Sen. Boucher Tapped for Powerful Judiciary Committee Post

Hartford, CT – State Senator Toni Boucher of Wilton has been named to the powerful Judiciary Committee of the General Assembly. Sen. Minority Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) announced last week the new committee assignments in the Senate Republican Caucus.

“I am honored to be chosen for this very important assignment,” remarked Boucher. “The Judiciary Committee is extremely busy laying the ground work for the states’ future in many areas of law. Especially critical is overseeing nominations relating to future judges and members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles.”

“We have an incredible group of lawmakers in the Senate Republican caucus who are ready to apply their extensive knowledge and skills to make significant contributions within Connecticut’s legislative committees. Our Republican senators will bring fresh ideas to the table to address the many challenges our state faces and to better Connecticut not only for today, but also for our future. We look forward to a very productive legislative term,” said Senator Fasano.

In addition, the Judiciary committee oversees items such as criminal law, probate courts, all nominations of workers’ compensation commissioners, all bills carrying civil penalties which are more than 5 thousand dollars.

Sen. Boucher will assume this new position while also returning to serve as the Senate Ranking member of the Education and Transportation Committees. As a leader of these two committees she has worked to bring attention and advocacy for the pressing issues of transportation oversight, mass transit and infrastructure needs as well as a focus on educational quality and equity, the burdens of unfunded mandates and the need to maintain local control.

She brings decades of experience and understanding of how state law can affect school and town budgets as a local Board of Education chair, State Board of Education member and as a member of the Education Committee in the State House of Representative’s before winning a seat in the State Senate.

Boucher will also serve on the tax writing Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. This committee sets tax rates. Connecticut’s tax policy plays a key role in the state’s economic health and in job creation.

Senator Boucher said, “With next year’s budget deficit already projected to hit more than $1 billion, legislators have some serious work to do in developing the next two-year budget. The state is already taxing families and businesses too much, making Connecticut unaffordable. Too many residents and jobs are fleeing to tax friendly states. I look forward to playing a positive role in resolving our state’s fiscal challenges in a bipartisan and responsible manner.”

Senator Boucher relies upon her extensive experience in the business world, holding a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Connecticut School of Business as well as Series 7 and Series 63 investment licenses. She is also the founder and former owner of a small businesses and a former corporate manager for two Fortune 50 firms.

The 2015 Legislative session begins January 7th.