Cristin McCarthy Vahey

Today the Connecticut Mirror featured an article about some of the work we accomplished in the Public Health Committee and beyond this year. It highlights the major bills we addressed, including Vaccine policy, Private Equity limits and what is called the Certificate of Need process, a major factor in addressing cost, access, and quality of healthcare in our state. I am proud that we were able to successfully advance policy in each of these areas, though the work is never finished.

As promised, you will hear more from me in the coming days and weeks about details of Public Health bills as well as some of the other critical legislation we have passed.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Earlier this week, Comptroller Sean Scanlon invited me to join a press conference with Governor Lamont, Attorney General Tong, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Commissioner Navaretta, providers, and leaders. You can watch that press conference here.

Our primary message is that there is hope and help available to all those who seek it AND that here in Connecticut, we have Mental Health Parity. This means that insurance companies are required to cover mental health in the same way they do all healthcare.

Last year I was proud to help lead passage of the Mental Health Parity bill, which provided some teeth and consequences. This year, all of Connecticut’s insurance companies were fined for not living up to this mandate. As the co-chair of the Public Health Committee, I stand with our statewide leaders to say that we will continue to assure Connecticut residents access to the care they need. You can learn more about the event here.

This year’s budget adjustment made many significant changes. Below is just one part of what were able to pass with this bipartisan budget:

Making Connecticut more affordable for working families

• Expanding sales tax-free week to include clothing, shoes, and backpacks under $300 (from $100)
• Making basic school supplies tax-free, including backpacks, lunchboxes, notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, rulers, and paper
• Creating a family caregiver tax credit for residents caring for a loved one

As part of the Fairfield Museum's celebration of America's 250th, the "Portrait of Fairfield" exhibit features 15 large photos of Fairfield residents who represent what makes our community great. These photos are displayed outside on the Green adjacent to the Museum and Town Hall through September 27^th.

I had the honor of joining many of those featured in the photos last night at the exhibit opening.

In the montage below, the large photo features the three people who initiated the first Fairfield Pride flag raising - John Brannelly, Jaq Bush, and Erin Lopez. 

The upper right photo features the DeSantie tire family, who have operated in Fairfield for nearly 70 years.

The photo in the middle features myself, Fairfield First Selectperson Christine Vitale, Jaq Bush, and Erin Lopez. The photo in the bottom right is of Michael Jehle, museum director, who reminded us that the Declaration of Independence was not just a proclamation, but a promise. It was a moving event.

This is a wonderful exhibit, and made me grateful for the community members who make Fairfield and our region so wonderful.

As always, please feel free to reach out directly with your ideas, questions, or concerns. You can reach me by phone at (860) 240-8585 or (203) 522-3037.

Take care,

Cristin McCarthy Vahey