Last Friday night, the House approved the needed adjustments to the FY2017 budget that closed the deficit through spending cuts, without raising taxes, borrowing, or tapping the Rainy Day Fund. I had anticipated providing you with an update and overview, but with the state bonding bill and the Governor's Second Chance 2.0 legislation impacting the budget, I will provide an update after these bills come before us for a vote.

The increasing cost of special education has placed a strain on many school budgets, especially Bridgeport’s. We are confident that a regional special education school can improve education outcomes for many students.

A Waterbury teacher, who as a teenage mother considered dropping out of school, is named the 2016 National Teacher of the Year.

I am pleased to announce that we have narrowed the achievement gap! Under the CK3LI (CT Kindergarten through 3 Learning Initiative) reading program, the Norris and Langford Elementary Schools have more than doubled the number of students meeting grade literacy level goals.

Great news for a great organization. A grant will benefit Waterbury's Girls, Inc.

The Jewish Federation of Connecticut held an Interfaith Hunger Seder in the Old Judiciary Room at the State Capitol.

This week, I attended a press conference to promote awareness of the Safe Haven law, which states that a distressed birth parent who is unable to care for their infant, 30 days or younger, may leave him or her with an employee at any hospital.

This week, we passed a bi-partisan agreement to put the 2016 budget back in balance, and restore the Governor’s cuts to hospitals, social services, and municipal aid.