Latest news from Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/Williams.php http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Fri, 18 May 2012 10:26:25 -0400 Fri, 18 May 2012 10:26:18 -0400 FeedForAll Mac v2.1 (2.1.0.1); http://www.FeedForAll.com/ Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) was honored at the University of Connecticut’s inaugural Celebration of Innovation for his work in securing funding for a world-class research and technology park at the University of Connecticut’s main campus in Storrs. The landmark project is expected to create thousands of high-quality jobs and generate tens of millions of dollars in federal and private funding. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120518.php 4771A960-4361-4075-9501-3E2D361DCB8E-1405-000005D8A77D470A-FFA Fri, 18 May 2012 10:26:19 -0400 State Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) joined Governor Dannel P. Malloy today for the signing of the historic education reform law aimed at improving Connecticut’s educational system. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120515.php 80EAABAD-1E49-4B17-A53D-867961CBB9C9-25345-00006831746B2958-FFA Tue, 15 May 2012 16:25:09 -0400 Senate Democratic leaders today praised the state Senate for its approval of a variety of issues aimed at improving the lives of Connecticut residents and announced their plans to pass creation legislation later this spring. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120510.php BEB84FB1-EBE0-4C74-94CF-7C5676D6CD33-3291-000006B99D6D86C9-FFA Thu, 10 May 2012 14:53:37 -0400 State Senate President Donald E. Williams (D-Brooklyn) and Majority Leader Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) praised the Senate’s passage of a bold bill that responds to the Citizens United Case by strengthening Connecticut’s campaign finance law by expanding donor disclosure requirements. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120508.php D3B2C01E-F5DD-4682-85F8-256F4942E180-1021-000001C59E0AC4A9-FFA Tue, 08 May 2012 09:52:24 -0400 In response to two powerful storms that struck Connecticut last year, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without electricity and telecommunications service, the state Senate passed sweeping reforms today to better prepare the state for future severe weather events and to minimize the resulting utility service outages. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120505.php 478CA9CB-6E12-4A35-B6F7-D712AC6DA0D6-3137-000005C651E9C2B9-FFA Sat, 05 May 2012 10:26:41 -0400 Senate President Donald E. Williams Jr.(D—Brooklyn) and Majority Leader Martin M. Looney (D—New Haven) announced passage in the Senate today of a bill that would prohibit businesses from saying “the unemployed need not apply” in help-wanted ads. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120501.php 1670F516-DA1F-4254-BAD3-EF3B44C3C9F3-1106-0000022E0067DE92-FFA Tue, 01 May 2012 09:22:53 -0400 Senate President Donald E Williams, Jr.(D-Brooklyn) and Senator Majority Leaders Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) hailed the senate’s overwhelming bi-partisan approval (32-2) of Senate Bill 1, the Senate Democrats’ plan to build on and expand the job-creating momentum of October’s landmark Jobs Bill. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120427b.php A27AFCD0-26EA-49B2-AA13-7527384A1476-9441-000024551AD324AA-FFA Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:09:03 -0400 A plan to build on and expand the job-creating momentum of October’s landmark Jobs Bill will be debated and passed in the state Senate today, said Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn). http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120427.php AB1FD1D3-0A10-4509-A55A-132AF2D9E7AB-2385-00000F64CA6C6A00-FFA Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:45:26 -0400 River Mill Village’s youngest residents are one step closer to having a new place to play. Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn, Thompson) announced today that funding for a new community playground has been added to the April 27th State Bond Commission agenda. http://senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120423.php 76F1020C-0A3B-470B-80E7-1C8580B6E720-10617-000014D6D1AA48B5-FFA Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:00:58 -0400 Legislative leaders joined with Father James Manship, Pastor of Saint Rose de Lima Church of New Haven to announce that the state Senate will vote on two bills today—one aimed at protecting a citizen’s right to record police officers—the other, strengthening Connecticut’s racial profiling law. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120419.php C8BBBF43-DC50-48DE-80C7-AEA85D23B001-10523-000014EEE8A92E51-FFA Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:00:52 -0400 State Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr., (D—Brooklyn) joined with Connecticut Labor Commissioner Glenn Marshall to announce the opening of three new “Jobs Funnel” locations to serve a greater population of job-seekers. The new offices will open up in Bristol, New Britain and eastern Connecticut. Currently, “Jobs Funnel” offices exist is Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport and Waterbury. The program is open to eligible people from all over Connecticut. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120411.php DE3F7BCC-056A-46C5-B5DB-D7C3F7EDF4C9-11104-0000168FE0D85DD2-FFA Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:22:55 -0400 In an historic vote following many hours of debate, the State Senate voted 20-16 early this morning to cease condemning prisoners to death in the State of Connecticut. Senate Democratic leaders said the vote constitutes an enormous step forward in promoting fairness and decency in the criminal justice system. