Jaime Foster

Things are ramping up here in Hartford. The governor presented his budget and now, public hearings begin with the Appropriations Committee. While I don’t sit on the Appropriations or Finance, Revenue, and Bonding committees, I’m committed to advocating for a budget that works for our community.

Next week, there will be an important Veterans' and Military Affairs Committee public hearing. I encourage you to take a look at the bills below and submit testimony if you can. If you're able to attend in person next Thursday, we'll also offer a tour of the Legislative Office Building and Capitol before the public hearing. More information can be found below.

Jaime

• Veterans' Committee Public Hearing on February 13
• Governor Lamont Presents Budget
• Crumbling Foundations Bill Introduced for Increased Funding
• An Update on Town Revenue Changes
• House Democrats' Legislative Priorities
• Select Committee on Special Education Hosts Listening Session in Hartford
• PURA Public Comments Sought
• East Windsor Police Hosts "Coffee with a Cop"
• Vernon's Ron Farina Inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame
• Operation Fuel Applications Now Open
• Women's Business Development Council Opens Grant Programs
• And More!

For years, utility companies have tried to undermine a commissioner who has refused to bow to their influence. She defied the all-too-common pattern of regulatory capture that has plagued our state, and indeed the nation, for far too long. When utility companies discovered they couldn’t sway regulatory decisions in their favor, they resorted to character assassination. And when that failed, they escalated their tactics. Tuesday, I had enough.

Click the graphic below to read the full opinion piece or click HERE.

The bill would allow investigators and prosecutors to freeze an accused scammer’s assets, usually contained in something called an “e-wallet,” then there would be a hearing if the court decided in favor of the state the funds would be placed in “a victims restitution fund.”

This will likely be modeled under the current asset forfeiture process which reads, “Within 10 days after property has been seized, the judge who issued the warrant or the arraigning judge must issue a summons notifying the property owner (other than the defendant) or any bona fide lien holder to appear before the judge at a specified place and time. The summons must also describe the seized property and explain why and when it was seized.

A hearing must be held within 12 days of the date the summons is served, and the state must prove the facts of its case by clear and convincing evidence. If a court decides the case in favor of the state, the property must be declared a nuisance and (1) destroyed, (2) given to a charitable or educational institution or governmental agency, or (3) sold at a public auction with proceeds deposited in the general fund. But the property may not be disposed of in a way that deprives an owner (other than the defendant) or lienholder of his security interest. If the court does not decide the case in favor of the state, the property must be returned to its owner (CGS § 54-33g).”

 Click HERE or click the graphic below to read the article.

Your voice matters and we want you to join us. We're also offering a FREE tour of the CT Legislative Office Building and the Capitol at 9:15 a.m.

This hearing will address several key legislative proposals directly impacting veterans, including:

• Property Tax Exemptions (SB 1091, SB 1276) for veterans, including those who are 100% disabled.
• No-Cost Driver’s License Renewals for veterans (SB 1150) and Free Ridership on Veterans Day (HB 6728)
• Affordable Housing for Disabled and Elderly Veterans (SB 1277, HB 6764, HB 6768)
• Reimbursement of Fees and Specialty License Plates for veterans (HB 5787, HB. 6722, HB. 6734)
• Recognition & Support Initiatives (HB 5787, 6722), including Veterans' Month designation (HB 6723) and protections against predatory benefit claims assistance (HB 6874, HB 6909)
• Support for the CT Veterans Cemetery (HB 5117)
• Dental Support for Veterans (HB 6755)

Your testimony on this legislation - whether sharing personal experiences, advocating for better resources, or supporting fellow veterans - can make a significant impact. You can participate in person, via Zoom, or by submitting written testimony.

How to Get Involved:
Register to Speak 
Submit Written Testimony
Watch Live on YouTube

As always, my top priority is meeting the needs of families in Ellington, East Windsor, and Vernon. That means focusing on making life more affordable, tackling the rising cost of living, and supporting key priorities like education, public safety, local farms, and taking care of our seniors. These issues directly impact our communities and are essential for their well-being.

