The legislature took the next key step in the budget making process on Tuesday. After weeks of budget hearings and working groups, the Appropriations Committee, of which I am member, released their proposal in response to Governor Lamont's budget, which was released on Feb. 20.

“I think this is an attempt to have a more balanced approach to the revenue side of the budget, in terms of who’s contributing,” Rep. Jason Rojas, co-chairman of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, tells www.CtMirror.org, referring to legislators' ongoing discussions about whether the state should raise taxes on the very rich.

We have heard from constituents, experts, Republicans and Democrats – everyone agrees that our entire transportation infrastructure needs significant investment in order to grow our economy.

I co-sponsored legislation that was passed by the Joint Committee on Labor and Public Employees Committee. HB 6508, An Act Concerning Investment in the Construction Job Workforce for Low-Income Residents, will be voted by the House this session.

The bill aims to create a construction job career path for low-income residents and ensure successful employment through state hiring requirements in state construction contracts.

Our legislative priority for this session is to make sure that workers are paid a living wage so that no one who works full time lives in poverty.

The budget presentation is one of the most anticipated events at the State Capitol and Governor Lamont unveiled his Biennial Budget Address during the General Assembly Joint Session. You can read it here.

Now that my legislative colleagues and I have Governor Lamont’s budget proposal in hand, officials from state departments and agencies have begun giving their budget presentations in public hearings before the Appropriations Committee of which I am a member.

I have heard from many people in the district regarding the Governor’s budget proposal. Please continue to send your comments my way, but also know that you can submit testimony, either in person or via email, on any aspect of the budget.