Hilda E. Santiago

In a bipartisan vote, yesterday the House of Representatives voted to restore $54 million in funding to the Medicare Savings Program (MSP). More than 113,000 seniors and disabled individuals depend on the state program to purchase their Medicare Part B benefits.

I'd like to take a moment to wish you and your family Happy Holidays. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve Meriden and I look forward to what we will accomplish in 2018.

The state Department of Social Services has announced it will delay changes to the Medicare Savings Program (MSP). Scheduled to implement income eligibility reductions beginning January 1^st, DSS has put the plan on hold for at least two months.

The Office of Policy and Management has announced that residents enrolled in the state’s Renter’s Rebate program are expected to receive their checks within the next several days.

The state legislature ensured participants in the Renters’ Rebate Program will receive their checks with a quick fix to the bipartisan state budget.

Care 4 Kids, the state’s primary child-care support program, has been reopened, and eligible families on the wait list can now begin to enroll.

After the state House of Representatives met Oct. 3 to consider overriding the veto of the GOP-backed budget, the Republicans refused to call the question for a vote. Now, it is time for us to work together and compromise with the governor and the Republicans to reach a bipartisan agreement on a final budget. To move Connecticut forward, we need to adopt a spending package that invests in our workforce, makes long-term structural changes, and provides municipalities with additional budget flexibility.

Gov. Malloy says he’s prepared to make compromises, but the GOP budget is unacceptable because it raises taxes, defunds pensions and takes money away from the state university system.