Legislative Candidates Differ

On Directing State Surplus Allocations

By John Voket

Republican 112th District representative DebraLee Hovey hopes an August 22 special legislative session will steer some state budget surplus dollars toward underwriting health insurance for those in need. Her Democratic opponent wants to see surplus funds applied to heating assistance for those facing financial emergencies this winter.

Michele Mount, Rep Hovey’s opponent for State Representative for the 112th, which includes one voting district in the Botsford section of Newtown, is strongly encouraging the Legislature and governor to use the entire, unexpected $85 million budget surplus for heating payment assistance for those in need this fall and winter.

“With our residents preparing for the colder weather approaching, we must immediately address the cost of heating for this winter,” Ms Mount said. “If we don’t, many of our residents, including our friends and neighbors, will be literally freezing and going into debt to pay their heating bills.”

The Democrat is also encouraging heating providers to offer reasonable payment plans for their customers.

“It is not just about the state, and the town helping — we need help from the private sector, the energy providers and the more fortunate among us,” she said. “Connecticut must not wait; we must develop a plan now and have it in place before the weather turns cold, so we are prepared to help our residents in need.”

Ms Mount said she is doing her part to help by urging Monroe residents and businesses to donate to Project Warmth and the local food pantry.

“Project Warmth is the last stopgap for many Monroe residents who cannot afford to pay their heating bills this winter, while the food pantry also needs to be well stocked, as many people will be choosing between paying for heat and food,” she said.

Ms Mount told The Bee that she would like to see a similar initiative started in Newtown, perhaps organizing several independent philanthropic and service groups into a single unified cause.

While an initial estimate of a $22 million state surplus was released in July, that figure has swelled to between $70 and $85 million. Rep Hovey’s proposal calls for using all surplus funds above $22 million to provide health insurance for residents through the new Charter Oak program.

The program, which started several weeks ago, provides affordable health care for Connecticut’s uninsured adults who are too old for HUSKY but too young for Medicare. It is the first health plan in the nation for the uninsured that does not require income limits, employer mandates, or individual mandates.

The early stages of the program have, however, met with difficulties, specifically sufficient numbers of health care providers have not signed on, said Rep Hovey. She proposes using the funds to provide reimbursements to providers.

“I fully support using a portion of the surplus to provide heating assistance this winter,” said Rep Hovey. “However, so many people in my district continue to tell me that health care costs and an unavailability of decent insurance are really hurting their families. It would be a very timely use of our surplus funds to help them and others throughout the state.”

A few minutes after Rep Hovey’s release arrived, Governor M. Jodi Rell’s office issued an advance unveiling details of an energy bill that legislators could see during the one-day special session.

Gov Rell’s proposal would spend nearly $39 million of the surplus on emergency fuel assistance for needy and middle-income families, the elderly, nonprofit health and human service agencies, and public schools. Beside heating expenses, the GOP calls for spending $3 million in surplus to help more families pay past-due electric bills.

Republicans also want to cap the wholesale price of gas taxed by the state at $3.42 a gallon.

In related news, Ms Mount announced that she will use the opening of the Democratic Headquarters at 415 Main Street in Monroe as a fund and food raiser for Project Warmth and the local food pantry.

On Sunday August 24, from 3 to 6 pm, local Democrats and supporters will welcome invited dignitaries, including Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Comptroller Nancy Wyman, 4th District candidate Jim Himes, 22nd Senate District candidate Anthony Musto, Monroe First Selectman Tom Buzi, along with former selectmen Karen Burnaska, Andrew Nunn and Newtown selectman Herb Rosenthal for a free ice cream social, with donations being accepted for the food bank and heating assistance fund.

All residents without regard to party affiliation are invited to make a donation to Project Warmth, or the food pantry. Anyone bringing food donations should note the pantry needs: coffee, vegetable oil, canned fruit, Parmalot or shelf-stable milk, crackers, canned chicken, juice, spaghetti sauce, shampoo and conditioner, and sunscreen.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.