IN THE NEWS 2015
OP-ED | There’s Plenty of Hospital Money – It’s About Where They Spend It
by Tom Swan | Jun 29, 2015 9:00am
Some independent hospitals do need financial help, but the real issue is monopoly. While the state’s biggest hospitals bemoan the budget, regulatory records and financial statements show that they are spending millions of dollars for mergers and acquisitions, driving up costs and reducing patient choice. Read more...
State leaders applaud Obamacare ruling CT Post.com-By Tatiana Cirisano and Mackenzie Rigg
Published 3:47 pm, Thursday, June 25, 2015
Tom Swan, the executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, which advocated for health care reform, called the court’s decision “a tremendous win for consumers of health care everywhere.”
“It’s a great relief that this was done today,” Swan said. “It should be the final step in the effort to undermine the Affordable Care Act and it should be a wake-up call for the members of the flat earth society, like Rick Scott from Florida, to realize that the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land and that passing Medicaid expansion is good for consumers, providers and businesses.” Read more...
As Special Session Looms, More Public Statements Against Corporate Greed Ct News Junkie-by Elizabeth Regan
Jun 25, 2015 5:30am
"Protest organizer Ann Pratt, of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, said the corporation owes its workers higher wages and it owes the state more taxes. She cited statistics from a report released last week by the progressive group Americans for Tax Fairness that said Wal-Mart is hiding $76 billion in assets overseas." Read more...
Connecticut Bans Variable-rate Electricity Contracts HARTFORD, Conn.(WTNH)-By Morgan Crabtree, News 8 Intern
Published: June 24, 2015, 5:32 pm
Connecticut has become the first state in the nation to ban contracts that force residents to pay a different amount for electricity each month. HARTFORD, Conn.(WTNH) Read more...
Thank you to AARP for taking the lead on this and to all of the CCAG allies and members who showed up at the hearings, wrote letters, made calls to legislators, and to all of the legislators who championed this bill!
Malloy says there is ‘consensus’ on tax hike rollbacks By Keith M. Phaneuf and Mark Pazniokas
June 24, 2015
Tom Swan, the executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, said the money raised by the bill could be used to address other legislative concerns about the budget, such as the $46.5 million tax increase on hospitals and a reduction in Medicaid reimbursement rates. Read more...
Rally Accuses GE, CBIA of Dishonesty Over Budget Intervention WNPR-By Harriet Jones
Jun 11, 2015
Tom Swan of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group accused the CBIA of dishonesty. He said the state has one of the lowest effective corporate tax rates in the nation, and that the legislature’s efforts to lower property taxes are far more relevant to the majority of businesses. Read more...
From the 2015 legislative session:
ENVIRONMENT
SB 928 Shared Solar: A shared renewable energy program would have allowed a broader group of energy consumers to meet their energy needs with clean, renewable energy. Whether or not they own an appropriate rooftop or property themselves, Connecticut families and businesses would have been able to subscribe to a local shared renewable energy project and get credit on their utility bills for their portion of the clean power produced.
This legislative season, the Energy and Technology Committee received not one but two bills concerning shared renewables. One called for a full-scale program. The other, supported by the state’s major electric utilities, called for a three-year pilot which has been amended to two-years. In spite of a high-quality study by the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering supporting full roll-out, the committee endorsed the pilot.
Since shared clean energy programs and policies have been developed in over a dozen states, it is difficult to understand exactly what we need to pilot. CCAG is disappointed with this outcome as it will only serve to ensure most Connecticut families and businesses do not have access to renewable energy for years to come.
Connecticut’s timid approach to clean energy penalizes consumers, costs state jobs- CT Mirror May 19th
570 AAC Electric Savings and Fixed Bill Fee: This bill initially capped at $10 the fixed charge all electric customers pay regardless of how much power they use. That charge has skyrocketed to $19.25 for Eversource and $17.25 for United Illuminating, though each company requested much more. By lowering and capping fixed charges, all consumers, including the most vulnerable, would have had a real chance to benefit economically from the rapid advances in technology that are already modernizing the power grid.
The bill — which passed the Senate but never made it to the House floor — eliminated a specific cap and replaced it with a new delineation of what could be calculated as part of the fixed charge, a prospect that had us worried as it could not be determined how this would play out. Some calculations actually projected that the fixed rate would go up! There is some possibility that elements of SB570 may get folded into the "budget implementer" bills during special session.
