Blogs

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont is applauding both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly for voting today in favor of approving an agreement reached between his administration and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) on the wage reopener for 2024-2025, as required under the current operating contract.

The Senate approved it by a vote of 24 to 12 (Senate Resolution 12) and the House of Representatives approved it by a vote of 106 to 44 (House Resolution 15). These votes are the final steps necessary as required by state law for the agreement to take effect.

“State employees deliver many vital services to the residents of Connecticut, such as educating our children, protecting our families, ensuring the roads on which we drive are safe, and taking care of our most vulnerable residents,” Governor Lamont said. “This wage increase helps ensure that we have a top-quality state workforce that can fill these important roles. I thank the General Assembly and everyone involved in negotiating this reasonable wage adjustment that balances the needs of our state workers and taxpayers.”

The agreement takes effect on July 1, 2024, and continues the current pattern of 2.5% general wage increases and step increases for an additional year. Funding for the agreement is included in the fiscal year 2025 budget that was approved by the legislature and signed into law by the governor last year.

Twitter: @GovNedLamont

Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont

CES MMA presents a world championship doubleheader on Friday, May 3rd with "CES MMA 77," featuring 13-time UFC veteran Charles "Boston Strong" Rosa against Josh "Hook On" Harvey for the vacant CES MMA Lightweight Championship and Yorgan DeCastro clashing with Kevin "King Kevi" Sears for the vacant CES MMA Heavyweight title.  The card will be held at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT

Governor Lamont Announces Victory Parade and Rally Honoring UConn Men's Basketball Scheduled for This Saturday in Hartford

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut, the City of Hartford, and the Hartford Business Improvement District will host a victory parade and rally in downtown Hartford on Saturday, April 13, 2024, to congratulate the UConn men’s basketball team for winning the 2024 NCAA National Championship.

UConn won its sixth men’s basketball national title last night after a 75-60 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The parade will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will step off at the State Capitol building at the intersection of Trinity Street and Elm Street. From there, it will proceed north on Trinity Street, go through the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, turn right (east) onto Jewell Street, turn left (north) onto Trumbull Street, and end at the intersection of Asylum Street and Trumbull Street.

The rally will begin at approximately 11:30 a.m. and will be held outside of the main entrance of the XL Center on Trumbull Street, where the players, coaches, and other guests will be invited to give speeches.

“For the second year in a row, the UConn men’s basketball team wowed the nation by dominating the NCAA tournament, and now it’s time for Connecticut to give them the victory celebration they deserve,” Governor Lamont said. “I urge basketball fans from all over Connecticut to come to Hartford on Saturday morning and show the Huskies how much this team means to our state and how proud we are of their accomplishments.”

Sponsorship opportunities

Parade and rally organizers are relying on private donations and business sponsorships to finance the event. No state or city funding is used.

As in previous years, this 2024 event is produced by the Hartford Business Improvement District in collaboration with the State of Connecticut and City of Hartford, as well as a number of civic and business organizations.

To sponsor the event, businesses may choose from several sponsorship levels ranging from $10,000 to $2,500 or less. Those interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Chip McCabe at the Hartford Business Improvement District as soon as possible at 860-770-0788 or cmccabe@hartfordbid.com.

Twitter: @GovNedLamont

Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont

Governor Lamont Reminds Connecticut Residents: Low-To-Moderate Income Individuals and Families Are Eligible for Significant Boost in Income Tax Credits This Year

Newly Enacted Rate Change in the Earned Income Tax Credit Comes in Addition to the Recent Cut in Income Tax Rates for Middle-Income Workers

Governor Ned Lamont today is reminding Connecticut residents that thousands of low-to-moderate income individuals and families in the state are eligible to receive a significant boost in tax credits when they file their personal income tax returns this year due to a newly enacted rate change in the Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which has increased from the most recent rate of 30.5% for the 2022 income year to the new rate of 40% for the 2023 income year.

The rate change – which was enacted as a result of the state budget bill that the legislature approved and Governor Lamont signed into law last year and which also includes several other significant tax relief measures – means that lower-income filers will receive several hundred dollars in additional tax credits this year above what they received the prior year, depending on their income and number of dependents. Typically, more than 95% of filers who receive this credit have families with children.

