News

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• 2/19/2019 Governor Lamont Proposes Long-Overdue Structural Reforms: “This Is the Land of Steady Habits, but We Can’t Continue Along the Same Path and Expect That Things Will Fix Themselves”

  Governor Ned Lamont today released a strategic plan outlining real structural reforms to the state budget, specifically around Connecticut’s two major pension systems and state employee and retiree health benefits. The proposal includes cost sharing among municipalities and restructuring the Teacher’s Retirement System (TRS) to adjust the payment schedule. In addition, Governor Lamont will negotiate a maximum price for healthcare services provided to state employees and retirees, and propose risk sharing for cost of living adjustments (COLA). Separately, Lamont is proposing a modernization of the sales tax base by including digital consumer oriented services such as downloading and streaming and eliminating exemptions on goods and services that are historically inequitable.

• 2/16/2019 Governor Lamont Op-Ed: A Path Forward on Tolling

  Today, a newspaper published an op-ed from Governor Ned Lamont regarding his proposals for modernizing Connecticut’s transportation infrastructure.

• 2/14/2019 Governor Lamont to Small Businesses and CEOs: “Connecticut State Government Wants to Be Your Partner, Not Your Roadblock”

  Governor Ned Lamont today announced two proposals that will cut down on paperwork and fees for businesses across state. One proposal will eliminate a $250 biennial fee businesses are required to pay, along with certain filing requirements. The other proposal begins the process of digitizing services between agencies and residents. Both initiatives are designed to help make it easier for businesses to focus on development and innovation and alleviate administrative burdens.

• 2/13/2019 Governor Lamont: “Working Families Are Central to Connecticut’s Economic Success and Future Growth”

  Governor Ned Lamont today announced a series of legislative proposals designed to help Connecticut’s working families, including a phased in minimum wage increase, paid family and medical leave (PFML), and a restoration of a $200 property tax credit that is currently only applicable to seniors and those with dependents. Both minimum wage increase and the PFML proposals echo existing bills recently proposed by legislators. Governor Lamont intends to work collaboratively with the business community, stakeholders and the legislature to determine the best path forward for the state.

• 2/12/2019 Gov. Lamont: “We Cannot Put Connecticut’s Future on the Credit Card”

  This morning in a room filled with business leaders at a meeting of the Waterbury Regional Chamber, Governor Ned Lamont announced a proposal to shrink the state’s borrowing by 39 percent, the equivalent of hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Referring to it as a self-imposed “Debt Diet” the Governor is seeking to reduce long-term debt service payments and potentially save the state as much as $2 billion over the next decade.

• 2/11/2019 Gov. Lamont Announces Proposals to Make Government Smarter, More Responsive to Residents, and More Engaged With the Private Sector

  Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he will be submitting a series of legislative proposals aimed at making state government smarter, more responsive to the needs of residents, and more engaged with the private sector. The proposals, which will be included in the series of bills the governor is planning to submit to the legislature by February 20, are the result of conversations Governor Lamont has had with Connecticut residents as he campaigned for office over the past 18 months.

• 2/11/2019 Gov. Lamont Issues Open Letter to All Connecticut Residents

  Governor Ned Lamont today issued the following open letter to all Connecticut residents.

• 2/8/2019 Gov. Lamont: Flags Lowered to Half-Staff in Honor of Former Congressman John Dingell

  Governor Ned Lamont today announced that – in accordance with a presidential proclamation directing flags to be lowered throughout the country in honor of former U.S. Representative John David Dingell, Jr. of Michigan, the longest-serving member of Congress in our nation’s history – U.S. and state flags in Connecticut will fly at half-staff beginning immediately until sunset on Saturday, February 9, 2019. Accordingly, since no flag should fly higher than the U.S. flag, all other flags, including state, municipal, corporate, or otherwise, should also be lowered during this same duration of time.

• 2/5/2019 Gov. Lamont Statement on Tonight’s State of the Union Address

  Governor Ned Lamont released the following statement regarding tonight’s State of the Union address.

• 2/1/2019 Gov. Lamont Announces New Construct for State’s Aggressive Economic Development Strategy

  Governor Ned Lamont today unveiled key components of his vision to transform the state’s economic development strategy: aggressive business recruitment; collaborative work across agencies to better support existing businesses and onboard new ones; as well as a strategic and long-term economic policy focus, including in the important area of opportunity zones. To execute on this vision, Governor Lamont is nominating David Lehman, a partner with Goldman Sachs, to serve in dual roles as the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and as the Governor’s Senior Economic Advisor.

• 1/30/2019 Gov. Lamont Announces Partnership With the City of New London and Connecticut Port Authority Regarding the Future of the State Pier

  Governor Ned Lamont today visited New London to announce a new partnership between the Connecticut Port Authority, Gateway Terminal, and the City of New London regarding the future of the Connecticut State Pier. Under the terms of the partnership, which was brokered by Governor Lamont’s office, New London will receive 10 percent of the Port Authority’s share of the revenue from the State Pier, in addition to an annual $75,000 fee to defray the cost of police, fire, and other services the city provides. The Port Authority will also support efforts to amend its enabling statutes to include the mayor of New London as an ex officio member of its Board of Directors, guaranteeing that the city’s perspective is taken into account as any further investments in the State Pier are developed throughout the planning process.

• 1/29/2019 Gov. Lamont Activates State’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol From Wednesday to Sunday

  Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he will activate the state’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol beginning at noon on Wednesday, January 30, and lasting through noon on Sunday, February 3, as bitter cold temperatures and wind chills are anticipated to impact the state. The protocol directs staff from the relevant state agencies to coordinate with 2-1-1 and Connecticut’s network of shelters to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from the severe cold.

• 1/25/2019 Gov. Lamont Selects Josh Geballe to Lead Department of Administrative Services

  Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is nominating Josh Geballe of Guilford to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services (DAS). In this position, Geballe, who has an extensive background in information technology and business management, will be tasked with leading a review of human resources, procurement and IT practices across state agencies to assess opportunities that can streamline processes, improve services, and produce savings.

• 1/25/2019 Gov. Lamont Statement on the Re-Opening of the Federal Government

  Governor Ned Lamont today released the following statement regarding the re-opening of the federal government.

• 1/22/2019 Gov. Lamont Signs First Bill: Bipartisan Legislation Allows Federal Workers Impacted by the Shutdown to Receive Financial Assistance Through a Partnership With the State’s Banks and Credit Unions

  Governor Ned Lamont this afternoon signed emergency certified legislation he proposed last week that will enable both essential and nonessential federal workers to receive no-interest loans during the shutdown of the federal government through a public-private partnership between the State of Connecticut and private banks and credit unions. The partnership guarantees that federal workers in Connecticut, some of whom are still required to work while not receiving a paycheck and are otherwise ineligible to apply for unemployment assistance, will be able to receive financial assistance during the shutdown.