Connecticut’s 2017 Legislative Session formally opened Wednesday, Jan. 4, and Wilton’s state representative, Gail Lavielle (R-143), was sworn in for her fourth term in the CT House of Representatives. This term will be a bit different, however, as Lavielle will also be assuming more responsibility within the Republican caucus–she has been appointed by House Republican Leader Themis Klarides (R-114) as an Assistant Republican Leader, positioning her to play a more significant role the legislative process.

Lavielle will also continue as Ranking Member of the General Assembly’s Education Committee. In addition, Klarides gave her two other prominent assignments–the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, and the Transportation Committee.

Lavielle will also sit on the House Republicans’ Screening Committee, which reviews all bills that are sent to the House floor.

The Increased visibility and involvement for Wilton’s legislator comes at an interesting time in Hartford; in a House of Representatives that has 78 Democrats to 72 Republicans–the highest number of Republicans in recent years–Lavielle’s party is looking to have more influence and impact.

That shift has given Lavielle renewed optimism and she says she’s eager to get to work.

“With near parity between the parties, this is a historic moment for the state of Connecticut. There has never been a better opportunity to work across the aisle to develop policies that will restore Connecticut’s financial health, reduce the tax pressure on families and businesses, improve the economic climate and infrastructure, and preserve essential services.  I believe that these roles and appointments position me well to focus on the issues that are most important to Norwalk, Westport, and Wilton, and to do so with the authority that comes with a leadership role,” she says.

That approach hasn’t been lost on her caucus leader.

“Gail has been a tireless and effective advocate for her district and for the state of Connecticut,” Klarides says.  “This session will see the closest margins between the majority and minority in recent memory. I need a talented and dedicated team of leaders to assist me in working with the majority party. Gail will be a key player in the House, making sure the General Assembly works to relieve the undue stress that government places on Connecticut families and businesses.”

What it Means for Wilton

We asked Lavielle about the most pressing issues that the legislature will deal with and which will have the most significant impact on Wilton. She gave us a list of several (which she said is not an exhaustive list).

  • Relief from cumbersome unfunded education mandates. I have introduced several bills, including one that would exempt any municipality receiving less than 5% of its total education budget from state funding from any new unfunded education mandates; a colleague from the other side of the aisle is joining me as a co-introducer on this bill.
  • Finding more efficient ways to fund and manage special education.
  • Greater attention to the Danbury Line, moving it higher up on the transportation bonding priority list
  • Phasing out certain taxes, particularly those that affect retirees: taxes on Social Security, pensions, estates, and gifts.
  • Producing much more realistic revenue projections that should reduce the potential for mid-year deficits.
  • Opposing forced regionalization of various services that would lead to increased costs for Wilton. For example, the Department of Public Health is proposing to require regional consolidation of local health districts, following county borders, and requiring each municipality to pay fees to subsidize the regional health districts.
  • Instituting a sound economic development policy that would attract more new businesses to Connecticut, thus expanding our tax base and fostering job growth. This would of course be favorable for Wilton, as well as for the whole state.
  • Protecting our water supply by guarding against overdevelopment and limiting bulk commercial water sales by public utilities.

She answered on more question from GMW:  What impact does her new role have on helping Wilton’s concerns and issues? She responded:

“I’m grateful for my appointments this session, because I believe they put me in the best possible position to focus on the issues that are of most importance to Wilton and our district.

  • As Ranking Member of Education and a longstanding member of the Transportation Committee, I have the opportunity to influence two of the policy areas that are of greatest importance for Wilton.
  • On the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee, I will be working on tax policy, revenue projections, and transportation bonding priorities.
  • As a member of my caucus’ Screening Committee, I have the opportunity to review every committee bill that comes to the House floor well before any debate, to assess each for their impact on Wilton, and to discuss and develop potential amendments with colleagues.
  • As in any organization, appointment to a leadership role — in this case Assistant Leader — brings greater authority and credibility. In this context, I believe it will facilitate building coalitions (for example, a regional coalition supporting the Danbury Line, or a bipartisan initiative to achieve mandate relief). It also ensures that Wilton’s major concerns are part of important policy development discussions within our leadership team. In the legislature’s newly balanced configuration, both parties will be bringing fully developed policy platforms to the table in many areas, and it is more important than ever for Wilton’s viewpoint to be represented. I’m pleased to be in a position to ensure that this happens.