2019 ARCHIVES
2019 LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES AND MORE WORK TO DO ON CLIMATE- updated June 25th
CLIMATE & ENERGY
This bill includes a fix for the 2018 energy bill that had solar net metering on track for elimination, threatening the industry as well as hundreds of jobs. While CCAG and allies are not thrilled with all aspects of the bill, the fix on net metering is critical and does at least move us in the right direction on renewable energy.
PASSED! SB 753, AAC The State Wide Ban on Fracking Waste. After six years, a three-year moratorium, and 58 local fracking waste ban ordinances, we have legislation that will permanently ban fracking waste in Connecticut! While the bill had a preemption clause added in the Senate, which negates the authority of municipalities to enact their current ordinance, passage of SB 753 brings the same protections to all 169 towns.
PASSED! HB 7156, Offshore Wind. After months of effective advocacy by you and so many allies, offshore wind power will become a reality for Connecticut. We become the first state to mandate project labor agreements and prevailing wages for all offshore wind projects. The bill also includes some of the strongest environmental protections for marine life, ecosystems and commercial fishing in the nation.
MORE WORK TO DO ON CLIMATE
Energy Efficiency Funds. Through your electric bill, you pay for programs that lower energy waste and expense, and spur home-grown jobs. In 2017, the legislature raided $145 million of your funds to balance the budget. The initial diversion occurred in June 2018. This decision resulted in lost jobs, business uncertainty, missed opportunities to reduce bills for working families, lost opportunities to lower carbon emissions as well as air and water pollution, and diminished trust in state leaders.
The good news is that the new budget does not include any new diversions of these ratepayer funds for at least the next two years; the bad news is that neither the legislature nor the Governor have taken any action to stop the upcoming $54 million diversion scheduled for July. We remain vigilant.
SB 232, AAC The Allowable Percentage of Leakage from Gas Pipelines. This bill didn’t move forward but collective advocacy prompted legislators to hand this over to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).
The CT Sierra Club and the CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs have been approved as participants in the
proceedings for the dockets at PURA. The following issues will be addressed:
These issues generally fit within the scope of Docket No. 18-03-28, which will be addressed by PURA. We will be monitoring and revisiting this issue with any requests that are not passed in next session.
CLIMATE & ENERGY
This bill includes a fix for the 2018 energy bill that had solar net metering on track for elimination, threatening the industry as well as hundreds of jobs. While CCAG and allies are not thrilled with all aspects of the bill, the fix on net metering is critical and does at least move us in the right direction on renewable energy.
PASSED! SB 753, AAC The State Wide Ban on Fracking Waste. After six years, a three-year moratorium, and 58 local fracking waste ban ordinances, we have legislation that will permanently ban fracking waste in Connecticut! While the bill had a preemption clause added in the Senate, which negates the authority of municipalities to enact their current ordinance, passage of SB 753 brings the same protections to all 169 towns.
PASSED! HB 7156, Offshore Wind. After months of effective advocacy by you and so many allies, offshore wind power will become a reality for Connecticut. We become the first state to mandate project labor agreements and prevailing wages for all offshore wind projects. The bill also includes some of the strongest environmental protections for marine life, ecosystems and commercial fishing in the nation.
MORE WORK TO DO ON CLIMATE
Energy Efficiency Funds. Through your electric bill, you pay for programs that lower energy waste and expense, and spur home-grown jobs. In 2017, the legislature raided $145 million of your funds to balance the budget. The initial diversion occurred in June 2018. This decision resulted in lost jobs, business uncertainty, missed opportunities to reduce bills for working families, lost opportunities to lower carbon emissions as well as air and water pollution, and diminished trust in state leaders.
The good news is that the new budget does not include any new diversions of these ratepayer funds for at least the next two years; the bad news is that neither the legislature nor the Governor have taken any action to stop the upcoming $54 million diversion scheduled for July. We remain vigilant.
SB 232, AAC The Allowable Percentage of Leakage from Gas Pipelines. This bill didn’t move forward but collective advocacy prompted legislators to hand this over to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).
The CT Sierra Club and the CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs have been approved as participants in the
proceedings for the dockets at PURA. The following issues will be addressed:
- allowable percentage of lost and unaccounted for gas
- environmentally significant leaks
- leak detection
- ratepayer protection
- climate impact
- transparency
These issues generally fit within the scope of Docket No. 18-03-28, which will be addressed by PURA. We will be monitoring and revisiting this issue with any requests that are not passed in next session.
:
CCAG END OF SESSION LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - UPDATES AND ACTION! Updated June 5th
Lowering Prescription Drug Prices: HB 7267 would enable Connecticut to import drugs from Canada. More and more states are passing drug importation laws including Colorado, Florida and Vermont.
ACTION! Please contact senate leaders NOW and ask them to: Pass HB 7267 TODAY to allow the importation of prescription drugs from Canada to Connecticut Calls are best, but email messages are okay, too.
SB 1- Implementing Paid Family Leave. PASSED!
SB 859 AAC Community Health Workers.This bill passed out of the Public Health Committee and Senate unanimously. The bill established a certification program for community health workers and is vital to the care and coordination for residents statewide. The fiscal note shows the bill will generate some revenue and recent reports show minimal costs associated with the bill.
