State Senator Paul Formica Named Republican Chairman of the Appropriations Committee

Hartford—State Senator Paul Formica (R-East Lyme) has been named by the Connecticut Senate Republican Leaders as Republican Senate co-Chairman of the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee.

“I am honored and humbled to accept the position as Senate Republican co-Chairman of the Appropriations Committee,” said Senator Formica. “I would like to thank Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano for having confidence in my ability to do the important work of budget writing.

“As everyone in the state knows, this is going to be another tough budget season, which will require long hours of diligence, listening, and compromise. I look forward to working with my House and Senate counter parts from both sides of the aisle for all Connecticut residents to get state government on a sustainable path for the future.”

Unlike the U.S. Congress, the Connecticut General Assembly’s committees are made up of members from both the Senate and the House. Normally, the majority parties of the respective chambers each appoint a committee chairman, who works with his/her counterpart from the other chamber running the committee. The minority party would appoint ranking members. As the Senate is tied with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats, each party has the privilege to appoint a Senate chairman for the larger committees. The Appropriations Committee’s task it is to draft the spending portion of the state budget. It is the General Assembly’s largest committee.