Toni E. Walker

During a break in legislative business at the State Capitol, Representative Toni Walker meets with students from the Connecticut Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs.

Representative Toni Walker, who cares about students and alumnae of Southern Connecticut State University, held a breakfast meeting to gain more understanding of the issues affecting them.

I vehemently disagree with the state Office of Policy and Management’s (OPM) recent position that the governor has the authority to rescind budgeted funding from the state’s three watchdog agencies.

The last few weeks of session are hectic. Two weeks to go and a lot on our plates.

The Appropriations Committee is proposing a FY 2017 General Fund budget of $18,141,684,330 ($18.1 billion), which is $569.4 million LESS than the $18.7 billion FY 2017 General Fund budget that was approved just last June.

I joined Senator Martin M Looney, State Representative Robyn Porter and friends from New Haven to highlight a bill that encourages Yale to spend income from its endowment to support local education, financial aid and economic growth.

I joined colleagues and CTJJA to unveil results of the Youth First Initiative’s Connecticut survey...the public prefers treatment and rehabilitation for youth offenders over incarceration...and broadly supports youth criminal justice reform and rehabilitation!

The plan to tear down and rebuild Q House today received a shot in the arm – state funding...the State Bond Commission has approved $14.5 million in state funding for the project. Q House is an important community institution. There has been a hole in the Dixwell neighborhood since Q House closed more than 10 years ago.