ACTION! Contact your State Rep. to support SB 859.
DEMOCRACY
HB 7160 AA Increasing Voter Access. This bill was approved in the House by an 85-60 vote. It must be approved by the senate before it can be sent to the governor for his signature.
ACTION! Contact your State Senators! Tell them to approve this bill.
Related News: Recent Post Article - Governor Lamont press release
CT's Citizens Election Program (CEP) is under attack! The CEP is one of the best investments in our state budget. It provides the opportunity for citizens to run for state level office without reliance on special interest money; curtails excessive spending and provides a more level playing field among candidates. And it keeps dark money from unknown sources out of candidate coffers. ACTION: We need to make sure that the Citizens' Election Program is preserved. Click here to write a letter to legislative leaders today.
Related news: No Going Back to the Wild West.
CLIMATE
HB 5002 AAC A Green New Economy and Environmental Protection. PASSED! This bill includes a fix for the 2018 energy bill that had solar net metering on track for elimination, threatening the industry and hundreds of jobs.
While CCAG and allies are not thrilled with all aspects of the bill, the fix on net metering is critical and does at least move us in the right direction on renewable energy.
Related news: CT Mirror- It's not easy being green
Stop the Raid on Clean Energy Funds. Through your electric bill, you pay into a clean energy fund for programs that lower energy waste and expense, and spur the economy. In 2018 $145 million of this fund was diverted to plug a hole in the budget. In June an additional $54 million is scheduled to go into the general fund.
The Governor and legislature can STOP THIS RAID.
ACTION! Call and demand- “Stop the June diversion of our clean energy funds. This is ratepayer money and we want it to serve its intended purpose.”
SB 753 AAC The State-Wide Ban on Fracking Waste. PASSED! After six years, a three-year moratorium and 58 local fracking waste bans, we have legislation that would permanently ban fracking waste in Connecticut! This bill passed the Senate and may be voted on today.
ACTION! Contact your State Reps. tell them to vote Yes on SB 753 to keep this toxic waste out of our state.
EQUALITY & JUSTICE
SB 380 AAC Mental Health Care, Wellness Training and Suicide Prevention for Police Officers. The Senate unanimously passed sweeping police accountability legislation late Wednesday that would require the release of body- or dash-camera video within 96 hours of an incident upon request and reshapes the way police release information on use-of-force incidents and fatalities by requiring certain details to be made public on request within a set period of time.
ACTION! Contact your State Reps to ask them to vote YES on this bill.
Related news: CT News Junkie- Senate Sends Police Accountability Bill To House
PASSED! HB 7082 Inclusion of Black and Latino Studies in the Public School Curriculum. This legislation will add Black and Latino studies to the required programs of study for public schools and require boards of education to include an elective course about these topics in their high school curriculum beginning with the 2022-23 school year. The bill passed the House and Senate and is on its way to the Governor’s desk, he is expected to sign. Good Work!
Please contact your decision makers to tell them to support the issues you care about. Calls are best but email is ok too. Don’t know who your legislator is? Go to www.cga.ct.gov
Governor Lamont Phone: 800-406-1527 - Email the Governor here
Senate Democrats: 1-800-842-1420 Senate Republicans: 1-800-842-1421
House Democrats: 1-800-842-8267 House Republicans: 1-800-842-8270
Healthcare Solutions Under Consideration in 2019
HB 7267 AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC OPTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE IN CONNECTICUT.
To: Establish the ConnectHealth Program that will utilize purchasing power of the state to offer a quality health plan for small businesses by January of 2020, to individuals not eligible for subsidies by Fall of 2020, and to establish a planning process to explore a larger public option for 2021.
SB 902 AN ACT CONCERNING HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLANS.
To require certain high deductible health plans, to the maximum extent permitted by federal law, to: (1) Apply annual deductibles on a calendar year basis; (2) prorate annual deductibles to reflect (A) the portion of the calendar year during which coverage under such plans is effective, and (B) a deduction for payments made by individuals covered under such plans while such individuals were covered under other high deductible health plans during such year; (3) provide deductions for in-network and out-of-network covered benefits; and (4) not apply (A) increased annual deductibles solely because such plans provide family coverage, or (B) annual deductibles that vary solely due to family size.
HB 7174 AN ACT CONCERNING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
To: (1) Establish the "Connecticut Prescription Drug Program" and the "Connecticut prescription drug program account"; (2) require pharmaceutical manufacturers to send notice to the Insurance Commissioner regarding "pay-for-delay" agreements, and require health carriers and pharmacy benefits managers to reduce the cost of brand name prescription drugs that are the subject of such agreements; (3) require the Comptroller to offer qualified private employers the option to purchase prescription drugs for their employees, employees' dependents and retirees through the Comptroller's purchasing authority; (4) prohibit any health carrier or pharmacy benefits manager from recouping any portion of a claim that such carrier or manager has paid to a pharmacy or pharmacist; and (5) establish a task force to study drug reimportation.
This bill was voted out of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee and is awaiting action on the floor to refer it out to any additional Committees,
HB 7164 AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HUMAN SERVICES.
The Governor's budget recommendations in terms of health care does not include restoring HUSKY eligibility for parents up to 201% of the federal poverty level.