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120405.php 5FE650E0-2CF1-4CE4-8F26-42406FD921AC-1754-0000037831A71948-FFA Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:51:36 -0400 Senate leaders announced today their intention to call an amendment, as part of a vote to repeal capital punishment in Connecticut, that will establish tough new conditions for individuals convicted of Murder with Special Circumstances. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120404.php 7DB07154-0EDC-4C66-A8E8-035D7A917711-7474-000017F53CE8FEBF-FFA Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:09:54 -0400 Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) today hailed the State Bond Commissions approval of a significant state investment in manufacturing and technology programs at Quinebaug Valley Community College’s (QVCC) proposed Manufacturing Technology Center as yet another business-friendly and jobs-creating action by the state legislature and Governor Malloy. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120330.php 96E9ED0A-3884-4C5E-8B9B-26474BA18C52-4195-00001C5F18468018-FFA Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:24:15 -0400 Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) and Representative Susan Johnson (D—Willimantic) toured the Connecticut Casket Company, a Willimantic small business that benefited from jobs legislation passed in the October special session, to urge the General Assembly to approve Senate Bill 1, the Senate Democrats’ 5 -point jobs plan that will help local, small businesses protect and grow jobs and boost Connecticut’s economy. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120329.php DB7AC341-01BE-48A2-975D-9E61615F55C2-7125-00001675044B7608-FFA Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:38:51 -0400 The Democratic Leaders of the General Assembly will introduce and vote later today on a proposal that will help provide relief at the pump and protect consumers from profiteering and price gouging by big oil wholesalers. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120327.php FC87D069-0EB5-467A-BC51-638D5C62CB86-1126-00000205EAA64D85-FFA Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:16:45 -0400 The Democratic Leaders of the General Assembly announced today their plans to take swift action to help provide relief at the pump and protect consumers from profiteering and price gouging by big oil wholesalers. Legislative Leaders will give the proposal an emergency certification designation. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120321.php 1DB82A28-C057-449E-B3BC-E9F1728D483A-741-0000029448EAF5FC-FFA Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:23:37 -0400 With the price of gasoline climbing (up 15 percent since January 1, 2012) and the summer driving season around the corner, the Democratic Leaders of the General Assembly announced their plans to help provide relief at the pump and protect consumers from profiteering and price gouging by big oil wholesalers. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120319.php BB26FEBB-45DC-4BD9-974A-2204907DEF91-8160-000017DCACD20A84-FFA Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:49:48 -0400 Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) joined with state Representatives Danny Rovero (D-Killingly), Mae Flexer (D-Killingly) and Susan Johnson (D-Windham) today to announce that funding for Quinebaug Valley Community College’s (QVCC) proposed Manufacturing Technology Center—one of only three schools selected statewide—has been added to the March 30th State Bond Commission agenda. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/leaders-120315a.php 5841CCD8-4776-4DEE-A168-F09AB32C8D62-1101-000001D246EEC4BF-FFA Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:27:50 -0400 The Senate Democrats’ Jobs Bill won the approval today of the General Assembly’s Commerce Committee. The 5-point plan, SB 1 An Act Concerning Connecticut Jobs and the Economy, aims to help small businesses protect and grow jobs and boost Connecticut’s economy. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120315.php E80CF2B9-2154-42A4-A08A-36A7FEBEF324-7233-00001BD16393D00C-FFA Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:31:42 -0400 Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D—Brooklyn) and Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney (D—New Haven) today welcomed the state Department of Labor’s latest report detailing Connecticut’s labor situation as an encouraging sign post of the road to recovery and vowed to keep job creation as the Senate Democrats’ top priority. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120312.php 5AD747A0-36E3-4CB6-8719-20107D3860D0-7591-000016678937481C-FFA Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:28:51 -0400 Today Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) was on hand at Windham Heights Apartments showcasing one of the largest residential solar thermal installations in all of Connecticut. http://senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120308.php F46FBCC0-9EEB-441B-90FD-80A851B28031-2445-00000F142BBCEAE5-FFA Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:33:51 -0500 Coinciding with National Consumer Protection Week, Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D—Brooklyn) submitted testimony today to the General Law Committee in support of two bills aimed at protecting consumers. http://senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120306.php 2581A6EF-68D1-4316-A8C7-79CC9A09BB0E-2203-00000D4716339A64-FFA Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:53:18 -0500 Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) and Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) issued the following joint statement today in observance of ‘Connecticut Business Day 2012,’ which is sponsored by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and the Connecticut Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120229.php BC5D020F-AD73-4213-A937-5221CAE5EB3D-3501-00000F3B0DB00E39-FFA Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:58:27 -0500 For veterans who risked their lives on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan, State Senate Democrats want to welcome these brave soldiers back to Connecticut with the prospect of a job. