Gary Turco

What a busy week!

First, I invited Congressman John Larson to Newington on Thursday to update residents on what is going on at the federal level, particularly a month into the new administration.

Congressman Larson said he and the Connecticut delegation, as well as Democrats, were fighting to keep Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security from being cut. He said he is also looking to augment benefits going forward.

There was also an impassioned Q&A session, with some residents understandably concerned about our most vulnerable populations as well as the status of our democracy as a whole. Congressman Larson, the entire Connecticut delegation at the U.S. Capitol, as well as the Newington delegation at the state legislature will fight for our rights at the federal and state levels.

Thank you to everyone who attended.

I joined Gov. Ned Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Newington Mayor Jon Trister on Tuesday in the Newington Town Council Chambers to support a call to increase the state property tax credit to bring some relief to taxpayers.

Gov. Lamont's biennial budget, which he announced earlier this month, proposes increasing the property tax credit to $350 – up $50 from last year. The property tax credit was just $200 five years ago.

I consistently hear from you -- my constituents -- that property taxes are a growing burden on their household budgets and more relief is needed.

Thank you to Governor Lamont for this proposal to increase the property tax credit, on top of what we passed a few years ago to bring it back to help thousands of residents.