Lyddy, Hovey Both Named To

‘Children And The Recession’ Task Force

State Representative Chris Lyddy of Newtown, and DebraLee Hovey, who represents one southern voting district in town, were both recently appointed to serve on the newly formed Children and the Recession Task Force. That panel will help plan Connecticut’s response to the increasingly desperate plight of children impacted by the current economic crisis.

 “We need to understand that our children will need assistance to make sure they do not suffer lasting consequences of this economic downturn,” said Rep Lyddy. “In time, the state will certainly recover from this fiscal crisis; however, our children will be the ones to feel the long-lasting effects and together we must ensure that we address those potential impacts sooner rather than later.”

Rep Hovey concurred that the current economic downturn is affecting working adults, but has a devastating impact on Connecticut’s children.

“As an educator, I am keenly aware of the consequences this recession will have on the health, education, and welfare of young people, particularly those already at-risk or economically disadvantaged,” she stated in a August 11 release.

Connecticut is the first state in the nation to form a legislative task force to plan for children in the recession and during the recovery. A report issued by the Foundation for Child Development and Duke University last week predicts the recession will send between 2.6 million and 3.3 million children into poverty, costing American taxpayers $1.7 trillion.

It said that virtually all the progress made in children’s economic well-being since 1975 is likely to be wiped out by the current economic downturn. The estimated economic impact on Connecticut of thousands of children entering poverty is $800 million annually.

State Representatives Diana Urban (D-Stonington/North Stonington) and Karen Jarmoc (D-Enfield) will serve as the co-chairs the task force. It will also include bipartisan membership from the state House of Representatives, state Senate, Congressional offices, economists, and representatives from business, family support groups, housing advocates, human services, academia, and nonprofit agencies.

“To me, prevention is the best intervention,” Rep Lyddy said. “I am looking forward to working collaboratively with experts from the public and private sectors to help prevent the negative impacts this recession can have on our youth.”

Rep Hovey said she is eager to begin work as a member of the task force, “in order to craft an aggressive, bipartisan plan to ensure that Connecticut’s most valuable resource, its children, are provided every opportunity to succeed despite the current economic challenges we face as a state.”

The task force will review budget implications related to children and the recession; identify trends and research resulting from the recession related to housing, employment, homelessness, child care, and unemployment; make recommendations to the Speaker of the House on appropriate budget and policy actions; and recommend efficiencies and offer ways to streamline services and access points for families.

The task force will report quarterly to Speaker Christopher G. Donovan and legislative leadership on key findings, and also will work to identify appropriate federal stimulus opportunities to support programs for children.

More information on the task force, visit www.cga.ct.gov/coc/taskforce.htm