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120223.php D21322F9-CBA2-4881-9B8A-DA3581A9D99E-3411-00000CFF9E7511A0-FFA Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:47:57 -0500 Steeled in their resolve to protect consumers from price gouging after last year’s series of extreme storms, Senate Democratic leaders today submitted testimony in support of new legislation that will protect consumers when Mother Nature strikes. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120221.php 64BBC630-352C-469B-A87B-C53A0D407EB2-5550-0000159778FFA7EC-FFA Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:55:30 -0500 Senate Democratic leaders today announced their plans as part of their 2012 energy agenda to invest in critical infrastructure and hold utility companies accountable for their performance during emergencies, storms and natural disasters. http://senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120215.php 23B24E35-A82F-43A6-AEDD-E61DC66DAA29-12712-0000165D446771B7-FFA Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:31:13 -0500 Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) joined with legislators, business leaders and faculty to celebrate State Board of Regents’ selection of Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC) as a Manufacturing Technology Center—one of only three schools selected statewide—for eastern Connecticut and discuss the schools plans to train the workforce of the future. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120203.php 5CB7C159-BDF0-40FD-924E-006B8E0DEC43-789-000002420C4FA3CA-FFA Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:39:23 -0500 Standing inside Goody’s Hardware & Paint, a fourth generation family owned and operated business, Senate Democratic leaders unveiled their plans to fight price gouging after severe storms and protect consumers’ privacy. http://senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120201.php CF0AC0E4-9C41-425A-A0AC-A21DE4561FE4-15619-000019CED31AFFC7-FFA Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:51:05 -0500 Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) celebrated the State Board of Regents’ selection of Quinebaug Valley Community College as a Manufacturing Technology Center—one of only three schools selected statewide—for eastern Connecticut. http://senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120130.php 58BCDF3E-E332-4C10-9E28-4757A4BA9498-15586-00001C9A1467CD08-FFA Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:50:08 -0500 The Republican assertions of the death of state pension savings are exaggerated and incorrect. The OFA analysis that they are touting is incomplete and they know it—as the analysis states, it is “an attempt to isolate the SEBAC Agreement savings” based on “preliminary revised" numbers. There has been no communication between OFA and the state actuaries to better understand the 20-year pension savings. When this communication occurs we will have a better handle on long term savings. This much is absolutely clear—there were never discussions of long term pension savings when Republican governors negotiated with SEBAC. Today we’re talking about pension savings, and whether we save $2 billion, $3 billion, or $4 billion, Connecticut is moving in the right direction. http://senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120127.php B8D19B2A-35B8-46C7-B3C0-2C46B8A5C4EC-368-000000BFCBF4FC23-FFA Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:14:13 -0500 Connecticut's budget will be balanced through the rescissions Governor Malloy has already proposed and other savings that the legislature will enact if necessary. Twenty-nine other states are projecting budget deficits totaling $44 billion according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Republicans who are pointing fingers of blame should remember that if the legislature had enacted their alternative budget the state would be facing nearly $1 billion in red ink through their smoke and mirrors budget tricks and borrowing. Fortunately, we did not go down that road and Connecticut's projected shortfall is far less than most other states. http://senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120125b.php F516A557-3FBF-4466-88AA-C46AB6C3C0F8-618-000002EC54F69217-FFA Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:40:34 -0500 Senate President Donald E. Williams (D-Brooklyn) held a news conference today at Design Center East, a Willimantic small business—just two weeks before the start of the 2012 legislative session—to announce the Senate Democrats new, 5-point jobs plan that will help local, small businesses protect and grow jobs and boost Connecticut’s economy. http://senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120125.php 46A6608B-851D-4E7F-872E-96FCF07DE67C-16215-00001BA995EC7CCD-FFA Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:29:35 -0500 Senate Democrats held a news conference today on the shop floor of AdChem Manufacturing Technologies in Manchester—just two weeks before the start of the 2012 legislative session—to announce their new, 5-point jobs plan that will help local, small businesses protect and grow jobs and boost Connecticut’s economy. http://senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120124.php 4B3028E4-367C-4C74-B0A6-8ECBDA12FF48-5247-00001A89E90371F9-FFA Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:54:13 -0500 Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) today praised the Public Utility Regulatory Agency’s (PURA) decision to examine the proposed merger of Northeast Utilities and NSTAR. http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/pr/williams-120104.php 6A65A8FC-A2F0-4D66-8002-A203BC843262-9193-00001A5399E1AF13-FFA Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:46:38 -0500