Senator Kissel Reappointed Ranking Member on Judiciary Committee

Will also serve on Program Review & Investigations, General Law and Legislative Management

State Senator John Kissel, R-Enfield, (right) and State Senator Eric Coleman, D-Bloomfield, at a 2010 Judiciary Committee hearing. Sen. Kissel has been reappointed ranking member of the committee. Sen. Coleman has been appointed chairman.

State Senator John A. Kissel (R-7) has been re-appointed by Sen. Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairield, to serve as the leading Republican on the legislature’s Judiciary Committee.  In addition, Senator Kissel will serve as ranking member on the legislature’s Program Review and Investigations Committee (PRI), and as a member on the General Law and Legislative Management Committees.

“I am honored to be entrusted with the responsibility of being Ranking Senator on the Judiciary Committee,” said Senator Kissel, who has served in this position since 2001.  “The Judiciary Committee will play an important role this year in a vast array of issues affecting not only the judicial branch, but corrections, the probate system and everything in between.  I look forward to working with the newly appointed committee chairmen Senator Eric Coleman (D-2) and Representative Gerry Fox (D-146), as well as my fellow ranking member Representative John Hetherington (R-125), to meet these challenges in a bi-partisan way.”

Senator McKinney said of the appointment, “John Kissel is the only chairman or ranking member returning to Judiciary in 2011, making him the committee’s most experienced and knowledgeable member.  Senator Kissel is a true statesman who has earned widespread praise and respect for his contributions to criminal justice and public safety in our state.  I am grateful to have him serve as ranking member on the Judiciary Committee and I look forward to his contributions on Program Review, General Law and Legislative Management as well.”

In recent years, Senator Kissel has played a key role in crafting legislation to strengthen Connecticut’s criminal justice system.  He was one of the main architects of legislation creating Connecticut’s Jessica’s Law which established tougher prison sentences for child predators.  He has also worked to strengthen the state’s persistent offender law and parole system.  This year, one of the most important issues facing the committee will be to fully implement the criminal justice reform bill passed in the aftermath of the 2007 Cheshire home invasion and murders.  The committee is also expected to debate the death penalty this year.  Members will also play an important role in the confirmation process of a new Supreme Court justice.

Senator Kissel will also serve as ranking member on the PRI Committee, which is charged with the duty of examining state government programs and their administration to ascertain whether such programs are effective, continue to serve their intended purposes, or require modification or elimination.  The General Law committee has cognizance of all matters relating to fair trade and sales practices, consumer protection and occupational licensing.  And the Joint Committee on Legislative Management is chaired by the House Speaker and Senate President and is responsible for the operation of the General Assembly, coordination and supervision of committee work, improvement of legislative operations and deciding on matters of organization, procedures, facilities and working conditions of the General Assembly and compensation of employees of the legislative branch.

Sen. Kissel said he is looking forward to serving on committees that have the potential to make a significant difference in how state government is run.  “With the state facing a $7.25 billion budget deficit over the next two years, frugality is the order of the day in all branches of government.  We need to prioritize competing interests and we need to look for ways to make government operations run more efficiently.  I am grateful for the opportunity to represent my district and my state on these important committees at this critical juncture in Connecticut’s history.”

The new appointments will take effect when the legislative session convenes on January 5th, 2011. Senator Kissel was re-elected in November to his tenth term representing the 7th District communities of East Granby, Enfield, Granby, Somers, Suffield, Windsor, and Windsor Locks.

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