Welsh weighs in on Malloy's agenda

Sen. Welch: We need to be realistic. There is a disconnect to what middle class and working poor families are going through.

February 10, 2014

Senator Jason Welch (R-Bristol) (4th from the left) in the senate chamber on the opening day of the 2014 legislative session listening to Senate Minority Leader John McKinney speak.

Hartford, CT – State Senator Jason Welch (R-Bristol) released the following statement today re: Governor Malloy’s State of the State speech on opening day of the 2014 Legislative session.

“The governor’s theme seemed to be moving Connecticut forward which I agree we need to do. However, we need to be realistic about where we are today. There is a disconnect to what middle class and working poor families are going through. The governor has proposed moving $3 billion in Medicaid spending off the books. This means we are ignoring some huge bills. He also is suggesting borrowing more money and putting it on the state credit card in order to pay for new initiatives. This is risky and shows a lack of understanding to the current economic situation in our state.

“23,000 fewer people are working today in Connecticut since Governor Malloy took office. Connecticut’s unemployment rate remains one of the highest in the nation. Our cost of living in the state remains a burden to the average family. Gas prices are one of the highest in the nation, electricity costs are up and taxes are overwhelming.

“I am open to some of the Governor’s ideas including: ending homelessness among our veterans by 2015. But the reality is we have open beds at the State Veterans facility in Rocky Hill because of the administration’s failure to act. Another concept I am open to is one I have been fighting for in Hartford; reducing taxes. Not charging a sales tax on clothing under $50 is good policy. But there are many other areas where we can ease the burdens of our middle class, working poor families and our small businesses.

“We need to be realistic about where we are. At this point the recovery is stagnant and too many of our neighbors are still not working.

“I am confident that over the next 90 days lawmakers will have solid discussions about what our core commitments are and whether more restraint is needed.”

The 2014 legislative session ends in May.

Copyright 2014 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Welch calls for state to help laid-off ESPN workers

State Sen. Jason Welch, a Bristol Republican, sent out this letter today regarding the ESPN layoffs:

May 22, 2013

Commissioner Sharon Palmer

Connecticut Department of Labor

200 Folly Brook Blvd.

Wethersfield, CT 06109

Dear Commissioner Palmer,

As you know, ESPN announced today that they will be laying-off employees in areas and job descriptions "across the board," according to spokesman Mike Soltys.  I understand that the reduction will also include positions eliminated by attrition.

As one of the State Senators representing the city of Bristol, I am requesting that you immediately dispatch your Rapid Response Team to address the needs of the displaced workers as a result of the layoffs.

In addition, I would like my office to be notified of any meetings taking place between ESPN and the Department of Labor so that I can participate in helping those who will be losing their employment.

I am hopeful that we can work together to help re-locate these workers in new jobs as soon as possible.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance for you or your office.

Sincerely,

Jason Welch

State Senator, Bristol

Copyright 2013 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Welch votes no on gun control compromise

Press release:

Harford, CT – State Senator Jason Welch (R-Bristol) released the following statement today re: SB 1106:An Act Concerning Gun Violence Prevention and Children’s Safety.

“All of us were moved by this horror in Newtown, and this horror demands action with mental health access, action with hardening our schools, action in ending straw purchases and action in getting guns out of the hands of criminals, with the goal of preventing a madman from committing such a horror again.

State Sen. Jason Welch

“But this bill falls short of that goal.  It also comes with a loss of liberty.  This country is about freedom. Whether you believe liberty to be granted through the divine or that it came to be following our natural law, with liberty comes great responsibility.  Not all have lived up to that responsibility. 

“But the irresponsibility of some ought not cause the loss of liberty of others. 

“Evil is the common theme in these horrific mass shootings.  I don’t see this bill getting to the heart of evil.  I don’t see this bill convincing mass murderers to change their hearts and minds.

“I do applaud those who came up with some really good ideas. Things we ought to follow through on including: mental health first aid for district safe school climate coordinators and reconstituting the statewide gun trafficking task force to get illegal guns off the streets.  But when I weigh what this country stands for I can’t support the loss of freedom in this bill, therefore I cannot support it at all.”

Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Nicastro, Betts and Welch gain CBIA's backing

The Connecticut Business and Industry Association endorsed several incumbents seeking state office in Bristol next month.
It backed the reelection of state Sen. Jason Welch, a Bristol Republican along with two state House members from Bristol, Democrat Frank Nicastro and Republican Whit Betts. It did not endorse anyone in the 77th state House race between state Rep. Chris Wright, a Bristol Democrat, and Republican challenger Jill Fitzgerald. The CBIA says its endorsement "tells you a candidate demonstrates a commitment to making Connecticut's business climate more competitive and therefore deserves the support of the business community." It said it looks principally at a contenders support for "business issues," but also considers a candidate’s "overall legislative work, accessibility to constituents, philosophy on how government should operate, and leadership potential."
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Democrats: What is Senator Welch hiding?

The state Democratic Party issues this press release:

State Republicans Pushing for More Secret Money in Politics

State Senator Jason Welch, others, display a chronic failure to
tell voters who is funding their campaigns

(Hartford, Connecticut) Republican state Senator Jason Welch, running for re-election in the 31st Senatorial District (Bristol, Harwinton, Plainville, Plymouth and Thomaston), has accepted a CEP grant for his campaign, but is refusing to disclose the names and occupations of his donors on the last two filing reports, a requirement very clearly spelled out in the CEP guidelines. 

Not only did Senator Welch—a practicing attorney—not disclose this important information in this election cycle, he also failed to disclose it in 2010. 

Is Senator Welch hiding the names of his donors from voters for a reason?  Is he just unable to follow the guidelines and practices applied to all candidates?  Or, is it both?

The CEP guidelines provide that candidates must report:  “The principal occupation of the contributor, and the name of the employer (if the contributor is unemployed, retired, a student, or a homemaker, he or she must be reported as such).” See SEEC 2012 Guide at pg. 83 (http://www.ct.gov/seec/lib/seec/2012generalelection/2012_participating_c...)

Nancy DiNardo, Chairwoman of the State Democratic Party, called for all candidates participating in CEP to fully comply with the guidelines and disclose the occupation and name of the employer for all their donors.  “It is critical that voters fully know and understand who is funding the candidates seeking their support.  The CEP was put in place to provide the citizens of our state with a level of transparency necessary for them to make informed choices at the polls. Without full disclosure, our democracy suffers.  All you have to do is turn on TV and see how the airwaves are filled with ads funded by special interest money that, under the Citizens United ruling, is now allowed to flow unchecked into our state and distort the electoral process.”

Unfortunately, Senator Welch is not the only Republican flagrantly ignoring the CEP guidelines while also accepting grant money.  A scan of the latest filing shows several Republican state Senators failing to comply: http://seec.ct.gov/ecrisreporting/SearchingCommittee.aspx

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Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Welch talks about union deal in GOP-produced video

Here's a video of state Sen. Jason Welch, a Bristol Republican, talking about the deal that Gov. Dannel Malloy struck with state union negotiators recently:


Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Welch to hold town hall session Monday, March 21 in Bristol

Here is a press release from state Sen. Jason Welch, a Bristol Republican:
State Senator Jason Welch will hold a Town Hall Meeting at Bristol’s Edgewood School on Monday, March 21 from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. The school is located at 345 Mix Street.
“I look forward to seeing area residents on Monday, listening to their concerns and answering their questions,” Welch said. “The governor’s proposed budget eliminates the $500 property tax exemption that Bristol residents rely on year after year. His proposal increases income taxes, business taxes, gas taxes, and even taxes on haircuts and coupons. Its elimination of the state's Manufacturing Machinery and Equipment tax exemption program will result in Bristol taking a $2 million hit which could result in local tax hikes and hurt our ongoing efforts to retain and grow manufacturing jobs. The plan also calls for nearly $1 billion in additional spending when most families and businesses across our state are tightening their belts. Everyone deserves to have their voice heard on these issues.”
Welch held a Town Hall Meeting in Plainville earlier this month which drew approximately 50 residents.
Welch represents Bristol, Harwinton, Plainville and Plymouth. Visit Welch’s newly revamped website at www.senatorwelch.com . Comments and suggestions may be sent to jason.welch@cga.ct.gov

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Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com