State Senator Len Fasano (R-34) takes the oath of office

Opening day of 2011 session

The start of the 2011 Legislative marks the beginning of Senator Fasano’s 5th term in the State Senate

Hartford, CT – State Senator Len Fasano (R-North Haven) was sworn into his fifth term in the Connecticut State Senate on January 5th, vowing to make balancing the budget his top priority.  Sen. Fasano represents the 34th Senatorial District communities of East Haven, North Haven and Wallingford and serves as Minority Leader Pro Tempore, the second highest ranking Republican in the Senate.

This year, Senator Fasano will continue to serve as Ranking Member on the General Assembly’s Planning and Development, Veterans Affairs, and Executive Nominations committees.  He will also serve on the Legislative Management and Reapportionment committees.

The biggest issue facing state government this legislative session will be tackling the budget deficit.  “We need to live with in our means and that means cutting spending and not increasing taxes on people during recession.” Sen. Fasano said, “We need to break the mold and think ahead. Both sides of the aisle agree we have a huge problem on our hands. The debate will center around how we solve it.”

Sen. Fasano said he will push legislative leaders and Governor Malloy to make the difficult, but necessary decisions to reduce government spending.  Among other things he is calling for pay reductions for elected officials, increased healthcare co-pays for legislators and legislative staff, state borrowing restrictions and the consolidation of several state agencies.

Sen. Fasano will also be busy this year overseeing the state’s mandatory redistricting.  Every ten years the district lines are redrawn by a bipartisan commission.  The district lines will determine which towns and how many people will represent voting blocks around the state.  During the 2012 election, the new lines will play a critical role in determining congressional seats and state office holders.  “The latest Census numbers show Connecticut’s population has increased by less than five percent. We are barely holding onto our five Congressional districts.” said Sen. Fasano, “These numbers are important because they help government leaders determine how much federal funding each state will receive and where to deploy public resources, such as services for the elderly, where to build new roads and schools, or where to locate job training centers.”

Senator Fasano was born in New Haven on May 15, 1958, the son of Dr. And Mrs. Leonard Fasano, and has remained a resident of the Southern Connecticut area ever since. He attended Yale University, where he excelled both in and out of the classroom. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1981, and played running back for the football team under legendary coach Carmen Cozza. Senator Fasano went on to earn a Juris Doctorate from Quinnipiac Law School in 1984 and graduated from Boston University Law School a year later with an L.L.M. Degree in Taxation.

Senator Fasano resides in North Haven with his wife, Jill, and their children, Kristen, Robert and Karla.