Responding to CCM lobbying efforts, the House Democratic caucus rejected a proposal that would have cut $8 million in Special Education reimbursement for this fiscal year, deleting the proposal from the "deficit mitigation" package that passed the General Assembly yesterday.

The legislature also modified a proposal by Governor Rell that would have completely eliminated $35 million in funds for the Local Bridge Program. It restored $7 million for the program. Despite CCM lobbying efforts, however, the General Assembly did eliminate $28 million from the program.

CCM will continue to work hard to have the State enact legislation to issue bonds to cover the funds that had already been committed to local projects, but was cut by last night’s action.

The Special Education cut had been proposed by Democratic caucus leaders as part of its response to the Governor's call for a mitigation package. However, several members of the Democratic rank and file, led by Rep. Deb Heinrich (DMadison) fought the cut and leadership agreed to restore it. Sen. Jonathan Harris (D-West Hartford) had been prepared to lead a similar fight in the Senate majority caucus, but that became unnecessary once the House stripped the provision.

It was clear that municipal officials had contacted their delegations on this issue -- and it made a significant difference. It is a good example of how important it is for local officials to underscore CCM’s lobbying efforts at the capitol.

The fight to save at least some of the funds in the Local Bridge Program was led in the majority caucus by Rep. Tony Guerrero (D-Rocky Hill), chairman of the Transportation Committee. House Republican Leader Larry Cafero also pressed for restoration of the funding, and the protection of the $7 million represented a cooperative effort between the two House caucuses.

For more information, please contact Jim Finley, Gian-Carl Casa or Ron Thomas of CCM. For information specifically on the Local Bridge Program, please contact CCM's Donna Hamzy.