Cristin McCarthy Vahey

Happy Friday! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Below, you can find information about upcoming events as well as Comptroller Sean Scanlon’s visit to Fairfield, and more.


Please reach out if you’d like to learn more about anything shared below.

• Community Conversation Event
• Breastfeeding Press Conference
• Comptroller Visit
• Sales Tax-Free Week
• Action for Clean Air

Yesterday, Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon joined the state delegation and Fairfield Chamber and Economic Development leaders to speak with local businesses about the MyCTSavings program. The program, sponsored by the Comptroller’s office, is a retirement savings program for businesses with five or more employees that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. State law requires businesses that do not offer a retirement option to either sign up for MyCTSavings or provide a qualified plan to their employees by August 31, 2023. Created in response to a need for workplace retirement saving opportunities, MyCTSavings will help to address that gap for the estimated 600,000 Connecticut workers who had lacked this opportunity

Yesterday’s visit was a great opportunity to highlight some of Fairfield’s wonderful downtown businesses, including the Fairfield Theater Company, which is an amazing public-private partnership. The businesses we spoke with yesterday were both aware of the program and positive about its potential. Helping assure people can easily save for retirement means that we can mitigate against what Pew Charitable Trusts believes will be an increased demand for up to $6.5 billion in state assistance over the next 20 years.

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE! 🗓️

This year's Sales Tax Free Week begins Sunday, August 20 through Saturday, August 26. You can find a full list of individual items that are included here: tinyurl.com/4ea8x448

Several weeks ago,  Governor Lamont announced Connecticut will join eight states to slash tailpipe emissions from cars, SUVs, and trucks beginning in 2027. The regulations include making cars and trucks up to 90% cleaner, requiring vehicle manufacturers to produce more zero-emission vehicles, and increasing consumer protections. If you’d like to weigh in, you have the chance to do so next week at two public hearings on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 - one in the morning at 9am on the light-duty vehicle regulations, and one in the afternoon at 1pm on the heavy-duty vehicle regulations. Please see the links below for details on how to register to join. 

Morning Hearing: Microsoft Word - Hearing Information ACCII.docx (ct.gov)

Afternoon Hearing:  Microsoft Word - Hearing Info MHD NOx Omnibus and ACT.docx

For those unable to join, written comments should be submitted no later than 5pm on August 23, 2023 via eRegulations System or by email to the Mobile Sources Group at deep.mobilesources@ct.gov.

With some of the worst air and highest asthma rates in the nation, the health and environmental benefits to Connecticut residents cannot be overstated. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the transportation sector emits the most greenhouse gas by sector (28%), due to the burning of fossil fuels. By producing zero-emission vehicles and making cars and trucks 90% cleaner, Connecticut will not only drastically curtail the amount of greenhouse gas emitted, but it will also benefit public health, specifically for distressed municipalities living near transportation corridors.