 For Road Work - Hartford Courant
March 16, 2010
Reps. Rojas And Kehoe Announce Release
Of State Money For Glastonbury Roads
February 18, 2010
Rep. Rojas Urges Residents To Give
Opinions In Online Survey
February 4, 2010
Lawmakers relieved at no cut to town money - Journal Inquirer
January 25, 2010
Representatives Genga, Larson And Rojas Urge Residents To Consider New Appliance Rebate Program
January 15, 2010
Rep. Rojas Named To Commission To Identify Opportunities
For Regionalism, Municipal Cost Savings And Efficiencies
January 14, 2010
Reps. Genga, Larson And Rojas Urge Rell To Release Money
East Hartford Is Counting On For Roads
March 16, 2010
The State Bond Commission approved $30 million for municipal road paving and repair projects Tuesday; of that, East Hartford will receive $288,020, a development town officials say comes as a relief.
"It was good to see it come through," said Finance Director Mike Walsh, who added he had started to get nervous late in the winter as the town paid for road salt on the expectation that the check would eventually arrive. "There were quite a few anxious moments on this side," he said. Walsh added that the town can rest easier for now, but as the state struggles with its finances, concerns remain over the future of other payments earmarked for East Hartford.
State Rep. Tim Larson, a former East Hartford mayor whose district now includes the town, joined state Reps. Henry Genga and Jason Rojas, also of East Hartford, voicing support for the bond commission's decision. "These funds put people to work and fix the roads," Larson said.
The money was paid out using bonding this year, a process subjected to a cap dictated by revenue, which has been declining. Gov. M. Jodi Rell also said she was happy to get the money out to the towns. In previous years road funding was usually released in the beginning of the fiscal year or around the beginning of the calendar year. This year it will go out closer to mid-April — later than last year, but still at roughly the same amount.
— Anne VanderMey
March 16, 2010
State Reps. Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford, Glastonbury) and Thomas Kehoe (D-Glastonbury) announced that the State Bond Commission has released millions in state aid for road repairs, including $229,091 for Glastonbury.
Town Aid Road (TAR) funds are typically released in January but were held back by the governor. The money, which was released today, is expected to be given to Glastonbury in about a month.
“I am pleased to see this vital funding finally being released,” Kehoe said. “These grants help our town with job opportunities and much needed economic activity.”
Rep. Rojas, whose 9th Assembly District includes parts of Glastonbury, East Hartford and Manchester, noted that Glastonbury had already budgeted for the funding.
“Towns have been counting on this funding and I’m pleased that the governor has finally agreed to release it,” Rep. Rojas said.
Rep. Rojas is a member of the legislature’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee and the Planning and Development Committee.
Rep. Kehoe represents the 31st Assembly District, which includes Glastonbury, serves as vice-chairman of the Transportation Committee and is a member of the Environment and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees.
February 18, 2010
In an effort to gather more feedback from constituents, state Rep. Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford, Glastonbury and Manchester) is asking residents to participate in an online survey he has created. Rep. Rojas said he is utilizing the Internet to save money on printing and postage.
Rep. Rojas wants to know what voters believe should be done about the state’s budget deficit and other pressing issues, including healthcare, job growth and regionalization of government services, that are facing lawmakers.
Rep. Rojas is urging constituents to contact him by email so that the link to the survey can be sent only to residents of the 9th Assembly District. Rep. Rojas can be reached by email at Jason.Rojas@cga.ct.gov.
If voters do not have access to a computer and want to obtain a paper copy of the survey, Rep. Rojas can be contacted at 860-240-8585 or 800-842-8267. The deadline for the surveys is March 12.
Constituents also may go online and become a Facebook friend of Rojas to receive regular updates of his committee work as well as legislation that he is working on this session.
Rep. Rojas represents the 9th Assembly District, which includes parts of Glastonbury, Manchester and East Hartford. He is a member of the legislature’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee and the Planning and Development Committee.