2015 LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP:
CONSUMER PROTECTION
SB 573 AAC Variable Electric Rates: When PURA held hearings last year, the number one consumer complaint was the variable rate. Over and over people testified that their rates were doubled and tripled, and asked that the variable rate be eliminated. The passage of this bill means that Connecticut residents will be the first in the nation to be protected from deceptive, variable electric rates. The new legislation will not affect existing contracts, but will prohibit new ones going forward and takes effect on Oct. 1st, 2015.
Thank you to AARP for taking the lead on this and to all of the CCAG allies and members who showed up at the hearings, wrote the letters, made the calls to legislators, and to all of the legislators who championed this bill!
570 AAC Electric Savings and Fixed Bill Fee: This bill initially capped at $10 the fixed charge all electric customers pay regardless of how much power they use. That charge has skyrocketed to $19.25 for Eversource and $17.25 for United Illuminating, though each company requested much more. By lowering and capping fixed charges, all consumers, including the most vulnerable, would have had a real chance to benefit economically from the rapid advances in technology that are already modernizing the power grid.
The bill — which passed the Senate but never made it to the House floor — eliminated a specific cap and replaced it with a new delineation of what could be calculated as part of the fixed charge, a prospect that had us worried as it could not be determined how this would play out. Some calculations actually projected that the fixed rate would go up!
There is some possibility that elements of SB570 may get folded into the "budget implementer" bills during special session.
ENVIRONMENT
SB 928 Shared Solar: A shared renewable energy program would have allowed a broader group of energy consumers to meet their energy needs with clean, renewable energy. Whether or not they own an appropriate rooftop or property themselves, Connecticut families and businesses would have been able to subscribe to a local shared renewable energy project and get credit on their utility bills for their portion of the clean power produced.
This legislative season, the Energy and Technology Committee received not one but two bills concerning shared renewables. One called for a full-scale program. The other, supported by the state’s major electric utilities, called for a three-year pilot which has been amended to two-years. In spite of a high-quality study by the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering supporting full roll-out, the committee endorsed the pilot.
Since shared clean energy programs and policies have been developed in over a dozen states, it is difficult to understand exactly what we need to pilot. CCAG is disappointed with this outcome as it will only serve to ensure most Connecticut families and businesses do not have access to renewable energy for years to come.
EDUCATION
SB 950 AAC Enabling the Refinancing of Student Loans: this plan would call for the Connecticut Higher Education Student Loan Authority to refinance the loans of state residents.
HB 6915 AAC A Student Loan Bill of Rights: Connecticut has passed the first Student Loan Bill of Rights in the nation! This bill will ensure that borrowers who take on student loans have adequate resources at their disposal, and gives the banking commissioner the authority to investigate and take action against predatory loan servicers.
HEALTH CARE
SB 913: AAC Concerning the Enrollment of Nonstate Public Employees in the State Employee Health Plan: Opens up the state employee health insurance pool for qualified non-state public employee groups, (such as teachers, police, clerical and maintenance locals) to voluntarily opt to purchase health coverage via the state employee pool. This new high-quality health coverage option to non-state public employees could save municipal taxpayers significant money and continues to build a possible pool for a public option. This bill passed and has been signed by the Governor.
CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY
SB 1044 AAC Concerning the Recoupment of State Costs Attributable to Low Wage Employers: Right now the cost of healthcare in CT consumes an enormous portion of our budget much due to some of the largest employers in the state, like Wal-Mart & Dunkin Donuts, forcing taxpayers like you and me to pay for their employee’s healthcare costs. Currently our state is subsidizing these large corporations to the tune of about $486 million annually.
During this session, we fought for SB1044 which would have given these big employers a choice, either pay their workers a decent wage ($15) per hour or pay a fee for dumping their health care costs onto the state and taxpayers. This additional revenue estimated at between $189 million to $305 million, would have provided needed funds for health & childcare programs and leveled the playing field for small businesses.
While it didn't pass, it was the first of its kind in the nation and has shaped the terms of debate by exposing the role that large low wage companies play in putting strains on state budgets.
CCAG is working to build on the current momentum toward making this a national model for the country and will be holding a Worthy Wages phone conference after special session. If you would like to be notified when that is scheduled please join our e-list. For more information on this issue visit: worthywagesct.org.