Climate Change Priorities for 2019
SAVING AND STRENGTHENING SOLAR ENERGY IN CONNECTICUT
HB 7251 AN ACT CONCERNING LONG-TERM CONTRACTS FOR CERTAIN CLASS I GENERATION PROJECTS AND THE RESIDENTIAL SOLAR INVESTMENT PROGRAM AND REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE VALUE OF SOLAR.
In 2018 Governor Malloy and the legislature passed legislation that would eliminate net metering for solar users and threatening the solar industry in Connecticut and hundreds of jobs.
CCAG and our allies have fought back, and the Energy and Technology Committee passed a proposal that amended some aspects of the 2018 law. However, the changes do not go far enough, and we need to continue to push for improvements as the bill moves forward. The bill currently requires electric distribution companies to solicit and file with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority long-term contracts with owners or developers of certain Class I generation projects (net metering) for an additional year, (2) increases the total potential deployment pursuant to the residential solar investment program to four hundred megawatts, and (3) requires a study of the value of solar, which CCAG strongly supports.
We continue to fight to improve the language and protect solar jobs in Connecticut.
HB 7156 AAC PROCUREMENT OF ENERGY DERIVED FROM OFFSHORE WIND
The expanded use of Wind Energy can help us move to our clean energy goals and help to create hundreds of good paying jobs in Connecticut. The Energy and technology Committee has advanced a version of the legislation that was an improvement from the earlier version. CCAG is still supporting a mandate of 2,000 MW of wind energy and some increased environmental protections. Discussions are continuing with Committee leadership and officials with the Lamont administration. PASSED!
HB 5002 AAC DEVELOPMENT OF A GREEN NEW DEAL
While introduced as a shell bill, advocates have been crafting components and are in the process of sharing these concepts with legislative leaders. The key points include:
CCAG will continue to advocate for this bill to live up to its title and to ensure that it plays a key role in helping Connecticut meet the goal of being a zero-carbon state by 2050. As details become available we will share them.
ENDING FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENCY
CCAG and our allies are looking to advance policies that will lessen our dependence on fossil fuels, including natural gas and free up resources for a truly green solution. This includes:
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
In order to address the budget deficit in 2018, the legislature raided clean energy funds including the Energy Efficiency Fund. The state is slated to raid another $54 million in June despite running up very large surpluses. Since no legislative committees have voted out legislation to date we are focusing attention on Governor Lamont and urging him to call on the legislature to block the upcoming raid. Efficiency efforts have to be central to achieving our goal of being carbon neutral by 2050 and the raids have threatened thousands of jobs.
CCAG END OF SESSION LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - UPDATES AND ACTION! Updated June 5th
Lowering Prescription Drug Prices: HB 7267 would enable Connecticut to import drugs from Canada. More and more states are passing drug importation laws including Colorado, Florida and Vermont.
ACTION! Please contact senate leaders NOW and ask them to: Pass HB 7267 TODAY to allow the importation of prescription drugs from Canada to Connecticut Calls are best, but email messages are okay, too.
- Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney: 860-240-0375 or Looney@senatedems.ct.gov
- Senate Republic Leader Len Fasano: 1-800-842-1421 or Len.Fasano@cga.ct.gov
- Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff: 1-800-842-1420 or Duff@senatedems.ct.gov
- Senate Republican Leader Pro Tempore Kevin Witkos: 1-800-842-1421 or Kevin.Witkos@cga.ct.gov
SB 1- Implementing Paid Family Leave. PASSED!
SB 859 AAC Community Health Workers.This bill passed out of the Public Health Committee and Senate unanimously. The bill established a certification program for community health workers and is vital to the care and coordination for residents statewide. The fiscal note shows the bill will generate some revenue and recent reports show minimal costs associated with the bill.
ACTION! Contact your State Rep. to support SB 859.
DEMOCRACY
HB 7160 AA Increasing Voter Access. This bill was approved in the House by an 85-60 vote. It must be approved by the senate before it can be sent to the governor for his signature.
ACTION! Contact your State Senators! Tell them to approve this bill.
Related News: Recent Post Article - Governor Lamont press release
CT's Citizens Election Program (CEP) is under attack! The CEP is one of the best investments in our state budget. It provides the opportunity for citizens to run for state level office without reliance on special interest money; curtails excessive spending and provides a more level playing field among candidates. And it keeps dark money from unknown sources out of candidate coffers. ACTION: We need to make sure that the Citizens' Election Program is preserved. Click here to write a letter to legislative leaders today.
Related news: No Going Back to the Wild West.
CLIMATE
HB 5002 AAC A Green New Economy and Environmental Protection. PASSED! This bill includes a fix for the 2018 energy bill that had solar net metering on track for elimination, threatening the industry and hundreds of jobs.
While CCAG and allies are not thrilled with all aspects of the bill, the fix on net metering is critical and does at least move us in the right direction on renewable energy.
Related news: CT Mirror- It's not easy being green
Stop the Raid on Clean Energy Funds. Through your electric bill, you pay into a clean energy fund for programs that lower energy waste and expense, and spur the economy. In 2018 $145 million of this fund was diverted to plug a hole in the budget. In June an additional $54 million is scheduled to go into the general fund.
The Governor and legislature can STOP THIS RAID.
