State Sen. Joe Markley will be recognized by the Connecticut AARP [Meriden Record-Journal]

Article as it appeared in the Meriden Record-Journal
By Farrah Duffany Record-Journal staff

SOUTHINGTON — State Sen. Joe Markley will be recognized by the Connecticut AARP during a ceremony this afternoon at Jensen’s Clubhouse with a 2013 Legislative Achievement Award.

About a dozen other Connecticut legislators, both Democrats and Republicans received the award. Rep. Al Adinolfi (R-103) who represents Southington, Wallingford and Cheshire, was also given the award in November for his help with long-term care services and caregiver support. AARP works to support residents age 50 and over.

“We give out a handful every year to legislators that champion some of our key issues,” said John Erlingheuser, the advocacy director for AARP in Connecticut. “He really stood out. He was a leader.”

Markley worked to make sure landline phone service was maintained and to secure and stabilize reasonable electric rates.

In 2011, Markley was recognized by AARP with the award for his help in bringing attention to a new tax on utility bills.

“One of (AARP’s) priorities was to make sure that the landline phone service was maintained. I was happy to join them on that effort,” Markley said. “I feel landline phone service is on its way to disappearing, but there’s no reason why we have to rush it. We can let people give up that service without all of the sudden saying they can’t have a landline anymore.”

Markley also works closely with the Southington AARP and “meets regularly to go over priorities. He said he’s enjoyed collaborating with them to help seniors.

“He was part of a bipartisan group of legislators that helped us oppose these issues,” Erlingheuser said. “He was critical.”

In the past legislators recieving the awards have been recognized in a single ceremony but this year recipients are celebrating individually with gatherings in the town’s they represent. The award ceremony for Markley is at 12:30 p.m. today at Jensen’s Clubhouse, 246 Redstone St. in Southington.

“I’m delighted,” Markley said. “I feel like it’s particularly gratifying when it’s from a group that you’re not always with them, but can work with them and find issues that you have common ground with.”