This is just the beginning, and there’s much more work ahead. I’m committed to making sure the needs of our district are front and center as we move forward in this process. Let’s keep pushing for what matters most to our families!

You can watch the Crumbling Foundations Caucus informational meeting with CFSIC HERE.

Also, Ellington officials recently received an update from CFSIC. One hundred fifty-nine Ellington homes have been impacted by crumbling foundations. Sixty-one homes have been repaired and returned to the town’s tax rolls with the aid of funds managed by CFSIC.

Some municipalities, including Ellington, East Windsor, and Vernon, are seeing revenue changes because they previously benefited from artificially inflated car values during the used car market spike.

To bring stability and predictability to car taxes, the Connecticut General Assembly adopted a fair agreed-upon metric - backed by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) and the Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST). This ensures that car values depreciate in a standard, predictable way, preventing future tax spikes.

We know there are adjustments for municipalities, but this change was driven by public frustration over soaring car tax bills. Moving forward, car owners can expect more stable and fair tax assessments.

This transition was smoothed out in a special session, and as the adjustment period passes, we anticipate a much fairer system for both taxpayers and towns.

• Special Education Relief
• More Housing, Reduced Homelessness
• Affordable Childcare
• Protecting Our Environment

These priorities reflect our recognition that special education is the biggest budget wildcard for municipalities, increased housing, and decreased homelessness are critical to the state's future economic health, rising costs and a reduced workforce are making childcare hard to obtain for many families, and protecting our environment has never been more critical.

This legislation was inspired by the tragic line-of-duty deaths last year of two Connecticut state employees, including a trooper from the Connecticut State Police and an employee from the Department of Transportation. Because of their ages and years of service, neither was eligible to receive pensions at the time of their deaths. The change ratified by the legislature means that both surviving families in those instances will begin receiving survivor benefits, based on their individual eligibility circumstances.

Additionally, this change will apply to all future situations in which a state employee who was not eligible to receive a pension is killed in the line of duty.

I also took part in a Planning and Development, Banking, Housing, and Insurance joint informational forum on housing on January 28 (before the session started). 

1 in 8 Connecticut residents (468,150), including 1 in 6 children (112,000) is food insecure in CT according to Feeding America. Worth noting, also food insecure in Connecticut:

• 1 in 4 Black persons
• 1 in 4 Hispanic persons
• 1 in 11 white non-Hispanic persons

The caucus is asking for $10 million to support the CT-Nutrition Assistance Program (CT-NAP), which provides fresh food to Connecticut Foodshare, food pantries, soup kitchens, & emergency shelters across CT.

I'm a co-introducer of the bill. To read the bill, click HERE.

Please scroll down to view the document.

Customers are encouraged to go on the record with comments by attending a public hearing or submitting comments in writing in the proceeding. You can submit comments HERE.

Comments will be accepted from members of the public who have an interest in the outcome of this proceeding, through the date of the final public comment hearing in this matter, April 9. While members of the public can submit written comments after this date, such comments may not be reflected in the PURA's preparations for the subsequent evidentiary hearings.

To read the application, click HERE.

Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m.
Hall Memorial Library, upstairs meeting room

Enjoy films that celebrate diversity and inclusion in a welcoming space for all! Bring the family and enjoy a movie and popcorn.

Friday, February 21
9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Café Barista, 2 North Rd (Sophia's Plaza) East Windsor

Come grab a cup of coffee and chat with local officers in a relaxed, friendly setting. No speeches, no agenda - just good coffee and great conversations!

This is your chance to ask questions, share concerns, and connect with those who serve the East Windsor community.