ACTION! Call and demand- “Stop the June diversion of our clean energy funds. This is ratepayer money and we want it to serve its intended purpose.”
SB 753 AAC The State-Wide Ban on Fracking Waste. PASSED! After six years, a three-year moratorium and 58 local fracking waste bans, we have legislation that would permanently ban fracking waste in Connecticut! This bill passed the Senate and may be voted on today.
ACTION! Contact your State Reps. tell them to vote Yes on SB 753 to keep this toxic waste out of our state.
EQUALITY & JUSTICE
SB 380 AAC Mental Health Care, Wellness Training and Suicide Prevention for Police Officers. The Senate unanimously passed sweeping police accountability legislation late Wednesday that would require the release of body- or dash-camera video within 96 hours of an incident upon request and reshapes the way police release information on use-of-force incidents and fatalities by requiring certain details to be made public on request within a set period of time.
ACTION! Contact your State Reps to ask them to vote YES on this bill.
Related news: CT News Junkie- Senate Sends Police Accountability Bill To House
PASSED! HB 7082 Inclusion of Black and Latino Studies in the Public School Curriculum. This legislation will add Black and Latino studies to the required programs of study for public schools and require boards of education to include an elective course about these topics in their high school curriculum beginning with the 2022-23 school year. The bill passed the House and Senate and is on its way to the Governor’s desk, he is expected to sign. Good Work!
Please contact your decision makers to tell them to support the issues you care about. Calls are best but email is ok too. Don’t know who your legislator is? Go to www.cga.ct.gov
Governor Lamont Phone: 800-406-1527 - Email the Governor here
Senate Democrats: 1-800-842-1420 Senate Republicans: 1-800-842-1421
House Democrats: 1-800-842-8267 House Republicans: 1-800-842-8270
Healthcare Solutions Under Consideration in 2019
HB 7267 AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC OPTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE IN CONNECTICUT.
To: Establish the ConnectHealth Program that will utilize purchasing power of the state to offer a quality health plan for small businesses by January of 2020, to individuals not eligible for subsidies by Fall of 2020, and to establish a planning process to explore a larger public option for 2021.
SB 902 AN ACT CONCERNING HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLANS.
To require certain high deductible health plans, to the maximum extent permitted by federal law, to: (1) Apply annual deductibles on a calendar year basis; (2) prorate annual deductibles to reflect (A) the portion of the calendar year during which coverage under such plans is effective, and (B) a deduction for payments made by individuals covered under such plans while such individuals were covered under other high deductible health plans during such year; (3) provide deductions for in-network and out-of-network covered benefits; and (4) not apply (A) increased annual deductibles solely because such plans provide family coverage, or (B) annual deductibles that vary solely due to family size.
HB 7174 AN ACT CONCERNING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
To: (1) Establish the "Connecticut Prescription Drug Program" and the "Connecticut prescription drug program account"; (2) require pharmaceutical manufacturers to send notice to the Insurance Commissioner regarding "pay-for-delay" agreements, and require health carriers and pharmacy benefits managers to reduce the cost of brand name prescription drugs that are the subject of such agreements; (3) require the Comptroller to offer qualified private employers the option to purchase prescription drugs for their employees, employees' dependents and retirees through the Comptroller's purchasing authority; (4) prohibit any health carrier or pharmacy benefits manager from recouping any portion of a claim that such carrier or manager has paid to a pharmacy or pharmacist; and (5) establish a task force to study drug reimportation.
This bill was voted out of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee and is awaiting action on the floor to refer it out to any additional Committees,
HB 7164 AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HUMAN SERVICES.
The Governor's budget recommendations in terms of health care does not include restoring HUSKY eligibility for parents up to 201% of the federal poverty level.
Climate Change Priorities for 2019
SAVING AND STRENGTHENING SOLAR ENERGY IN CONNECTICUT
HB 7251 AN ACT CONCERNING LONG-TERM CONTRACTS FOR CERTAIN CLASS I GENERATION PROJECTS AND THE RESIDENTIAL SOLAR INVESTMENT PROGRAM AND REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE VALUE OF SOLAR.
In 2018 Governor Malloy and the legislature passed legislation that would eliminate net metering for solar users and threatening the solar industry in Connecticut and hundreds of jobs.
CCAG and our allies have fought back, and the Energy and Technology Committee passed a proposal that amended some aspects of the 2018 law. However, the changes do not go far enough, and we need to continue to push for improvements as the bill moves forward. The bill currently requires electric distribution companies to solicit and file with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority long-term contracts with owners or developers of certain Class I generation projects (net metering) for an additional year, (2) increases the total potential deployment pursuant to the residential solar investment program to four hundred megawatts, and (3) requires a study of the value of solar, which CCAG strongly supports.
We continue to fight to improve the language and protect solar jobs in Connecticut.
HB 7156 AAC PROCUREMENT OF ENERGY DERIVED FROM OFFSHORE WIND
The expanded use of Wind Energy can help us move to our clean energy goals and help to create hundreds of good paying jobs in Connecticut. The Energy and technology Committee has advanced a version of the legislation that was an improvement from the earlier version. CCAG is still supporting a mandate of 2,000 MW of wind energy and some increased environmental protections. Discussions are continuing with Committee leadership and officials with the Lamont administration. PASSED!
