A note from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont: A Sustainable Path to a More Competitive Future
Friends,
The 2019 regular session has adjourned and I want to thank each of you for your input and advocacy as we moved forward on a number of important issues that help build a foundation from which our state can grow and ensure nobody is left behind.
What I am most proud of is that we were able to pass a balanced budget that was on time and puts us on a sustainable path to a more competitive future.
Here are a few highlights of what we accomplished this session:
- Balanced budget with no income or sales tax rate increases
- Increased funding for public schools
- $185 million in savings based on changes to state employee and retiree healthcare programs
- Held cities and towns harmless
- Eliminated the $250 Business Entity Tax
- Maintained stability in the Special Transportation Fund
- Stabilized major budget cost-drivers
- Reached a major agreement with the state's hospitals
- Largest Rainy Day Fund in Connecticut history
- $15 minimum wage
- Paid Family and Medical Leave
- Debt-Free Community College plan
- Raised the age for tobacco to 21
- Streamlined state government
- Banned ghost guns
- Required safe storage of firearms (Ethan's Law)
- Authorized the development of offshore wind
- PTSD coverage for first responders
- Minority teacher recruitment
- Added African American, Puerto Rican and Latino history into school curriculum
- Brought high-speed, 5G internet technology to Connecticut
We have more work to do in order to build a Connecticut that fuels economic growth, creates jobs, and get our state back on track. But I'm proud of what we've accomplished so far in my first legislative session as governor, and I am determined to continue moving forward to get our state growing again.
Best regards,
Ned
Ned
R