“Increasing the rate of the Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the most impactful provisions in the recently enacted state budget because it will provide direct relief to low-to-moderate income workers who are providing for their families,” Governor Lamont said. “Numerous studies have shown that this tax credit is one of the best anti-poverty tools we can use because it encourages work, boosts economic stability, and uplifts generations to come. Ultimately, these tax credits improve entire communities because these dollars are being invested right back into our local economy through groceries, transportation, clothing, rent, utilities, and other necessary expenses. I want to make sure Connecticut’s working families know about this tax credit and claim it.”

“The Department of Revenue Services is proud to administer the Earned Income Tax Credit, as it provides direct relief to working families across Connecticut,” Connecticut Department of Revenue Services Commissioner Mark Boughton said. “Our dedicated DRS staff are happy to help all taxpayers who qualify for this credit to claim it on their tax returns. Additionally, individuals who qualify may utilize assistance from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.”

The Connecticut EITC is based on the amount of the federal EITC. It is available to those earning less than:

• $56,838 ($63,698 married filing jointly) with 3 or more qualifying children
• $52,918 ($59,478 married filing jointly) with 2 qualifying children
• $46,560 ($53,120 married filing jointly) with 1 qualifying child
• $17,640 ($24,210 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children

It is estimated that approximately 211,000 households in Connecticut are eligible.

The Connecticut EITC was created in 2011 and has had varying rates over the last decade, including 30% in 2012, 25% in 2013, 27.5% from 2014 to 2016, 23% from 2017 to 2020, and 30.5% in 2021 and 2022.

This new 40% rate makes Connecticut among the top five states in the nation with the largest EITC rates.

EITC rate increase comes in addition to the income tax cut for middle-income households that took effect January 1, 2024

In addition to the rate change in the Connecticut EITC, the state budget bill that Governor Lamont signed last year includes cuts to the state’s income tax rates that are targeted toward providing relief to middle-income households earning less than $150,000 for single filers and $300,000 for joint filers. Those cuts, which went into effect on January 1, 2024, reduced the two lowest rates of the state’s progressive tax structure by:

• Decreasing the rate on the first $10,000 earned by single filers and the first $20,000 by joint filers from 3% to 2%; and
• Decreasing the rate on the next $40,000 earned by single filers and the next $80,000 by joint filers from 5% to 4.5%.

This is the first time that income tax rates have been cut in Connecticut since the mid-1990s. It is also the single largest income tax cut enacted in state history.

The income tax cut is estimated to benefit more than one million tax filers.

Twitter: @GovNedLamont

Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont

Meet Boston's newest sports franchise, the Boston Butchers, on Thursday, April 4 at Peter Welch's Gym in South Boston.  The event begins at 1pm and is open to the public.  

Governor Ned Lamont, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, and Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez today announced the release of three state grants totaling more than $400,000 that will be used to support programs focused on improving the financial wellness of Connecticut residents with a priority focus on women and girls. The grants are being awarded through a competitive RFP process issued by the Connecticut Department of Banking that solicited proposals centered on the grant’s objectives.

“These grants will be used to support programs that empower people to improve their own financial stability through education and training, with a particular focus on our underserved populations, including women and girls,” Governor Lamont said. “I appreciate the partnership of the organizations that are working in our shared goal of helping people get on the road to financial independence and wellness.”

“Empowering women towards financial wellness benefits all of us,” Lt. Governor Bysiewicz, who serves as chairperson of the Governor’s Council on Women and Girls, said. “Decades of research have shown that the benefits of women’s full participation in economies are enormous. By uplifting women and girls, we can increase financial stability in their households, as well as their local communities and broader societies. Through these partnerships, we are increasing the opportunity and accessibility – especially for women and girls – of these essential programs that will help propel them, and their communities, to a better financial future.”

“The recipients have demonstrated that they can effect real change with the money allocated from this grant,” Commissioner Perez said. “I would like to thank all the committee members who thoroughly reviewed each proposal. It was a difficult decision, as all the proposals had merit. While we could not fund all applicants, it is encouraging to see the various organizations working and making a difference each day in people’s lives.”