HB 5002 AAC DEVELOPMENT OF A GREEN NEW DEAL
While introduced as a shell bill, advocates have been crafting components and are in the process of sharing these concepts with legislative leaders. The key points include:
- Energy Efficiency/Equity
- Greenhouse Gas Reduction
- Infrastructure
- Climate Resilience
- Accountability
CCAG will continue to advocate for this bill to live up to its title and to ensure that it plays a key role in helping Connecticut meet the goal of being a zero-carbon state by 2050. As details become available we will share them.
ENDING FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENCY
CCAG and our allies are looking to advance policies that will lessen our dependence on fossil fuels, including natural gas and free up resources for a truly green solution. This includes:
- SB 232 AAC THE ALLOWABLE PERCENTAGE OF LEAKAGE FROM GAS PIPELINES – this bill will keep communities safer, lessen the release of very harmful methane gas, and save ratepayers money by not allowing gas companies to charge ratepayers for lost gas;
- SB 753 AAC THE STATE-WIDE BAN ON FRACKING WASTE was voted out of the Environment Committee and builds off the great work in over 55 municipalities to ban fracking waste,
- HB 6242 AN ACT PROHIBITING SURCHARGES FROM BEING LEVIED ON UTILITY CUSTOMERS TO SUBSIDIZE INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE CAPACITY CCAG opposed giving PURA the ability to tax electric users to pay for interstate gas pipelines. The other states that this scheme is predicated on have rejected the pipeline. Since the basis to give PURA the ability to levy the tax no longer exist the legislature should rescind PURA’s authorization to tax electrical workers because the pipeline is not currently feasible and if built would increase our dependence on fossil fuels.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
In order to address the budget deficit in 2018, the legislature raided clean energy funds including the Energy Efficiency Fund. The state is slated to raid another $54 million in June despite running up very large surpluses. Since no legislative committees have voted out legislation to date we are focusing attention on Governor Lamont and urging him to call on the legislature to block the upcoming raid. Efficiency efforts have to be central to achieving our goal of being carbon neutral by 2050 and the raids have threatened thousands of jobs.
Here are some of the highlights, as of August, 2019:
CLIMATE & ENERGY Download our updated Climate Agenda here.
HB 5002 AAC A Green New Economy and Environmental Protection. This bill includes a fix for the 2018 energy bill that had solar net metering on track for elimination, threatening the industry as well as hundreds of jobs. While CCAG and allies are not thrilled with all aspects of the bill, the fix on net metering is critical and does at least move us in the right direction on renewable energy.
PASSED! SB 753, AAC The State Wide Ban on Fracking Waste. After six years, a three-year moratorium, and 58 local fracking waste ban ordinances, we have legislation that will permanently ban fracking waste in Connecticut! While the bill had a preemption clause added in the Senate, which negates the authority of municipalities to enact their current ordinance, passage of SB 753 brings the same protections to all 169 towns.
PASSED! HB 7156, Offshore Wind. After months of effective advocacy by you and so many allies, offshore wind power will become a reality for Connecticut. We become the first state to mandate project labor agreements and prevailing wages for all offshore wind projects. The bill also includes some of the strongest environmental protections for marine life, ecosystems and commercial fishing in the nation.
MORE WORK TO DO ON CLIMATE -
Energy Efficiency Funds. Through your electric bill, you pay for programs that lower energy waste and expense, and spur home-grown jobs. In 2017, the legislature raided $145 million of your funds to balance the budget. The initial diversion occurred in June 2018. This decision resulted in lost jobs, business uncertainty, missed opportunities to reduce bills for working families, lost opportunities to lower carbon emissions as well as air and water pollution, and diminished trust in state leaders.
The good news is that the new budget does not include any new diversions of these ratepayer funds for at least the next two years; the bad news is that neither the legislature nor the Governor have taken any action to stop the upcoming $54 million diversion scheduled for July. We remain vigilant.
SB 232, AAC The Allowable Percentage of Leakage from Gas Pipelines. This bill didn’t move forward but collective advocacy prompted legislators to hand this over to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).
The CT Sierra Club and the CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs have been approved as participants in the
proceedings for the dockets at PURA. The following issues will be addressed:
These issues generally fit within the scope of Docket No. 18-03-28, which will be addressed by PURA. We will be monitoring and revisiting this issue with any requests that are not passed in next session.
CT! Stop Building Dirty Power Plants! Construction of new fossil fuel power plants continue in Connecticut despite state mandated emission reduction goals. No other state in the region is doing this. It is time for Connecticut to stop.
Upcoming Actions to Fight Killingly Gas Power Plant:
Weekly Friday Petition of the Governor! Aug. 30. Please join us for the weekly protests at the Governor's residence, corner of Asylum and Prospect Avenues in West Hartford, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Signs provided. The protests have been noticed; reporters are now attending. We plan to keep the protests going and march right into Climate Strike on Sep. 20
Continue to send letters to the editor, call Governor Lamont, and talk to your state legislators.
Related News:
Environmentalists try to shout down proposed Killingly energy plant- POSTED 5:50 PM, AUGUST 7, 2019, BY MATT CARON Fox News.
