Mike D'Agostino

To avert a strike, House boosts money for care of the disabled
The Connecticut Mirror – May 2, 2018
State Rep. Mike D'Agostino led House passage of a bill that would raise wages for 19,000 workers who take care of the developmentally disabled.

Contract would give UConn grad students 2 percent raise
The Journal Inquirer – April 27, 2018
State Rep. Mike D'Agostino said the state House of Representatives' passage of a union contract that would give 2 percent raises in each of the next four years to University of Connecticut graduate students who serve as teaching and research assistants is an investment in economic development.

House approves UConn graduate assistants' contract
The Hartford Courant – April 26, 2018
State Rep. Mike D'Agostino led House passage of a union contract that would allow the University of Connecticut to compete and live up to its mission of teaching and research.

UConn grad student contract clears second hurdle
CTNewsJunkie – April 26, 2018
State Rep. Mike D'Agostino led House passage of a new four-year contract between the University of Connecticut and its 2,200 graduate assistants. D'Agostino said this bill will help UConn be competitive in attracting graduate assistant candidates.

Hamden, Torrington, Bridgeport officials urge funding be released to close car tax reimbursement gap
New Haven Register – April 25, 2018
State Rep. Mike D'Agostino and officials representing Hamden, Bridgeport and Torrington urged state lawmakers to keep to the spirit of a promise and provide valuable funding to municipalities that was withheld because of a budgetary loophole.

Three towns call for funding
CTNewsJunkie – April 25, 2018
State Rep. Mike D'Agostino joined elected officials and residents from three communities — Bridgeport, Hamden, and Torrington — gathered at the state Capitol to call on lawmakers to fund the rest of their 2018 supplemental car tax payments.

Three towns without millions in reimbursements due to tax changes
WFSB – April 25, 2018
During a press conference, state Rep. Mike D'Agostino advocated for the release of the additional supplemental car tax reimbursement money Hamden needs to be made whole.

The past as prologue: Remembering why we need collective bargaining
The Connecticut Mirror – March 28, 2018
State Rep. Mike D'Agostino interviews Edward Daly, a Vernon resident and current president of the CSEA SEIU Local 2001 Retiree Council, about what wages, working conditions and health care benefits were like before state workers were given the right to organize and collectively bargain.

House, Senate approve historic homecare contract
The Hartford Courant – March 21, 2018
A contract amendment that would raise wages and provide workers' compensation to 8,500 personal care attendants was passed by the state legislature. State Rep. Mike D'Agostino led House passage of the contract on March 21.

Homecare contract approved
CTNewsJunkie – March 21, 2018
State Rep. Mike D'Agostino,led House passage of a contract amendment that would raise wages, provide workers' compensation and increase funding for training and orientation programs for 8,500 personal care attendants. 

Lawmakers hold hearing Thursday on legalizing marijuana
The Hartford Courant – March 15, 2018
State Rep. Mike D'Agostino, chairman of the legislature's General Law Committee, heard public testimony on a proposal to regulate the retail sale of marijuana in Connecticut. D'Agostino said the committee is tasked with crafting regulations for the retail sale and home cultivation of marijuana.

Legal marijuana will receive public hearing
The Connecticut Post – February 18, 2018
The legislature's General Law Committee voted to hold a public hearing on a proposal to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana for adult use in Connecticut. State Rep. Mike D'Agostino said it is crucial that the state has an open and transparent conversation on whether Connecticut should legalize cannabis.

Public hearing on legalizing recreational marijuana
The Hartford Courant – February 16, 2018
State Rep. Mike D'Agostino and members of the legislature's General Law Committee voted to hold a public hearing on whether Connecticut should legalize and regulate recreational marijuana for adult use. D'Agostino said holding a public hearing on the proposal is the first step toward crafting a regulatory framework for how Connecticut would permit and oversee the growing, use and sale of cannabis for adults 21 and over. 

Hamden gets $500,000 from state to build STEM Academy at high school
Post Chronicle – December 1, 2017
Hamden was awarded $500,000 in funding to build a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Academy at its high school. The bonding will be used for the renovation of existing classrooms with electrical and telecommunications updates. State Rep. Mike D'Agostino said this funding will have a lasting impact on Hamden's students and the community.

Lawmakers weigh in on state budget approval
WFSB-Face the State – October, 30, 2017
State Rep. Mike D’Agostino appeared on Face the State to discuss the state budget following its overwhelmingly bipartisan approval.

Current conundrum over school funding could be a harbinger of tougher budget battles ahead
The Hartford Courant - September 10, 2017
As the legislature continues to work to steady Connecticut’s financial footing, the way the state’s public schools are funded needs to be assessed to ensure students’ needs are being put first. The legislature needs to identify new ways to fund schools that are responsive to the state’s demographics.

Six Legislators: There is no ‘formula’
The Hartford Courant – August 8, 2017
Democratic legislators advocate for the legislature’s adoption of a fair school finance system for Connecticut.

D’Agostino discusses the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition agreement
WTIC, The Todd Feinburg Show – August 4, 2017
State Rep. Mike D’Agostino, who led the House of Representatives floor debate on the SEBAC agreement, discusses the labor concessions with Todd Feinburg on WTIC.

The state employee concession agreement is not just legal – it’s moral
The Connecticut Mirror - July 31, 2017
Under the SEBAC agreement, taxpayers are expected to save $24 billion over the next 20 years.

House sends labor agreement to senate
CTNewsJunkie - July 24, 2017
The Connecticut House of Representatives voted 78-72 in favor of a concessions deal that is expected to save state taxpayers $1.5 billion over the next two years.

Political climate makes for tough choice for Connecticut Democrats
The New Haven Register - May 8, 2017
During a forum held by Action Together New Haven, state Rep. Mike D’Agostino discusses how to cut costs, consolidate resources and fix the education cost sharing grant to address Connecticut’s fiscal woes.

Hamden lawmaker’s proposal eyes rules for DOT tree cutting
The New Haven Register – February 6, 2017
State Rep. Mike D’Agostino, a strong supporter of tree management, co-sponsored a bill that requires the state Department of Transportation to notify the House of Representatives’ Joint Committee on the Environment 120 days before it begins any work removing trees from state highways.

State legislators, education leaders talk future of Connecticut school funding
The New Haven Register – January 18, 2017
State Rep. Mike D’Agostino said the state's current Education Cost Sharing formula focuses on overall per capita wealth and instead should be modified to emphasize the student population and a municipality's financial ability to contribute to local education.