The Connecticut Department of Banking sourced the grants from settlement funds with various companies. As per those arrangements, a portion of the monies are set aside for financial wellness and investor education. A committee, composed of department staff, representatives of other state agencies, and industry professionals, reviewed 15 responses to the department’s RFP. Consideration was given to organizations, entities, coalitions, and collaborations able to reach and assist underserved communities, with a priority on women and girls, to improve their financial wellness and empowerment.

Each application required a detailed description that included:

• the program’s method of delivery of financial education;
• the targeted demographic of the program;
• information regarding the nature and structure of the program including the programs goals for participants;
• how the proposed program would go beyond what is available and to what extent would the program serve as an innovative and scalable model; and
• how success of the program would be measured and, if available, information pertaining to the success of past programs.

The committee considered the following factors and gave preference to proposals that:

• empower individuals with financial capabilities that help prepare them to meet their future financial goals;
• describe the benefits of saving and checking accounts;
• teach the importance of establishing good credit as a foundation for future financial success;
• encourage individuals to think long-term by teaching investing principles;
• deliver information regarding consumer protection including high-cost loans, frauds/scams, cybersecurity, and identity theft;
• apply knowledge to practical skills and real-life experiences;
• inspire participants to set personal and financial goals and demonstrates how those goals can be achieved
• provide participants with the ability to seek follow-up services; and
• build upon current programs in a manner that is innovative, measurable and scalable.

The following organizations have been selected to receive the grants:

Local Initiatives Support Corporation

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) will receive a $250,000 state grant to expand seven of its Financial Opportunity Centers, which are located throughout Connecticut. These serve as career and financial coaching service centers that provide three core services to individuals with low-to-moderate incomes: one-on-one employment coaching, one-on-one financial coaching, and access to benefits that help build credit, savings, and assets. The centers also have the opportunity to transition into Bridges to Career Opportunity Centers. These funds will be used to enhance one-on-one financial coaching, and access to benefits that help build credit, savings, and assets.

“LISC Connecticut is excited to receive this support from the Connecticut Department of Banking, which will strengthen our network of seven Financial Opportunity Centers across the state,” Jim Horan, senior executive director of LISC Connecticut, said. “With this award, our clients will receive budget coaching to save $500 over the course of a year, which will be matched two-to-one with Department of Banking funds and support from Liberty Bank. At the end of the year, clients will have $1,500 and improve their credit score.”

The Village for Families and Children

The Village for Families and Children will receive a $103,911 state grant for its Boosting Financial Wellness for Greater Hartford Families project, which will support connection between its Financial Opportunity Center and its family-centered programs based at the Spring Street site in Hartford. The Village’s Financial Opportunity Center helps low and moderate-income adults living in the Hartford area to effectively manage their finances and achieve financial goals. The Village served more than 690 families at the Spring Street site in the most recent program year. Many of these were single-parent, female-led households.

“At The Village, we know that there is a direct relationship between financial health and overall well-being,” Tammy Freeberg, vice president of strategy and planning for The Village for Families and Children, said. “This grant will increase capacity and resources for our Financial Opportunity Center, helping us to empower more families in Greater Hartford with education, coaching, and tools to achieve financial wellness and gain stability in many aspects of their lives.”

United Way of Southeastern Connecticut

The United Way of Southeastern Connecticut will receive a $50,000 state grant for its Path to Financial Wellness program. The mission of this program is to provide an opportunity for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and female-led households to engage in financial literacy education on their own time and at their own page, and to provide an opportunity for those individuals to make empowered financial decisions. The program will utilize self-directed e-learning and professional financial coaching to guide participants in gaining financial stability through self-assessment, goal setting, and practical application of financial literacy skills. The grant funding will allow them to provide their program to the Greater New London area.

“United Way of Southeastern Connecticut is excited to bring our Path to Financial Wellness program to New London County,” Dina Sears-Graves, president and CEO of the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, said. “We are excited to partner with local nonprofits and Chelsea Groton Bank to provide members of our community an opportunity to make empowered financial decisions. This program aims to increase financial stability, focusing on communities that are disproportionately affected by financial hardship including female single-headed households, Black, Indigenous and people of color.”