Environmental advocates denounce planned natural gas plant in Killingly. By STEPHEN SINGER HARTFORD COURANT |AUG 07, 2019
A CT Call to Climate Action! Sept. 20 thru 27. As a part of this global week of action, the CT Climate Crisis Mobilization (C3M) is bringing together a diverse coalition of individuals and groups to plan actions that call attention to the climate crisis, including a call for environmental justice, social and racial justice, economic and immigration justice, as these are all connected with our fight to maintain a livable Earth. The CT Climate Strike on September 20 begins a week of action in every city and town, every school, every workplace, every house of worship. Read more here.
#ClimateRide4CT Ann Pratt, Executive Director of Connecticut Citizen Research Group is participating in the New England Climate ride from Bangor to Boston to help raise funds to build CCRG's organizing capacity in Connecticut- and to make sure one more state is on a clear, strong path towards a Zero Carbon Future. Proceeds benefit the Ct Citizen Research Group and are tax deductible.
For details, to support this effort OR to join Ann's team visit her page here
HEALTHCARE
Passed in the Budget, HUSKY A. The budget expanded the HUSKY A Medicaid program for working poor adults to serve roughly 4,000 more people each year. It includes rate increases for nursing homes which are key to averting strikes this summer at 25 facilities.
MORE WORK TO DO ON HEALTH CARE
We had high hopes at the start of the legislative session that Connecticut would be the first state in the nation to pass a public option. When those hopes were dashed there was still hope that some type of reform might pass. HB 7367 would have allowed for the importation of much lower priced prescription drugs from Canada.
While the bill passed in the House, it was not called in the Senate and it died on that floor. We will continue to pursue this issue in the next legislative session and are now turning our organizing efforts to federal action for quality, affordable health care and lower prescription drug prices.
National RX and Health Care Bills: View what we are currently following Here
WORKER JUSTICE- VICTORIES AND MORE WORK TO DO 2019- updated June 15th
PASSED! SB 1, Paid Family Leave. This bill will benefit workers, families and our economy. Any argument claiming that this crucial benefit would hurt our economy or the well-being of our businesses is nonsensical. The fact is, after ten years of paid leave in California, employers overwhelmingly report positive or neutral impact on their bottom lines.
Read how Paid Family Leave will impact you here.
PASSED HB 5004 AA, Increasing the Minimum Fair Wage. Connecticut is now officially the seventh state to raise the minimum wage to $15! Thanks to years of organizing by workers, activists and allies, more than 300,000 low-wage workers in Connecticut will soon begin to receive a decent wage.
DEMOCRACY
SB 24, AAC Automatic Voter Registration (AVR). In a nutshell, important voting reforms that would have increased participation, would have saved towns money, and would have eliminated the nightmares we saw in some municipalities on election day in 2018 were never voted on in the Senate. This reform could be brought up in the September special session.
HJR161, for Early Voting passed, meaning it will go to the legislature one more time in 2021 and then can appear on the 2022 ballot for approval by voters. CCAG may come back next year to make a few improvements to the bill.
We successfully defended the critical Clean Elections Funding. These funds are attacked every year. Many candidates, for the roughly ten years of its operation, run without big donations from the wealthy few. You can find a direct link to clean elections in every victory listed above.
These are just a few highlights, for more information on this or other issue work,
please contact:
Duste Dunn (203) 241-8403 Email: duste@ccag.net
CLIMATE & ENERGY Download our updated Climate Agenda here.
HB 5002 AAC A Green New Economy and Environmental Protection. This bill includes a fix for the 2018 energy bill that had solar net metering on track for elimination, threatening the industry as well as hundreds of jobs. While CCAG and allies are not thrilled with all aspects of the bill, the fix on net metering is critical and does at least move us in the right direction on renewable energy.
PASSED! SB 753, AAC The State Wide Ban on Fracking Waste. After six years, a three-year moratorium, and 58 local fracking waste ban ordinances, we have legislation that will permanently ban fracking waste in Connecticut! While the bill had a preemption clause added in the Senate, which negates the authority of municipalities to enact their current ordinance, passage of SB 753 brings the same protections to all 169 towns.
PASSED! HB 7156, Offshore Wind. After months of effective advocacy by you and so many allies, offshore wind power will become a reality for Connecticut. We become the first state to mandate project labor agreements and prevailing wages for all offshore wind projects. The bill also includes some of the strongest environmental protections for marine life, ecosystems and commercial fishing in the nation.
MORE WORK TO DO ON CLIMATE -
Energy Efficiency Funds. Through your electric bill, you pay for programs that lower energy waste and expense, and spur home-grown jobs. In 2017, the legislature raided $145 million of your funds to balance the budget. The initial diversion occurred in June 2018. This decision resulted in lost jobs, business uncertainty, missed opportunities to reduce bills for working families, lost opportunities to lower carbon emissions as well as air and water pollution, and diminished trust in state leaders.
The good news is that the new budget does not include any new diversions of these ratepayer funds for at least the next two years; the bad news is that neither the legislature nor the Governor have taken any action to stop the upcoming $54 million diversion scheduled for July. We remain vigilant.
SB 232, AAC The Allowable Percentage of Leakage from Gas Pipelines. This bill didn’t move forward but collective advocacy prompted legislators to hand this over to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).
