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Delivered on their Promises

We’re fortunate to have two of the most effective representatives our communities could ask for in State Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D-12) and State Representative Sean Scanlon (D-98). It’s unusual for first-term members of their respective chambers to make the significant contributions to the state and our local communities that they have.

Both delivered on their promises to work across party lines. With Ted as chairman of the Environment Committee, 38 environmental bills signed into law in 2015 and 2016 were passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. In Sean’s first term, 80 percent of the bills he has either sponsored or co-sponsored had at least one Republican co-sponsor.

On the legislative front, Sean has been a leader in the fight against the heroin and opioid crisis co-sponsoring legislation that required doctors to check the state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program before prescribing an opioid to prevent “doctor shopping.” He also wrote and passed legislation that would make Connecticut the second state in the nation to limit all first-time opioid prescriptions to seven days with exemptions for chronic pain.

The Mental Health Equality bill Ted introduced now requires health plans to disclose coverage limitations on mental health and substance abuse coverage. He also introduced the Accelerated Home Care Approval Program mandating reforms in the delivery and accessibility of senior home care.

Sean and Ted have secured important funding for Guilford and Branford including a restoration of more than $1.3 million in ECS funding and funding for the purchase of Google Chromebooks for the Branford and Guilford school systems. Guilford’s new downtown parking lot, the preservation of open space, and funding to support transit-oriented development by the Branford train station, were also made possible thanks to their efforts.

These types of results have earned Ted and Sean the opportunity to continue to represent us.

Matt Hoey

Guilford

Matt Hoey chairs the Board of Finance.