Three Prize-Winning Students Awarded $20,000; 24 Students Awarded $6,000; Ten Connecticut Schools Also Announced as Recipients of Technology Prizes

State Treasurer Erick Russell, Trustee of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), today announced the winners of the 2023 CHET Dream Big! Competition.

Three students were awarded $20,000 prizes and 24 students were awarded $6,000 prizes. An additional 336 students will be awarded $500 prizes this month.

Treasurer Russell also announced ten schools that will receive a $7,500 technology prize to help provide new items like tablets, smartboards, and small electronics for classrooms. Each school in Connecticut represented by at least one entry in the Dream Big! Competition was eligible for a random drawing for these prizes. 

Since 2013, the Dream Big! Competition has awarded over $4.5 million dollars to Connecticut students to help pay for future education expenses. The 2023 competition began on August 1, 2023, and ended on November 6, 2023, and was open to all Connecticut residents in grades K-12.

To enter, students were asked to submit a drawing, short essay or video answering a question focusing on their dreams for the future – dependent on their grade level group, as defined in the competition Official Rules.

From bettering neighborhoods with free sports equipment, improving the environment, helping people with addiction, and working in a soup kitchen to sheltering the homeless, being kind, and collecting donations, winning entries showcased imaginative and innovative dreams for themselves and their communities through essays, drawings, and videos.

“I was so impressed with the nearly 3,000 entries we received from students from across the state for the Dream Big! Competition,” said Treasurer Russell. “These students’ entries were so creative and show that they are truly committed to their goals and their communities. I congratulate all our winners and look forward to seeing all they do in the future.

“I also want to congratulate the ten schools that won technology prizes,” he continued. “We are grateful for your encouragement of students to Dream Big.”

First-prize winner in the kindergarten through fourth grade group, Flynn J. of Watertown, wants to organize a community garden at his school to benefit people in need. “Each week, a different grade would be responsible for caring for the garden. After each grade has improved the garden, we could harvest the vegetables and divide them into groups to sell 50% and donate 50%,” he wrote.

Grand-prize winner in the fifth through eighth grade group, Zia V. of Manchester, created a detailed and colorful collage showing different ways someone could improve the lives of others. Examples include helping the less fortunate, being an active listener, becoming a teacher, supporting people with mental health needs, and protecting the Earth. 

First-prize winner in the ninth through twelfth grade group, Layan J. of Farmington, wrote about a nonprofit organization she created to benefit people in Yemen, her mother’s home country. “After receiving a tremendous amount of support from the public, (my organization’s) outreach increased dramatically, ultimately allowing me to acquire a greater sense of purpose,” she wrote. “As I transition into the next chapter of my education, I plan to pursue political science in order to expand my ability in solving international issues.”

For more information about the CHET Dream Big! Competition and the winners’ vision, go to www.chetdreambig.com.

*** END ***

It is important that we maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers. I told our steel workers I have their backs, and I meant it. U.S. Steel has been an iconic American steel company for more than a century, and it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated..

Governor’s Bill Approved by General Law Committee Last Week, Now Awaits Further Action by the Full Legislature 

Governor Ned Lamont is urging the Connecticut General Assembly to approve legislation he proposed for consideration this session that will enact a new consumer rights law requiring upfront pricing on all event tickets, hotel and short-term rental accommodations, and food and beverage sale and delivery services, and accordingly prohibit the increasingly common practice of adding unexpected, mandatory hidden fees that are tacked on at the end of a consumer’s transaction.

These hidden fees, frequently known as junk fees, are often vaguely labeled as a “service fee” or “convenience fee.” It is estimated that they cost Connecticut families thousands of dollars each year and they disproportionally impact low-income families who may lack the time, resources, or financial literacy to filter through these fees or search for a competitive price.

The governor’s proposal is Senate Bill 15, An Act Requiring Fee Disclosures. It was unanimously approved last week by the members of the General Law Committee, and it now awaits further action by both chambers of the General Assembly. The governor is urging them to act on the legislation so that he can sign it into law.

