The following press releases from state lawmakers representing the Valley in Hartford were received over the past week:
Berthel Votes In Support Of Bill To Suspend Connecticut Gas Tax
HARTFORD – Today State Sen. Eric Berthel (R‑Watertown) voted in support of emergency legislation (House Bill 5501) suspending Connecticut’s excise tax on gasoline from April 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022. In addition, the legislation creates a one-week sales tax holiday on clothing and footwear under $100 from April 10, 2022, to April 16, 2022, and it suspends fares on all CTtransit buses statewide from April 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022.
Two weeks ago, Senator Berthel joined CT Republicans and called for suspending the state gas tax and also called for federal action to suspend the federal gas tax.
The state’s excise tax on gasoline is 25 cents per gallon. The legislation includes language asserting that failure by retailers to reduce the per-gallon price of gasoline by this amount during the suspension period will be considered an “unfair or deceptive trade practice.”
“Families are struggling to pay for necessities right now. They’re making purchasing decisions between gas, food, heating oil and electricity. The temporary suspension of the state’s gas tax will make a small impact in the lives of people in Connecticut for the better. It will help those struggling to make ends meet. However, it would be wonderful to do more. In the worst financial crisis and period of inflation in the last 50 years, we should also be looking at other proposals that my Senate Republican colleagues and I have put forward like reducing the sales tax and other relief,” said Senator Berthel.
“Prior to the Biden administration, Connecticut was already in a precarious financial position with one of the highest costs of living in the nation. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue to look at other ways to help struggling families.”
The legislation earned unanimous approval of the House and Senate.
Senator Berthel is also advocating for cutting the state sales tax, making health care more affordable, and implementing policies to create opportunities and a pipeline to jobs. Learn more at BetterWayCT.com.
Senator Eric Berthel represents Connecticut’s 32nd Senatorial District, which includes the towns of Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Middlebury, Oxford, Roxbury, Seymour, Southbury, Washington, Watertown and Woodbury. www.senatorberthel.com
Kelly Votes To Suspend Gas Tax
HARTFORD – Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly (R‑Stratford) voted in support of emergency bipartisan legislation (House Bill 5501) suspending Connecticut’s excise tax on gasoline from April 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022. In addition, the legislation creates a one-week sales tax holiday on clothing and footwear under $100 from April 10, 2022, to April 16, 2022, and it suspends fares on all CTtransit buses statewide from April 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022.
On March 10, Sen. Kelly joined CT Republicans and called for suspending the state gas tax and also called for federal action to suspend the federal gas tax.
The state’s excise tax on gasoline is 25 cents per gallon. The legislation includes language asserting that failure by retailers to reduce the per-gallon price of gasoline by this amount during the suspension period will be considered an “unfair or deceptive trade practice.”
“Two weeks ago, CT Republicans called for suspending the gas tax. Today, lawmakers came together in a bipartisan vote to deliver tax relief to all Connecticut families. This is an important first step in providing needed relief to working- and middle-class families to combat the crushing impact of inflation. But our work is far from done,” said Senator Kevin Kelly.
“Connecticut remains unaffordable for far too many families. Connecticut residents have the second-highest taxes in the country and our economy is not performing for low- and middle-income residents. Historic inflation, a problem which began many months ago, is only making it more difficult for families in Connecticut already faced with high costs of living to manage their kitchen table economics.
“We must continue working together to make Connecticut more affordable across the board. From health care costs to taxes, Connecticut families need relief,” said Senator Kelly.
The legislation was approved in the House and the Senate with unanimous support.
Sen. Kelly is also advocating for cutting the state sales tax, making health care more affordable, and implementing policies to create opportunities and a pipeline to jobs. Learn more at BetterWayCT.com.
Senator Kevin Kelly represents the 21st District including the towns of Monroe, Seymour, Shelton and Stratford. For more information visit www.SenatorKevinKelly.com.
Sen. Cabrera Joins Colleagues To Ensure Outdoor Dining Can Continue Without Interruption Through 2023
HARTFORD, CT – Today (March 23), state Senator Jorge Cabrera (D‑Hamden) voted in favor of legislation ensuring outdoor dining, a practice that grew in popularity during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic allowing restaurants to safely offer their services, will continue without interruption through 2023. In doing so, an initial target for municipalities to allow outdoor dining in perpetuity was shifted from this year to 2023, a precaution taken due to the continued uncertainty posed by rapidly shifting pandemic dynamics.