Dates:

• Tuesday, February 25
• Tuesday, March 4
• Tuesday, March 11
• Tuesday, March 18
• Tuesday, March 25
• Tuesday, April 1

Time: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Location: Crystal Lake School Gymnasium

Players are welcome of all skill levels to join us for this 6-week program. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in friendly games, drills, and activities that emphasize inclusivity and fun. It's a great chance for kids to build friendships and enhance their athletic abilities, all while having a great time on the court.

For more information, click HERE. Interested in being a buddy? Click HERE for buddy information.

You can sign up HERE. Please contact Deputy Chief Ben Murphy at Murphyb@Eastwindsor-ct.gov with any questions.

This year’s class was inducted on January 23, in the Gold Star Families Memorial Auditorium on the campus of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs in Rocky Hill.

Mr. Farina withdrew from college in December 1965 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served in Vietnam from the early autumn of 1966 through 1967. After a successful business career, Mr. Farina returned to college, and in December of 2015, fifty years after leaving college to enlist, he earned the first of two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing from Central Connecticut State University, and later a Master of Fine Arts from Western Connecticut State University.

Mr. Farina is the author of four books, “At the Altar of the Past” “Out of the Shadows Voices of American Women Soldiers,” “Who Will Have My Back,” and “Sacrifice, The Final Chapter” released in October of 2024.

His published essays about the human cost of war, “Unsung Heroes,” “Keeping Promises,” and “War Torn,” have appeared in Connecticut Magazine. In 2021, Mr. Farina was awarded the AWP Intro Award for fiction for “At the Altar of the Past,” and The Society of Professional Journalists, Connecticut Chapter first place award for general column magazine feature, for the essay “War Torn.”

Mr. Farina’s writing has brought attention to wounded women soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, also to caregivers of catastrophically wounded veterans from those same wars, and to the families of fallen soldiers lost in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2024, Mr. Farina wrote about Marine Corporal Kelsee Lainhart. The Corporal was severely wounded during America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and was paralyzed from the waist down. Mr. Farina’s story prompted the Connecticut-based Sticks for Soldiers Foundation to choose Kelsee as the Sticks for Soldiers 2024 honoree. She is the first woman to receive the honor in the 18-year history of the foundation and was awarded a life-changing financial gift.

Farina lives with his wife and two golden retrievers, Henry and Preacher.

Photo courtesy: Facebook

Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Ellington Town Green.

Join in for a day of fun, education, and action as we come together to support a cleaner, greener future. Whether you're a resident looking to learn more about eco-friendly living or a local business wanting to engage with the community, there's something for everyone!

The Ignite Grant Program is designed to help women-owned businesses grow. The program offers grants of up to $10,000 to women-owned businesses in Connecticut that have been in business for 2 or more years and have revenues between $25K and $2 million. Since the start of the program, we have distributed 365 grants of over $3.3 million to women-owned businesses in Connecticut. The application period for this grant runs from February 3 through March 10. You can find additional information on Ignite HERE.

The Child Care Business Opportunity Fund, offered in partnership with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC), provides grants of up to $25,000 to qualified licensed and aspiring childcare businesses. The program offers grants targeting different stages of business, from start-ups to those ready to expand. Since this program was launched in 2020, more than $7.5 million has been awarded to childcare businesses in every corner of Connecticut. The Child Care Business grants application period runs through March 3. More information on Child Care Business Opportunity Fund grants can be found HERE.

Information sessions for both grant programs are scheduled throughout the application periods. These sessions will help applicants understand the grant requirements and provide an opportunity for those interested to ask questions about the grants. Interested applicants can register for a live information session HERE.

Here are some tips from the FBI:

• If you receive one of these messages, file a complaint with the IC3, www.ic3.gov. Include where the number of the originating text came from, and the website from which the number was generated.
• Delete any scam texts received.
• If you clicked any link or provided your information, make efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges.
• Always verify any toll-related charges directly through official state websites or customer service.

Stay vigilant and share this message with your friends and family to help protect our community!