“We are increasingly seeing situations in which a product or service is being advertised at a low price and then when a consumer gets to the very end of their transaction that price suddenly increases with any number of mandatory fees being tacked on, and frequently consumers will complete their purchase without even realizing the price jumped until well after it has already been finalized,” Governor Lamont said. “This proposal simply says that the price of a product or service cannot be misrepresented to consumers. Upfront pricing will ensure that consumers are able to make well-informed purchases, and it levels the playing field among competitors in these industries by requiring that they all be honest and transparent on the costs of their products and services from the get go.”

Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli also support the enactment of this law, saying that if it is approved by the legislature it will be a major win for Connecticut consumers.

“Junk fees tacked on at the last minute add up to serious costs for consumers,” Attorney General Tong said. “These hidden charges make it next to impossible to compare costs and find affordable deals. Everyone hates these bait and switch charges, and I fully support the governor and the legislature in strengthening our state laws to ensure fair, transparent pricing.”

“Companies have increasingly found ways to gain more money from consumers, often by tacking on superfluous ‘service fees’ just when you’re ready to hit the final purchase button on an event ticket, hotel room, or food purchase,” Commissioner Cafferelli said. “By waiting until the last second to add on these junk fees, companies make it difficult for consumers to shop around, price compare and find the best deal. This legislation promotes open and honest transactions in the marketplace and raises consumer confidence in our retail and services industries, and putting money back in people’s pockets.”

This proposal builds on a provision included in Public Act 23-98, which the General Assembly approved and Governor Lamont signed into law last year. That law, which took effect on October 1, 2023, requires upfront disclosure of pricing for the purchase of tickets to live events, however some consumers have noted that since its enactment certain ticketing platforms continue to run advertisements or otherwise not disclose the full price of tickets until the consumer begins a transaction by selecting the tickets they want to purchase. Senate Bill 15 closes this loophole by requiring ticket platforms to disclose the full price of tickets beginning at the moment they are first advertised, displayed, or offered, even prior to the consumer selecting a ticket.

President Joe Biden, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently announced similar efforts to crack down on junk fees on a nationwide level. Governor Lamont applauds these efforts, and notes that until those federal rules are able to take effect, the states must act to protect consumers from deceptive pricing.

The General Assembly must act on the proposal prior to the adjournment of the regular session, which will occur on May 8, 2024.

On Friday, the White House Office of Public Engagement hosted a Celebration of Black Men, an event highlighting the achievements of Black male leaders and entrepreneurs across the fields of professional sports, arts and design, media, academia, and finance. The event underscored the Administration’s commitment to investing in Black Americans’ ability to succeed by expanding access to economic opportunity – a key part of Bidenomics.

Event participants comprised over 120 Black men including members of national and local community organizations, university students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other regional institutions, government officials, and leaders from the private sector.

During a panel conversation moderated by Senior Advisor to the President and Director of Public Engagement Stephen Benjamin, Black entrepreneurs had the opportunity to discuss their respective journeys navigating different industries, and provided insights and advice for younger audience members in attendance. Participants also celebrated Black male White House and Agency leaders representing the most diverse Administration in history.

Officials emphasized the Administration’s dedication to furthering the implementation of the President’s policy agenda to secure and expand the unprecedented gains made for Black Americans. This historic event marked a continuation of the White House’s 2024 celebration of Black History Month.

Biden-Harris Administration Participants:

• Stephen Benjamin, Assistant to the President, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement
• Michael Smith, CEO of Americorps
• Eric Morrissette, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Commerce Performing the Nonexclusive Functions and Duties of the Under Secretary for Minority Business Development
• Taylor Wright, Senior Advisor for Public Engagement, Office of Public Engagement

Program Participants:

• Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24)
• Jason Wright, President, Washington Commanders
• Olajuwon Ajanaku, Founder, Eastside Golf
• Jarrid Tingle, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Harlem Capital
• Dr. Brandon Frame, Founder & Chief Visionary Officer, TheBlackManCan Inc.
• Rashan Brown, Founder, Poetry Me, Please