“Outdoor dining has not only helped restaurants in Connecticut, but also folks hoping to get a taste of normalcy in the early days of the pandemic and now is a viable and convenient option for everyone,” said Sen. Cabrera. “We’ve got some great restaurants in our community and this extension will make their lives easier and enable them to serve even more customers. I’m proud to support this passage.”
House Bill 5271, “An Act Concerning The Provision Of Outdoor Food and Beverage Services and Outdoor Displays of Goods,” extends laws passed last year to allow the continuation of outdoor dining and retail activities initially authorized during the pandemic. Those laws are extended through April 30, 2023. On May 1, 2023, businesses seeking to continue outdoor dining operations would need to seek local approval.
Studies and surveys show that outdoor dining as an option has shown strong benefits for restaurants and demand for restaurant patrons. The National Restaurant Association reported in October 2021 that, as the Delta variant spread across the United States in early fall 2021, nearly 10% more restaurants offered outdoor dining than in prior months. Restaurants found that outdoor dining comprised a significant swath of sales – 60% of restaurants saw at least 21% of sales coming from outdoor dining – and 71% of full service restaurants saw increased customer demand for outdoor seating.
Outdoor dining is a valuable tool to aid restaurants as the pandemic continues to cause tumult in the industry. As of March 2021, more than 10% of restaurants in the United States had closed permanently, impacting millions; flexible options like outdoor dining allow businesses to diversify their offerings and appeal to cautious diners. Many downtown and central areas of towns saw outdoor offerings bring new foot traffic and interest as well.
Sen. Cabrera Takes Action to Make Voting Easier By Expanding Access to Absentee Ballots
HARTFORD, CT – Today, state Senator Jorge Cabrera (D‑Hamden) acted to make voting easier by expanding access to absentee ballots, making it easier for residents to participate in elections by that method. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, absentee ballots have provided a safe and simple way for residents concerned for their health to cast ballots; today’s vote on House Bill 5262 solidifies their options to do so.
“We know how integral participation is to our democracy and I have long-since been a supporter of making voting easier for everyone in our state,” Sen. Cabrera. “At a time when we are becoming more aware of the fragility of democracy and freedom both at home and abroad, it is important to protect and make stronger the rights of all people to participate in the democratic process. This remains especially important as we continue to navigate the evolving impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
House Bill 5262, “An Act Revising Certain Absentee Voting Eligibility Statutes,” expands two of the six reasons why qualified voters can participate in an election via absentee ballot. Under the bill, qualified voters may vote by absentee if they are unable to appear in person because of “sickness,” instead of their own illness, and due to “physical disability,” instead of their own physical disability. The bill also allows voters to cast ballots via absentee if they are unable to appear at their polling place due to absence from the town they are registered to vote in, updating language allowing that reason only in cases where a voter is absent during all hours of voting.
The bill also modifies language to apply reasons for voting absentee to qualified voters who are unable to appear at their polling place during the day of an election, primary or referendum, expanding current language that only applies to those unable to appear during all hours of voting on that day.
The changes this legislation provides will be in place permanently.
Joint statement from State Representatives Nicole Klarides-Ditria and Eleni Kavros DeGraw on Greek Independence Day
Please join State Representatives Nicole Klarides-Ditria (R‑105) and Eleni Kavros DeGraw (D‑17) this Friday, March 25, 2022, to recognize and celebrate Greek Independence Day.
“As proud Greek-Americans, we invite everyone to join us in celebrating the anniversary of Greek Independence and the creation of the modern Hellenic Republic. As Americans, we will always be inextricably linked through the guiding Democratic principles of ancient Greece that inspired our forefathers to form an independent American nation. In fact, it was our war for independence and founding on democratic principles that inspired the Greeks to fight for their own freedom.
This year, with war raging in Ukraine, as we pause to mark the 221st anniversary of a peaceful, Democratic Greece and its independence from authoritarian rulers, takes on even more importance. The shared ideals of free people and a commitment to justice must never be taken for granted.
Niki I Thanatos (Victory or Death)!”
