House Republican Press Release

 

 

 

March 21, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

 

Klarides & House GOP Issue Session Progress Report

 

Still No Energy Plan or Action on Health Care and Eminent Domain

 

 

HARTFORD- Deputy House Republican Leader Themis Klarides (R-Derby) and members of the House & Senate Republican caucuses today issued a progress report on critical issues before the legislature this session.  With half of the General Assembly’s regular session already gone, the Democratic-controlled legislature has remained inactive on offering Connecticut residents relief from high energy bills, and has not fulfilled promises to expand health care or change eminent domain laws.

 

“The Democratic leadership has been promising immediate action on all of these items, yet here we are halfway through the 2007 session, and nothing has been done,” said Klarides.  “This kind of ineffective leadership continues to hurt the people of Connecticut.”

 

Klarides noted that Speaker James Amann and the Democratic caucus in the House were fully aware since last year that energy prices would reach astounding heights yet did nothing.  “We watched last year as House Democrats argued with Senate Democrats, and then delivered a bill a few hours before the end of the session,” said Klarides. “That isn’t how you make good policy or laws, and it isn’t decent leadership.  After the massive rate hikes by U.I. they told us they were going to unveil a package called ‘Energize Connecticut’ at the beginning of the session to ease the heavy burden these rates placed on consumers and businesses.  That was three months ago and we haven’t seen anything yet.”

 

In the meantime Klarides said the Republican proposals to ease the burden of high energy costs have been ignored by majority Democrats.  “We have offered solutions,” she said. “They chose to pass over our suggestions, and that’s their prerogative while they are in the majority.  But while Connecticut pays the highest energy bills in the nation their total inaction is inexcusable.”

 

Similarly, the majority Democrats as of yet have failed to do anything on eminent domain. More than two years ago Republicans in the House and Senate proposed limiting government’s ability to seize private property to enrich private developers. The legislature has done nothing yet, and more homes have been taken. The Democrats promised in 2005 that they would change the state laws to address the Kelo decision but sat by and watched as more homes and businesses were confiscated.

 

 

 

Klarides also observed that Democrats campaigned on and promised a “universal coverage” package for healthcare.   As of today, two huge, competing proposals have been offered by both the House and Senate Democrats that would cost at least $450 million each but again there is no consensus on how to move forward.

 

House Republican Leader Lawrence Cafero and Senate Republican Leader Louis DeLuca held a joint press conference today criticizing the Democrats for the delay.

 

“There is a great deal of consensus on both sides of the aisle on how to approach a number of these issues,” said Klarides.  “The time for hearings and studies and forming blue ribbon panels for further study is over.  We need to start taking some meaningful action now.”

 

This session of the Connecticut General Assembly will conclude at midnight on June 6th.