For more information or to comment on these or other issues contact:
Duste Dunn (860) 233-2181 Ext.321 Email: [email protected]
CONSUMER PROTECTION
SB 573 AAC Variable Electric Rates: When PURA held hearings last year, the number one consumer complaint was the variable rate. Over and over people testified that their rates were doubled and tripled, and asked that the variable rate be eliminated. The passage of this bill means that Connecticut residents will be the first in the nation to be protected from deceptive, variable electric rates. The new legislation will not affect existing contracts, but will prohibit new ones going forward and takes effect on Oct. 1st, 2015.
Thank you to AARP for taking the lead on this and to all of the CCAG allies and members who showed up at the hearings, wrote the letters, made the calls to legislators, and to all of the legislators who championed this bill!
570 AAC Electric Savings and Fixed Bill Fee: This bill initially capped at $10 the fixed charge all electric customers pay regardless of how much power they use. That charge has skyrocketed to $19.25 for Eversource and $17.25 for United Illuminating, though each company requested much more. By lowering and capping fixed charges, all consumers, including the most vulnerable, would have had a real chance to benefit economically from the rapid advances in technology that are already modernizing the power grid.
The bill — which passed the Senate but never made it to the House floor — eliminated a specific cap and replaced it with a new delineation of what could be calculated as part of the fixed charge, a prospect that had us worried as it could not be determined how this would play out. Some calculations actually projected that the fixed rate would go up!
There is some possibility that elements of SB570 may get folded into the "budget implementer" bills during special session.
ENVIRONMENT
SB 928 Shared Solar: A shared renewable energy program would have allowed a broader group of energy consumers to meet their energy needs with clean, renewable energy. Whether or not they own an appropriate rooftop or property themselves, Connecticut families and businesses would have been able to subscribe to a local shared renewable energy project and get credit on their utility bills for their portion of the clean power produced.
This legislative season, the Energy and Technology Committee received not one but two bills concerning shared renewables. One called for a full-scale program. The other, supported by the state’s major electric utilities, called for a three-year pilot which has been amended to two-years. In spite of a high-quality study by the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering supporting full roll-out, the committee endorsed the pilot.
Since shared clean energy programs and policies have been developed in over a dozen states, it is difficult to understand exactly what we need to pilot. CCAG is disappointed with this outcome as it will only serve to ensure most Connecticut families and businesses do not have access to renewable energy for years to come.
EDUCATION
SB 950 AAC Enabling the Refinancing of Student Loans: this plan would call for the Connecticut Higher Education Student Loan Authority to refinance the loans of state residents.
HB 6915 AAC A Student Loan Bill of Rights: Connecticut has passed the first Student Loan Bill of Rights in the nation! This bill will ensure that borrowers who take on student loans have adequate resources at their disposal, and gives the banking commissioner the authority to investigate and take action against predatory loan servicers.
HEALTH CARE
SB 913: AAC Concerning the Enrollment of Nonstate Public Employees in the State Employee Health Plan: Opens up the state employee health insurance pool for qualified non-state public employee groups, (such as teachers, police, clerical and maintenance locals) to voluntarily opt to purchase health coverage via the state employee pool. This new high-quality health coverage option to non-state public employees could save municipal taxpayers significant money and continues to build a possible pool for a public option. This bill passed and has been signed by the Governor.
CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY
SB 1044 AAC Concerning the Recoupment of State Costs Attributable to Low Wage Employers: Right now the cost of healthcare in CT consumes an enormous portion of our budget much due to some of the largest employers in the state, like Wal-Mart & Dunkin Donuts, forcing taxpayers like you and me to pay for their employee’s healthcare costs. Currently our state is subsidizing these large corporations to the tune of about $486 million annually.
During this session, we fought for SB1044 which would have given these big employers a choice, either pay their workers a decent wage ($15) per hour or pay a fee for dumping their health care costs onto the state and taxpayers. This additional revenue estimated at between $189 million to $305 million, would have provided needed funds for health & childcare programs and leveled the playing field for small businesses.
While it didn't pass, it was the first of its kind in the nation and has shaped the terms of debate by exposing the role that large low wage companies play in putting strains on state budgets.
CCAG is working to build on the current momentum toward making this a national model for the country and will be holding a Worthy Wages phone conference after special session. If you would like to be notified when that is scheduled please join our e-list. For more information on this issue visit: worthywagesct.org.
For more information or to comment on these or other issues contact:
Duste Dunn (860) 233-2181 Ext.321 Email: [email protected]
Connecticut Citizen Action Group, 30 Arbor Street Ste 107, Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 233-2181 - [email protected]t
(860) 233-2181 - [email protected]t