For immediate release
Monday, March 16, 2009
Contact: Kevin Maloney
(203) 498-3025

CT MUNICIPAL LEADERS TO MEET WITH STATE’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AT THE U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 18  

24 Connecticut municipal leaders -- all from towns and cities that are members of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), Connecticut’s statewide association of towns and cities -- comprise CCM’s delegation to the Congressional City Conference from March 14-18 in Washington D.C., presented by the National League of Cities.

The delegation will meet with Connecticut’s Congressional delegation on Wednesday morning, March 18, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in Room  SC-6 in the U.S. Capitol Building.

The breakfast forum will provide for a discussion of key federal issues of concern to Connecticut towns and cities, particularly as they relate to the impact on Connecticut of President Obama’s proposed federal budget for FY 2010 and the implementation of the recent federal stimulus package. CT local leaders will discuss with the CT’s Congressional delegation such issues as:

The Economy -- The crisis in the nation’s financial markets is increasingly curtailing the ability of municipal governments – even those with AAA credit ratings – to borrow funds for ready-to-go projects to serve their citizens. Projects like roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, sewage treatment plants and libraries, the bedrocks of any community, are now at risk of being indefinitely delayed or cancelled because the cost of borrowing is too high. At the same time, housing foreclosures remain at an all-time high in many communities triggering a decline in property values and the property taxes that fund critical services for our citizens. In addition to economic stimulus packages and the $700 billion economic recovery plan, Connecticut municipal leaders find out what other steps the federal government might take to stabilize the economy and help local economies.

Transportation Financing -- With the current authorization of the federal transportation funding program set to expire in 2009, Congress will embark upon an important debate over the future of our country’s national surface transportation plan. As part of this discussion, Congress will have to make decisions about how to address the shortfall in gas tax revenues for the Highway Trust Fund, how to repair and maintain the nation’s aging infrastructure, how to address concerns over the impact of transportation on the environment, and ways to ensure the program meets local transportation and economic development goals.

Education Reform -- Discussions are underway in Congress regarding education reform programs. An NLC Task Force has developed a set of recommendations for reforming K-12 and adult education programs to make them more responsive to the changing fiscal climate. Connecticut municipal officials – whom have little control over schools but must pay for bottom-line costs – must be prepared to advocate for needed reforms and for the funding that will be required to meet educational program goals.

Housing and Neighborhood Stabilization -- With mortgage foreclosures, predatory lending, inadequate financial literacy, and market volatility continuing to threaten family economic self-sufficiency, neighborhood stability and the national economy, Congress is continues to identify resources and mechanisms to preserve homeownership and stabilize neighborhoods, including stronger consumer education and protections and market interventions.

Public Safety -- Public safety challenges both new and old, are forcing towns and cities to stretch their dollars farther than ever before. As Connecticut municipalities face severe budget shortfalls, a productive partnership that supports our first responders is more important than ever. Federal cooperation with towns and cities is crucial in keeping police patrolling our communities.  -30-