PROUDLY SERVING THE 18TH DISTRICT
State Senator Heather Somers
Senior Deputy Republican Leader
Heather Somers, elected in 2016, represents Connecticut’s 18th district. She is a Chief Deputy Senate Republican Leader and serves as Ranking Member of the Public Health Committee and the Appropriations Committee. Heather has been recognized as a champion of important initiatives in health care, tourism, mental health, senior housing and elder care. She is also a former councilwoman and mayor in her native Groton.
"Together, we can bridge divides and build a brighter future for all Connecticut families."
It was an honor to be the welcome speaker yesterday at Rebellion Group’s Shaping CT’s Future event at Foxwoods Resort Casino. The event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, business owners, and Connecticut residents to talk about the important topic of tourism, especially as it pertains to the entertainment and sports industry.
As a Co-chair of the Tourism Caucus, I enjoyed highlighting incredible attractions that our state has to offer like Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport Museum, delicious restaurants, and hardworking businesses across our state. Let’s keep the momentum going at our Arts, Culture, and Tourism Day at the State Capitol on May 7th!
The trifecta: a State Senator, First Selectman and Deputy Mayor walk into a coffee shop…
On Tuesday, I voted NO on the Appropriations Committee budget. It is a document that disregards discipline in spending.
Connecticut voters demanded a constitutional spending cap—for a reason.
This budget doesn’t fully account for:
• Massive raises to state workers
• Ballooning healthcare obligations
• Urgent needs of Medicaid providers & hospitals
Nor does it fully account for bills that have significant fiscal impacts that are sure to be voted on this session. We are already past our statutory limitations.
Instead of addressing this head on, we are kicking it down the road like we have done in the past. Look at where that got us. Connecticut racked up historic deficits and was forced to pass on the two largest tax increases in state history.
We’ve been down this road before. It doesn’t end well. Respect the spending cap. Respect the will of the people.