The CT Sierra Club and the CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs have been approved as participants in the
proceedings for the dockets at PURA. The following issues will be addressed:
- allowable percentage of lost and unaccounted for gas
- environmentally significant leaks
- leak detection
- ratepayer protection
- climate impact
- transparency
These issues generally fit within the scope of Docket No. 18-03-28, which will be addressed by PURA. We will be monitoring and revisiting this issue with any requests that are not passed in next session.
CT! Stop Building Dirty Power Plants! Construction of new fossil fuel power plants continue in Connecticut despite state mandated emission reduction goals. No other state in the region is doing this. It is time for Connecticut to stop.
Upcoming Actions to Fight Killingly Gas Power Plant:
Weekly Friday Petition of the Governor! Aug. 30. Please join us for the weekly protests at the Governor's residence, corner of Asylum and Prospect Avenues in West Hartford, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Signs provided. The protests have been noticed; reporters are now attending. We plan to keep the protests going and march right into Climate Strike on Sep. 20
Continue to send letters to the editor, call Governor Lamont, and talk to your state legislators.
Related News:
Environmentalists try to shout down proposed Killingly energy plant- POSTED 5:50 PM, AUGUST 7, 2019, BY MATT CARON Fox News.
Environmental advocates denounce planned natural gas plant in Killingly. By STEPHEN SINGER HARTFORD COURANT |AUG 07, 2019
A CT Call to Climate Action! Sept. 20 thru 27. As a part of this global week of action, the CT Climate Crisis Mobilization (C3M) is bringing together a diverse coalition of individuals and groups to plan actions that call attention to the climate crisis, including a call for environmental justice, social and racial justice, economic and immigration justice, as these are all connected with our fight to maintain a livable Earth. The CT Climate Strike on September 20 begins a week of action in every city and town, every school, every workplace, every house of worship. Read more here.
#ClimateRide4CT Ann Pratt, Executive Director of Connecticut Citizen Research Group is participating in the New England Climate ride from Bangor to Boston to help raise funds to build CCRG's organizing capacity in Connecticut- and to make sure one more state is on a clear, strong path towards a Zero Carbon Future. Proceeds benefit the Ct Citizen Research Group and are tax deductible.
For details, to support this effort OR to join Ann's team visit her page here
HEALTHCARE
Passed in the Budget, HUSKY A. The budget expanded the HUSKY A Medicaid program for working poor adults to serve roughly 4,000 more people each year. It includes rate increases for nursing homes which are key to averting strikes this summer at 25 facilities.
MORE WORK TO DO ON HEALTH CARE
We had high hopes at the start of the legislative session that Connecticut would be the first state in the nation to pass a public option. When those hopes were dashed there was still hope that some type of reform might pass. HB 7367 would have allowed for the importation of much lower priced prescription drugs from Canada.
While the bill passed in the House, it was not called in the Senate and it died on that floor. We will continue to pursue this issue in the next legislative session and are now turning our organizing efforts to federal action for quality, affordable health care and lower prescription drug prices.
National RX and Health Care Bills: View what we are currently following Here
WORKER JUSTICE- VICTORIES AND MORE WORK TO DO 2019- updated June 15th
PASSED! SB 1, Paid Family Leave. This bill will benefit workers, families and our economy. Any argument claiming that this crucial benefit would hurt our economy or the well-being of our businesses is nonsensical. The fact is, after ten years of paid leave in California, employers overwhelmingly report positive or neutral impact on their bottom lines.
Read how Paid Family Leave will impact you here.
PASSED HB 5004 AA, Increasing the Minimum Fair Wage. Connecticut is now officially the seventh state to raise the minimum wage to $15! Thanks to years of organizing by workers, activists and allies, more than 300,000 low-wage workers in Connecticut will soon begin to receive a decent wage.
DEMOCRACY
SB 24, AAC Automatic Voter Registration (AVR). In a nutshell, important voting reforms that would have increased participation, would have saved towns money, and would have eliminated the nightmares we saw in some municipalities on election day in 2018 were never voted on in the Senate. This reform could be brought up in the September special session.
HJR161, for Early Voting passed, meaning it will go to the legislature one more time in 2021 and then can appear on the 2022 ballot for approval by voters. CCAG may come back next year to make a few improvements to the bill.
We successfully defended the critical Clean Elections Funding. These funds are attacked every year. Many candidates, for the roughly ten years of its operation, run without big donations from the wealthy few. You can find a direct link to clean elections in every victory listed above.
These are just a few highlights, for more information on this or other issue work,
please contact:
Duste Dunn (203) 241-8403 Email: duste@ccag.net
The 2019 Legislative Session Ended at Midnight on June 5th!
Click here for Final Actions & Updates on Key Bills for
Climate & Jobs , Health Care, Democracy, Equality & Justice
November/December 2019 updates
As we look back on successes from the 2019 legislative session, we are also planning for major campaigns on access to elections, clean energy, energy equity and justice, and healthcare. Here are some highlights.
DEMOCRACY
Automatic Voter Registration (AVR).
Important voting reforms that would have increased participation, would have saved towns money, and would have eliminated the nightmares we saw in some municipalities on election day in 2018 were never voted on in the Senate this year. We will have a second chance at passage in 2020.
