Fasano Statement Re: Senate Democrats’ Press Conference

HARTFORD – Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano (R-North Haven) released the following statement in response to a press conference held today by Connecticut Senate Democrats.

“As with any important issue facing the state of Connecticut, passing major new policies are best done, and have been done, in a bipartisan effort.  That is why seeing Senate Democrats today release this plan without any effort to work with the other caucuses tells me they are more focused on grabbing headlines than on actually making a difference.

“In Connecticut, Republican and Democrat lawmakers have a history of working together to improve sexual harassment prevention policies right here in the General Assembly. Leaders have continued our effort together again this year working with Legislative Management to revisit policies that were last updated in 2014. Yet at no point in those conversations did Senate Democrats bring up the policies they announced to the press today. It’s disappointing to see a lack of effort to work with their colleagues together on an issue as important as sexual harassment prevention.

“It’s also upsetting to see Senate Democrats speak out about certain issues, but ignore other potentially harmful proposals that have been made this year when it comes to public safety. At the same time Senate Democrats are saying they want to make Connecticut safer for women, Connecticut’s Democrat governor is proposing legislation that would let sex offenders out of prison early and cap the amount of years those offenders could be on parole. If Democrats truly cared about making Connecticut safer, where is the outrage about the governor’s proposal regarding those who have committed sexual assault? Why are they silent on that issue, but vocal on others? The hypocrisy leads me to believe today’s event was more about politics then about the people of Connecticut we all want to help, support and protect.”