Opponents of the legislation said it’s too much to ask of employers.
“My concern to this bill is that I don’t see businesses not providing these already valuable services and so many important accommodations for women,” Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, R-Wolcott, said.
Mastrofrancesco said it could create an undue hardship for a small business.
“You could be working at a gas station or a little convenience store and you don’t have a private room. They may have to add on an addition to their building,” Mastrofrancesco said.
Mastrofrancesco doesn’t dispute the benefits of breastfeeding.
“While 79% of mothers start out breastfeeding that number drops down to about 50% at six months and then drops down to 25% at 12 months and the statistics are even lower for low-income moms, Rep. Caroline Simmons, D-Stamford, said.
“For a fair budget that seeks to address the wrongs of our past and bring greater equity to our state,” Gilchrest said.
State Rep. Brandon McGee (D-Hartford) said that increasing tax credits will help move the state in the right direction.
“Putting money back into the pockets of low and moderate income workers through EITC and reducing the tax burden on families with children,” McGee said.
But using the tax code to fight income inequality is not easy and it’s not cheap.
“The Democrats even say our budget is in a strong position, but yet they continue to look at the middle class wallet as the solution to every single one of the state’s problems,” Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly said
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West Hartford lawmakers are supporting a bill hat expands health insurance coverage to certain undocumented immigrants. (Chris Dehnel/Patch)
HARTFORD, CT State Sen. Derek Slap (D – West Hartford) and State Rep. Kate Farrar (D – West Hartford) Tuesday joined the Connecticut Immigrant & Refugee Coalition, United Action Connecticut, HUSKY 4 Immigrants, the Charter Oak Cultural Center, and advocates in front of the Legislative Office Building to rally support for a legislative proposal that expands health insurance coverage to certain undocumented immigrants.
The bill, S.B. 956, provides Medicaid for pregnant women and HUSKY B for children who meet certain income eligibility guidelines. The legislature s Human Services Committee voted to advance the bill on Thursday, April 1. Members of the West Hartford legislative delegation, which also includes State Representatives Jillian Gilchrest (D – West Hartford) and Tammy Exum (D – West Hartford, Avon, Farmington), fully s
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Keep youths out of the justice system, or hold them accountable? Judiciary committee advances bills that do both
Connecticut’s motor vehicle theft rate dropped by a larger percentage than the national average between 2010 and 2019. Source: DESPP
The Judiciary Committee advanced two bills on Thursday that offer strikingly different approaches to addressing the needs of young people who commit crimes: one aimed at keeping youths out of the justice system by improving educational programs and diversionary programs, the other intended to hold young people accountable for stealing cars and punish adults who get youths to commit a crime.
Connecticut Lawmakers Tackle Increase In Youth Car Thefts Christine Stuart
The Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford.
A bill addressing the pandemic-related spike in car thefts by youth narrowly won the support of a key committee this week but its future remains uncertain.
“This is a concern in my community. That said, I would agree that more things can be done like locking our doors in our driveways,” Democratic Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, of West Hartford, said.
Gilchrest supported the bill that requires repeat youth offenders to wear a GPS device, but couldn’t say she would continue to support it.
Instead, she wants to see “opportunities for youth for afterschool programming and things to curb community violence.”