Steven Stafstrom

Under the bipartisan $41.3 billion state budget passed Oct. 26, a pilot program will be established for the development and construction of a combined heat and power facility that will provide waste heat for a thermal heating loop in downtown Bridgeport.

After months of negotiations, Democrats and Republicans have overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan budget that steadies Connecticut's financial footing, spurs economic development, and restores millions of dollars to municipalities, our schools and core state services.

After the state House of Representatives met Oct. 3 to consider overriding the veto of the GOP-backed budget, the Republicans refused to call the question for a vote. Now, it is time for us to work together and compromise with the governor and the Republicans to reach a bipartisan agreement on a final budget. To move Connecticut forward, we need to adopt a spending package that invests in our workforce, makes long-term structural changes, and provides municipalities with additional budget flexibility.

The Republicans' two-year budget is unbalanced, relies on unrealistic savings, and contains devastating cuts to higher education. Their spending package would also inflict turmoil by slashing the vital services and programs that our most vulnerable residents rely on. I strongly opposed their spending proposal and voted "No" because I believe this budget is bad for Bridgeport and contradicts Connecticut's core values.

House Democrats presented a new spending package in the hopes of ending the current budget stalemate and closing our deficit. This proposal prioritizes funding critical services, including education, invests in our workforce development programs to spur our economy, and contains important structural changes to the way state and local governments operate

In the wake of last weekend’s events in Charlottesville, Virginia, we are left with far too many questions and not enough answers. While Connecticut is roughly 450 miles removed from Charlottesville, Virginia, I find myself asking “Could it happen here?” And if so, what can we do to mitigate the effects of such a hateful demonstration? I believe that by uniting together, we can minimize the chances of hate, bigotry and violence from occurring by taking pride in our state and by educating residents on Connecticut’s hate crime laws.

Earlier this week unionized state employees voted to ratify a historic concessions package that will help Connecticut resolve the budget deficit. Members of the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) voted overwhelmingly in favor of the agreement - 83 percent to 17 percent. The agreement would save the state $1.2 billion over the next two years and $24 billion over its lifetime.

The Bridgeport legislative delegation praised Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's signing of legislation that will give the city and its taxpayers some relief needed to help steady Bridgeport's financial footing.