February 4, 2010
By Christine McCluskey
Journal Inquirer
HARTFORD — Several lawmakers said Wednesday that Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s preservation of town funding in the 2010-11 budget was a welcome change from two months ago, when she proposed major cuts.
Cutting town aid “wasn’t a very good policy proposal from the get-go,” Rep. Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, said.
Rojas and Rep. Henry J. Genga, also a Democrat from East Hartford, said cuts to the amount of money the state gives towns — particularly when some town’s tax rolls are decreasing — would add too much to the burden of local property taxpayers.
“I never supported reductions in town aid,” Sen. John A. Kissel, R-Enfield, said. “I think the governor understood our concern. We would simply be pushing the towns toward local tax increases.”
Two months ago, faced with a budget shortfall of roughly $300 million, Rell, a Republican, suggested cities and towns help bear the burden and forfeit $84 million in promised state aid.
But then a panel of town leaders Rell had appointed to identify areas that could absorb the hit balked at the task, and the Democrat-led General Assembly refused during a special session in December to approve the cut.
For the coming fiscal year that starts July 1 — despite a projected $450 million budget shortfall — Rell didn’t cut town grants. The governor’s revised $18.91 billion plan would cut $27.7 million from the preliminary budget but retain $2.78 billion for cities and towns, up nearly $14 million from this fiscal year.
In addition, Rell proposed a new $10 million municipal capital investment fund and unveiled a package of proposed changes to state law designed to ease mandates and reduce costs at the local level.
“Nobody likes to cut municipal aid,” the governor’s budget director, Robert L. Genuario, said.
He added that besides sensitivity to municipal officials’ arguments against cutting aid, other factors, such as the increase in federal aid the governor anticipates, contributed to the decision.
“She got the message” in December, Rep. John W. Thompson, D-Manchester, said. “Nobody was for it.”
Rep. Edward C. Graziani, D-Ellington, said cuts to town aid simply would have shifted the tax burden onto local taxpayers, and that the state must encourage revenue sharing and regionalization of services.
“There was mutual bipartisan concern that the towns had set budgets that were tight already and could not take further cuts midyear,” Rep. Pamela Z. Sawyer, R-Bolton, said.
But cities and towns should be forewarned about how bad the financial picture looks for next year and beyond, Sawyer said.
The failed proposal to cut town aid two months ago also told legislators that they have to look everywhere for savings, Sawyer said. She said the issue of cuts to town aid will return, if not this year, then in the 2011-12 budget cycle.
While Rell put off cuts to town aid, “the next governor will not have that luxury,” Sawyer said.
Democrat Dannel P. Malloy, a former mayor of Stamford and one of several Democrats exploring a 2010 gubernatorial bid, contended Rell didn’t do enough to preserve aid to municipalities.
Malloy said that while Rell talked about mandate relief, she also cut funds for towns to transport students to nonpublic schools. Rell cut $400,000 from the $4 million for nonpublic school transportation, to $3.6 million. It was one of two small reductions in town aid funds that she made; the other was a $4.4 million cut from a grant for machinery.
Simsbury First Selectwoman Mary A. Glassman, another Democrat who may run for governor, also argued town aid shouldn’t be reduced at this time.
But Glassman added that the governor’s flip-flop on town aid over the past three months shows Rell’s top concern remains preserving her popularity.
“The people of this state are not looking for more politics,” Glassman said. “They are looking for bold and decisive action.”
January 25, 2010
Democratic Representatives Henry Genga, Jason Rojas and Timothy Larson, all of East Hartford, are encouraging residents to consider a newly launched program that could give consumers rebates ranging from $50 to $500 for buying new energy efficient appliances for their homes.
The appliance replacement rebate program, funded through federal stimulus dollars, applies to Energy Star qualified refrigerators, freezers, washers, air conditioners and central air systems that were purchased by residents of the state between the dates of January 25 and April 30, 2010. The appliances must replace an existing, less efficient model.