CLIMATE
No New Fossil Fuel Plants:
Despite the legislature passing strong greenhouse gas reduction targets in the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act, and despite Governor Lamont setting a goal of 100% carbon free electricity by 2040, significant action to reduce fossil fuel generation has not followed. In June, a new gas-burning power plant was approved for construction in Killingly. To date, the Governor and the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection have not taken steps to reduce our reliance on natural gas. DEEP recently gave preliminary approval for construction to destroy a wetland so that the Killingly plant can interconnect to the power grid.
Now, another 10 megawatts of new fossil fuel electricity generation have been proposed in Bristol, and DEEP is proposing to sign off on the air permits it needs without a plan to limit or eliminate the facility’s greenhouse gas emissions by the Governor’s 2040 carbon free goal. Sierra Club CT and allies have requested a public hearing to fight this proposal.
Click here to send a message to the Governor and the Commissioner of DEEP to stop both the Killingly and Bristol power plants.
Coalition for a Just and Sustainable Economy:
CCAG is working with Connecticut Sierra Club and others to help meet Governor Lamont’s Goal of a carbon-free electricity supply by 2040. We are gearing up to make sure the solutions create a just and equitable transition from a fossil fuel economy. Our goal is to ensure everyone has access to good jobs and clean air. To learn how to get involved in statewide or regional efforts, or to find or start one in your town, contact Ann Pratt at ann.prattccag@gmail.com.
Connecticut Climate Strike scheduled for December 6th.
The September 20th Climate Strike was the biggest climate protest ever, a huge testament to the growing power of this youth led movement.
The December rally will call for no new fossil fuel infrastructure, Expansion of Energy Efficiency Programs, and Climate Education in Schools. Details are still in the works. For more information, contact Ann Pratt at CCAG at ann.prattccag@gmail.com.
CCAG ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVES
West Hartford Regional Organizing Collaborative – Gearing Up for 2020:
CCAG members, friends and neighbors in the West Hartford area are invited to join GEAR UP for 2020. Hear about CCAG's plans for the upcoming year. Share what is important to you. Find out how you can take action.
For more information, contact: Gretchen Vivier at gretchenvivier@gmail.com, or by phone: 860.798.3280
Fairfield County Organizing Collaborative is on the Move!
Taking Action on Housing, Health Care & Climate Change: CCAG members, friends and neighbors are joining together to educate, engage and take action on the fight for quality, affordable health care; pushing CT to take bold, aggressive action to fight our climate emergency, and working with Fairfield County allies to demand affordable, accessible housing for ALL people in this state.
Interested in finding out more? Contact Bill Collins at 9collins@optonline.net or by phone: 203.846.1109
HEALTHCARE
Connecticut’s People Over Big Pharma Profits- Lower Drug Prices Now Campaign. In August, as part of the “People over Pharma Profits” National Day of Action, CCAG joined with advocates, community and faith leaders, and patients in 34 states demanding that lawmakers take bold action to lower drug prices for everyone by taking away the pharmaceutical companies’ power to price-gouge patients. Connecticut leaders and constituents called on President Trump and Congress to pass comprehensive policies to hold drug makers accountable, rein in drug monopolies, and guarantee all patients access to affordable medicines.
Follow-up actions are being organized now and into 2020. If you are interested in being a part of this campaign, please contact us.
These are just a few highlights, for more information on this or our other work,
please visit our website, join our email list or contact:
Ann Pratt: (860) 209-1234 Email: Ann.prattccag@gmail.com
Twitter @CCAG ● Like us on: facebook.com/CCAG.1971
Email: action@ccag.net
Right now Connecticut faces three challenges: the need to strengthen our economy, the need to stem the impacts of climate change, and to ensure that consumers are protected. The good news is that we have a track record of leadership when it comes to tackling these multi- issue challenges. The following are some of the issues we are pursuing as a part of our special campaign to build on past victories and to reverse harmful decisions made at the state capitol.
CT Citizen Research Group's E. D. Ann Pratt is participating in the New England Climate Ride from Bar Harbor to Boston, Sept 12th thru the 16th to help raise funds to strengthen our organizing capacity in Connecticut- and to make sure one more state is on a clear, strong path towards a Zero Carbon Future.
Make your secure, online donation to this effort today by clicking on Ann's 'Support Me' button. You'll automatically receive an acknowledgment, we will be notified by email of your support and you will be kept updated on Ann's ride for our lives!
Donations go to the Connecticut Citizen Research Group, are tax deductible, and support both CCRG and CCAG's organizing work on this issue.
View our current Climate Agenda here.
The health of our planet, economy, and communities is at stake. Right now, it is more important than ever to work toward a sustainable future. A great way that you can help do something meaningful, substantial and concrete is to donate to this effort TODAY!
Make your secure, online donation to this effort today by clicking on Ann's 'Support Me' button. You'll automatically receive an acknowledgment, we will be notified by email of your support and you will be kept updated on Ann's ride for our lives!
Donations go to the Connecticut Citizen Research Group, are tax deductible, and support both CCRG and CCAG's organizing work on this issue.
View our current Climate Agenda here.
The health of our planet, economy, and communities is at stake. Right now, it is more important than ever to work toward a sustainable future. A great way that you can help do something meaningful, substantial and concrete is to donate to this effort TODAY!