House Republican Press Release

April 28, 2006

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Dems Kill Rep. Piscopo Measure to Wire Vo-Tech Schools for Telecommunications Equipment

Bill Would Have Restored Funding to Wire Vo-Tech Schools to School Nutrition Bill 

A measure offered by state Representative John E. Piscopo, R-76^th District, that would have provided funding to wire vocational-technical schools around Connecticut to support telecommunications and other information transmission equipment was rejected Thursday by the majority Democrats in the state House of Representatives.

Representative Piscopo’s proposal, an amendment to a school nutrition bill (Senate Bill 373) under consideration by the state House Thursday, was rejected on an 89 – 52 party line vote. Republican legislators supported the measure while the majority Democrats were opposed. 

“I’m at a loss to explain why the Democrat majority in the House voted in lockstep to kill my proposal. It would have provided badly-needed funding to wire vocational-technical schools throughout Connecticut to enable vo-tech students to learn how to use modern telecommunications and computer equipment in connection with their courses of study,” Representative Piscopo said.

“By rejecting my amendment on a party line vote, the majority Democrats turned their backs on thousands of vocational technical school students throughout Connecticut, including many from my district who attend three nearby vocational technical schools. Most high schools in Connecticut already are wired for computers and telecommunications equipment and much of the funding for those upgrades came from state grants,” Representative Piscopo said.

“The ability to use computers and other kinds of sophisticated telecommunications equipment is an essential skill for students preparing to embark on adult careers. Vocational technical school students need to learn those skills as well. By refusing to support my amendment, my Democrat colleagues showed that they cared more about keeping soft drinks out of the hands of our public school students than they do about giving vocational technical school students the opportunity to acquire essential skills they will need to succeed in their adult careers,” Representative Piscopo said.

Students from the 76^th District towns of Burlington, Harwinton, Litchfield and Thomaston attend the Bristol Technical Education Center in Bristol; the Oliver Wolcott Vocational Technical School in Torrington; and the W. F. Kaynor Vocational Technical School in Waterbury, Representative Piscopo said.