“This program is terrific. People who are considering replacing their older, less efficient appliances with new ones can benefit from this incentive,” Rep. Genga said.
“Not only will residents save money in the long run in energy costs, but they’ll also save money immediately with the rebates. It’s also a win for local retailers who will see increased sales,” Rep. Rojas said.
"This is a great opportunity for families to save thousands of dollars while improving the value of their homes, especially if they're replacing central air systems," Larson said.
The rebates apply to Energy Star certified clothes washers ($100 rebate), refrigerators ($50 rebate), freezers ($50 rebate), room air conditioners ($50 rebate) and central air conditioning units ($500 rebate).
The legislators said that these new rebates, administered through a partnership between the state Office of Policy and Management and the utility companies, enhance already existing appliance rebate programs offered in the state that consumers can also take advantage of. The rebates cannot be applied retroactively and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Additional information and rebate applications can be found at www.ct.gov/opm/ApplianceRebates and from the Connecticut electric utility companies. Applications will also be available in retail stores after February 1.
January 15, 2010
State Rep. Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford) has been named by House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) and House Majority Leader Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield) to a new a commission that will seek to identify opportunities for more regional collaborations designed to create efficiencies and save money for municipalities. The Blue Ribbon Commission on Municipal Opportunities and Regional Efficiencies (MORE) will begin its work next Tuesday, January 19th with the goal of recommending legislation during the 2010 session.
“We can be doing more with less,” Speaker Donovan said. “Rep. Rojas and MORE will help us find these new ways to help our cities and towns. I am confident we can bring about real property tax reform by regionalizing certain activities that can both save money and improve the economic competitiveness of our state.”
“We’ve talked for a long time about restructuring government at all levels across the state,” said Rep. Merrill. “Now we’re going to take action. I’m excited about the chance to bring some relief to our cities and towns and to bring about the kind of structural change that can deliver benefits for years to come.”
"Regional solutions have long been a priority to me since serving on both the town council and board of education in East Hartford,” Rojas said. “I am excited about the opportunity to work towards the goal of improving collaboration between towns and with the state. The long term goal is smarter tax, spending and development policies."
The MORE Commission will be comprised of 45 Democratic members of the House of Representatives and representatives of municipalities, regional organizations, education, business, unions and non-profits.
The Commission will look at a wide spectrum of issues and opportunities facing municipalities: multi-town collaboratives, Board of Education functions, regionally-based organizations, collective bargaining, mandates, revenue sources, health care, and state grants. In each of these areas, commission subcommittees will investigate costs, benefits, resources, legal obstacles and opportunities, potential savings, consolidation, and results-based accountability (RBA) methods for tracking performance.
Rep. Rojas represents the 9th Assembly District, which includes parts of East Hartford, Glastonbury and Manchester, and is a member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding, Higher Education and Employment and Planning and Development Committees.
January 14, 2010
Democratic Representatives Henry Genga, Timothy Larson and Jason Rojas, all of East Hartford, today urged Gov. M. Jodi Rell to release millions in state aid that would fund paving projects and road repairs across the state including projects in East Hartford.
“This is money that the governor had already agreed to spend,” Rep. Genga said. “The only right thing to do is to release it.”
Based on the commitment made by the governor and legislature, the town has gone ahead with plans for road repairs. “The town is depending on this money,” Rep. Genga said.
Because of the current budget deficit, the governor proposed borrowing to cover road repair funds instead of the traditional method of issuing grants as part of the state operating budget. To date, Rell has held back $30 million in Town Aid Road (TAR) from consideration by the State Bond Commission despite committing to the funding last year. Last year, East Hartford received $289,619 in TAR funding.
“I would strongly encourage the governor to move ahead with this money, which will allow towns to move forward with repair projects that are critical to infrastructure requirements and maintenance,” Rep. Larson said.
“The governor needs to release this bond money as soon as possible,” said Rep. Rojas. “Towns have been counting on these dollars to be there. If we weren’t going to release the money then we should not have made the commitment,” Rojas said. |
