Gary Turco

Recently the state took another step closer to a $15 minimum wage after the legislature’s Labor and Public Employees Committee moved three bills concerning a minimum wage increase out of committee.

I had a great time recording my first “Turco Talk Time” video in Newington with breast cancer prevention advocate and Newington resident, Jan Kritzman. Jan is a very knowledgeable and committed advocate on the issue of health insurance coverage for ultrasounds for women with dense breast tissue.

It was wonderful reading to all the 3rd-grade class students at Elizabeth Green Elementary School this week. They are a very smart bunch with lots of ideas already to improve state policies, including raising the smoking age to 80!

We had another successful Community Conversation forum where many thought provoking ideas were shared - thanks to all that participated!

Had a great Girl Scouts Day with the visit of a group of dedicated Connecticut scouts at the Capitol! I wish them all the very best in all future endeavors in keeping with their mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

It was great to spend time at Anna Reynolds School visiting and reading to the students for National Read Across America Day.

One of our legislative priorities for this session is to put in place a plan to increase the minimum wage in order to help give those working a 40-hour week the opportunity to make a living wage. To this end, we proposed House Bill #5004, An Act Increasing the Minimum Wage that aims to provide more economic security to Connecticut families. The Senate has also proposed an identical Senate Bill #2. 

The state took its first step in potentially introducing a Green New Deal to invest in renewable energy and green technology. House Bill 5002, An Act Concerning the Development of a Green New Deal, came before the Energy and Technology Committee for a Public Hearing.