Report of the 2014 Elections (ppt)
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Transcript Report of the 2014 Elections (ppt)
CT Tax Collectors’
Annual Meeting
REPORT
ON THE
2014 ELECTIONS
PREPARED & PRESENTED BY
GUINAN ASSOCIATES
EVERY Seat up for Re-election
151 House
36 Senate
6 Constitutional Officers, including
The GOVERNOR
AT THE TOP…
NO CHANGE
Governor expanded his victory margin
Underticket races surprisingly close
All 6 Constitutional Officers Re-elected
All 6 are Democrats
LEGISLATIVE RESULTS
A DIFFERENT STORY
STATE SENATE
WAS
NOW
22 Dem – 14 Rep
21 Dem – 15 Rep
6 Open Seats. 1 changed party
Rep. Betsy Ritter lost her bid to take Sen. Stillman’s
Seat. Paul Formica the victor
One celebrity victor – Ted Kennedy Jr
One Incumbent Dem lost his primary
7 Freshman Senators including 3 State Reps.
HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES
Here the national Republican tide affected CT
WAS
97 – 54 (incl 2 Rep. Special Elect wins)
NOW
87 – 64
Highest Count for House R’s since 1994
Up from low of 37 seats in 2008
HELD ALL 8 R open seats and won 2 D opens
DEFEATED 9 Incumbent Ds
19 R Freshman. Net gain of 10
Only lost 1 Incumbent. Michael Molgano, Stamford
IMPACT
Bolder Assertion Republican Agenda
More Ability to Force Compromise
76 votes needed for passage – R’s only need 12
Democrats to break with Dem Majority.
FAR more likely than when 22 needed.
Empowering of ‘Moderate Democrats’
Expect it to impact what passes, what comes to vote.
19 R and 8 D Freshman = A Lot of New Energy
NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION: 3 of 4
at the Top
Sen.
President Don Williams
Sen. Minority Leader John McKinney
House Minority Leader Larry Cafero
6 Senators. 18 Reps.
Legislative Changes at the Top
Senate Dems Sen. Marty Looney, Sen. President
Sen. Bob Duff, Majority Leader
Senate Reps –
Sen. Len Fasano, Minority Leader
House Reps –
Rep. Themis Klarides (a first)
House Dems – Only caucus without change.
Speaker Brendan Sharkey. Maj. Leader Joe
Aresimowitz
Key Committee Vacancies Pending
House Finance Chair (Widlitz)
House Judiciary Chair (Fox)
Senate Education Chair (Stillman)
Senate GAE Chair (Musto)
Senate Environment Chair (Meyer)
Senate Commerce Chair (Lebeau)
Senate Ranking Member P & D (Fasano)
Both House Chairs, Dem Screening Ctt
Domino Effect, esp. in Senate
Waiting to see if Sen. Cathy Osten remains at P & D
Finance and P & D Committees key for CTX
Sen. Fasano will remain key.
As ranking member of P & D, very involved in CTX
bills and will remain so as Minority Leader.
We will miss Betsy Ritter – Always in your corner!
2015 Session
Is a Long Session
Begins Wed. January 7, 2015
Ends Wed. June 3, 2015
Governor’s Budget Address Feb. 4
Budget expected to be … Difficult
Likely to dominate Session
Other Key Dates
Planning and Development Committee Deadline
3/26 – 4/2/2015 **
Finance Committee Deadline
4/17 – 4/24/2015 **
** Dates are estimates. Under bi-partisan
discussion.
Will be adopted as part of the Joint Rules on
Opening Day
IN 2014
WE EXPECTED A SLOW
SESSION, BUT…
It Ended Up Not Quite the Quiet Year Expected
CTX TESTIFIED OR SUBMITTED
TESTIMONY ON 4 BILLS. Wary of a 5th.
Interest Rate on Delinquent Taxes
Free Access to DMV
Legal Notices
A Change to CTx 2013 Statute
Collecting a Marijuana Tax
In 2015, In Addition to CTX Bill…
New Leaders, 7 Senate Freshman, 27 House
Freshman = a vibrant stew of new ideas, new
approaches and lots and lots of bills.
There will be bills CTX does not like. Be prepared.
The Car Tax got a lot of attention during the
Elections. Expect another effort to change it.
Speaker Sharkey and (then) Sen Maj Leader Looney
had competing dramatic proposals for changes to
local Property Tax. Likely to re-emerge in 2015.
Major Tax Study Underway. Concluding Jan. 2015.
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS VITAL
EXPECT A BUSY YEAR
CONTINUE TO BUILD ON CREDIBILITY AND
RELATIONSHIPS WHICH EXPANDED DURING
2013-14 SESSION
JOIN THE CTx LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS.
And,
You are in EVERY town and you know
EVERYONE- YOU HAVE REAL INFLUENCE
THANK YOU.
QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?