Sen. Boucher Calls Opening Day Positive Harbinger for the 2017 Legislative Session

State Sen. Toni Boucher (R-26) said today’s opening day of the Connecticut General Assembly was a congenial affair with members expressing gratitude to their supporters, especially their families.

“Running for public office is very demanding for candidates and their families,” Sen. Boucher said. “It’s important that we show our appreciation to our families and all the people along the way that help to get us into office. Being able to publicly recognize that support in the Senate Chamber is one of the things that makes opening day so special.”

Sen. Boucher said opening day is also a time when members of both parties show they share a positive personal regard toward one another. She said everyone was glad to see that Sen. Martin Looney (D-11) is recovering from his recent kidney transplant operation, and new Republican senators received a warm welcome from their Democrat colleagues.

Governor Malloy’s 2017 State of the State address also provided a promising start to the session, Sen. Boucher said.

“The Governor’s call for a partnership as we work through the budget process was a good sign,” she said. “I was glad to hear him mirror some of the things we Republicans have been saying. The state, and state government, needs to live within its means.”

Some of the Governor’s remarks, however, gave the senator pause, she said.

“Making cuts to municipal aid is absolutely the wrong thing to do right now,” Sen. Boucher said. “Many towns only get one penny for every dollar they send to Hartford. They are also burdened with 380 regulations and mandates that add to their costs. You can’t get blood from a stone.”

Sen. Boucher said that with a Republican/Democrat tie in the Senate and a slim Democrat majority in the House, she is looking forward to a collaborative session and the creation of a state budget that will improve the state’s economy, help businesses grow, and provide stability for all taxpayers.

Sen. Boucher represents the communities of Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport and Wilton.