CT House of Representatives Elects New Leaders

CT House Democrats elected new leadership last month by choosing Representative Christopher Donovan, D. Meriden as Speaker of the House of Representatives and Denise Merrill, D. Mansfield, as majority leader. Representative Donovan, who previously held the position of majority leader, was selected by the 114 member, veto-proof, House Democratic caucus on November 6th. He is expected to be formally elected by the full 151 members of the CT House of Representatives when the General Assembly convenes for the 2009-2010 session in early January.

Representative Merrill will be leaving her position as House Chair of the Appropriations Committee when she assumes the majority leader role in January. Both newly elected leaders have been very good friends to the Community Action network and we wish them well in their new roles.

Donald Williams, D. Brooklyn, will return as Senate President Pro Tempore, and Martin Looney, D. New Haven, will remain in the role of Senate majority leader.

Human services providers understand the difficulties facing our leaders during these very difficult economic times. However, we hope the programs that provide a safety net of critical services for our most needy and vulnerable residents won’t be further weakened and tattered by additional cuts to these essential services that help people survive. We should be working together to develop policies and services that will not only help our residents survive but will forge ‘Prospering Communities and Thriving Families’.