Join Me for Office Hours on Friday

March 14, 2022


 
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Friends and Neighbors,
 
Session is well underway and moving quickly! In addition to my roles as Vice Chair of the Commerce Committee and a member of the Higher Education & Employment Advancement, and Insurance & Real Estate Committees, I have been developing and co-sponsoring bills in other committees, testifying on proposals, working with colleagues, and meeting with stakeholders in our community. 
No matter how busy the session gets, meeting with you and our neighbors of the 104th is important to me. Hearing your stories, your thoughts, concerns, and questions helps me successfully advocate for you and our community's needs. Next week, I will be holding an in-person Office Hours and Listening Session event with Senator Jorge Cabrera on Friday, March 18 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Valley Diner, 636 New Haven Ave. 

During this event, you'll learn more about our priorities for the 2022 legislative session and how you can stay engaged as it moves forward. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me at Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov.

I look forward to seeing you!

 
2022 LEGISLATIVE SURVEY
As the 2022 session progresses, I would like to hear from you on the issues that matter most to you! I recently launched my 2022 legislative survey to hear about your ideas and thoughts on many of the issues that could come up this session. I work for my constituents, and our community comes first. Thoughtfully engaging with you about the issues that matter most to you allows me to bring your stories and ideas to Hartford so I can successfully advocate on the issues that impact your life. You can complete the survey on my website or by returning the paper survey that will be mailed to you in the coming weeks. I look forward to hearing from you.
Take the 2022 Constituent Survey Here
 
WHAT HAS YOUR STATE REP BEEN UP TO
I was so happy read to the amazing kids of the 104th District on March 4 during Read Across right before testifying in support of HB 5283 during Read Across America week! This is one of my favorite things to do as a state representative and it is always an inspiration to hear what my young constituents at Mead, Prendergast, and Irving schools want to be when they grow up.  

Our students have dreams and aspirations, and they deserve every opportunity to thrive academically and in life, so securing full education funding for our schools has been a top priority since before I was sworn in for my first term. Our state has made progress recently, and so far in my 3 years in office, I have delivered nearly $6 million in new state funds for our schools, and I'm aiming to secure additional funds. Last year, I cosponsored and advocated for a bill proposal to change our state's education funding formula to address equity. While it was not fully enacted, portions of it were adopted in the state budget bill, making the funding formula more advantageous for Ansonia and Derby.

The fight for full education funding isn't over, and I was proud to advocate for HB 5283. This proposal would adjust our state's education funding formula so that our schools will be fully funded by 2025 instead of 2030. I'm a proud early co-sponsor of this bill so that our students can have the education experience they deserve. I want to thank the School Finance Project, the Connecticut Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, and the superintendents of Ansonia and Derby Schools supporting the provisions in this bill to increase our education funding formula. You can watch part of my testimony by clicking the image below:

 
 
Thank you to everyone who came together at our local Ukrainian church Thursday night to pray for the people of Ukraine and for peace. Our community is made of loving and compassionate people. 
 
On Saturday, March 5, I was happy to join my colleagues in the Derby Delegation at A.M. Bagel to get the best bagels in Connecticut to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. The owner and his family are from Ukraine, and while we may not know what our Ukrainian-American neighbors are experiencing, we can take action to stand in solidarity and call for peace.
 
CT's working-class shouldn't put more of their income towards their tax bills than the top percent of earners - but they do. I testified before the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee during a public hearing on Thursday, March 3 urging my colleagues to advance SB 29 to the next step in the legislative process. This bill would permanently increase the Earned Income Tax Credit to 41.5% to help make our tax system more fair. In Ansonia and Derby, 2,500 resident receive the Earned Income Tax Credit, and it will take steps to put money back into these residents' pockets. 
 
THIS WEEK'S PUBLIC HEARINGS
Don't miss any of this week's public hearings! Visit the CGA website, here, to download the public hearing agendas to learn what bills you can testify on. To learn more about how to sign up to testify before a legislative committee during public hearing, click here. You can stream public hearings and committee meetings on
CT-N and the committee's YouTube channel. 
 
PURA TO HOLD LISTENING SESSION
Part of our efforts to keep our constituents informed on issues relating to the utility companies is passing along notices where public participation is encouraged.

As a result of Section 1 of Public Act 20-5, the Take Back Our Grid Act, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) will have an open proceeding to investigate, develop, and adopt a framework for implementing performance-based regulations for the electric distribution companies in Connecticut – Eversource and United Illuminating.
 
A virtual Public Listening Session will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 6:30PM  and the public and non-traditional stakeholders are encouraged to participate and offer comments.

Register to Participate Here
If you are not able to attend the virtual forum, but are interested in submitting written comments, please send them to PURA.ExecutiveSecretary@ct.gov referencing Docket No. 21-05-15 in the subject  line.
 
 
REPORT GAS PRICE GOUGING
Connecticut and the nation have seen gas prices increase at an alarming rate during this time of global unrest and the effect of market volatility on commodity prices.

While price fluctuations are expected, there are some unscrupulous businesses that exploit these conditions to gouge consumers at the pump.

The practice of charging unconscionably high prices immediately before market disruptions that cannot be attributed to additional costs is illegal in our state.  

If you believe a business is engaging in price gouging, you may file a report with the Office of the Attorney General online, HERE, or call 860-808-5318.

 
SPOTLIGHTING LOCAL EXCELLENCE
These young ladies are helping to make sure the Little Free Pantry on Church Street in Ansonia is stocked for neighbors who may need a boost. I’ve always been so proud of how we show up for each other here in the valley. No one walks alone here in the 104th. 
 
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Ansonia and Derby residents - if you could have the community center of your dreams, what would it include? Take the survey by March 25 to let All In for Ansonia & Derby know!
Click Here for the Survey in English
Oprima Aqui Para La Encuesta en Español
 
 
Click image for details
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Please feel free to contact me with any thoughts and concerns you may have on Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov or 1-800-842-8267. Follow my Facebook page for regular legislative updates.

All my Best,

Kara Rochelle
State Representative

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