Lawmakers offer proposals for long-term relief 
HARTFORD- State Representative David Rutigliano (R-Trumbull joined his Republicans colleagues on Thursday in offering solutions to tackle perpetually high electric rates in Connecticut. They called for a special legislative session and said it’s time for Governor Lamont to take a more active role in bringing together lawmakers, utility companies, and government regulators to develop a reasonable state strategy on energy.
I join my colleagues in calling for long-term solutions to lower energy costs for state residents. There are also some short-term proposals we’re offering to ease their burden now. I am just as frustrated as the Trumbull families and seniors living on fixed incomes are with this massive increase in their electric bill, on top of all other rising costs,” said Rutigliano. I would support an effort to reevaluate the Public Benefits portion of the bill to determine which policy mandates should be funded by the state budget.”
Connecticut Republicans held a news conference at the Legislative Office Building, where they outlined proposals to provide rate relief to customers who for years have been frustrated by costly bills that they say are squeezing their personal finances. The proposals mirror those offered by the House and Senate Republicans in February, when they urged action as they reminded Democrats about the financial pressure on constituents caused by high electric bills.
Watch the press conference here.
The proposals outlined Thursday include:

• Limit all future Power Purchase Agreements so that no contract can be for more than 150% over the wholesale electric market price.
• Study moving public policy charges off ratepayer bills and into the budget.
• Redefine Class I renewable energy sources to include all forms of hydropower and all nuclear power to lower the cost of these energy sources.
• Separate the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA)
• Cover the portion of rate increases associated with the moratorium on electric service shutoffs by reallocating remaining end-of-year American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and examining budgetary options that could make available as much as $1 billion.
  

One of my priorities in Hartford is to make our state more affordable, especially by addressing utility rates. These high rates are due to factors like our location and lack of natural resources, infrastructure upgrades, Connecticut’s high business costs, legislative policies, and decisions by state utility regulators.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) and utility companies are in open conflict over rates, programs, infrastructure, and policy proposals. Credit rating agency Moody’s has branded our state’s regulatory environment “inconsistent and unpredictable”. The Governor has largely stayed out of the fray and hasn’t fully staffed PURA, leaving two vacancies on the panel.
Our system is broken. Connecticut needs a comprehensive and bipartisan energy strategy, led by the Governor, now more than ever.

I joined minority party Republicans in addressing this crisis earlier this year as we offered proposals to deliver short and long-term relief, including redefining Class I renewable energy sources to include all forms of hydropower and all nuclear power, and studying ways to get more natural gas into New England to reduce our reliance on more expensive fuel-mix used to generate electricity.
Other Republican proposals:
Provide autonomy for PURA. PURA is a division within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). I fear that environmental (and ideological) goals of Governor Lamont’s DEEP, such banning the sales of new gas-powered vehicles, aren’t aligned with the interests of ratepayers. PURA should be removed from DEEP to provide it the greatest autonomy possible.
Unbundling the System Benefits Charge. Your bill includes charges that pay for hardship protection measures, low-income conservation programs as well as other public policies. We should consider funding these programs as part of the state budget appropriations process rather than including them on ratepayer bills.
Set reasonable caps on future power purchase agreements (PPAs). To stimulate growth of renewable energy projects, the state has required utility companies to purchase clean electricity (such as wind and solar) at rates that are sometimes substantially higher than others available on the market. Republicans proposed to improve this situation by capping future PPAs so that no contract can be for more than significantly over the wholesale electric market price.
Unfortunately, our ideas have been shot down by our majority party colleagues. Last year, our proposal to study how electric distribution companies could be reconstituted to bring more competition into the market was also rejected.

Decisions made by the state have a significant impact on your monthly bill, such as roughly four years of moratoriums on service shutoffs (citing COVID-19), which socialized the cost of unpaid bills to all ratepayers. It’s why Republicans insisted upon a provision that requires your electric bill to indicate the amount of your monthly cost that is attributable to these “public benefits” decisions.
The effect on ratepayers was among the reasons why I opposed the electric vehicle mandate sought by DEEP and Democrats, and why I opposed legislation requiring installation of electric heat pumps in thousands of homes. Both would have added significant load to our grid, require massive infrastructure upgrades, and ultimately impact the “public benefits” tally on bills and create homeowner system upgrade costs. Thankfully, those concepts stalled–for now.
But if approved, a draft PURA decision could allow utilities companies to recover from ratepayers the costs from another initiative tied to the state’s ambitious climate goals: a rebate program for residential electric vehicle charging stations
We can’t continue to lurch from one crisis to the next. I want you to know that I’ll continue to push for strategies to stabilize, and ultimately lower, electric rates for homes and businesses. For now, if you’re using a third-party supplier for your electricity, you should compare whether your per kilowatt hour rate is more than the current standard offer rate from your utility company.

Drug Overdose, The Other Health Emergency

​Last Monday at the State Capitol, I joined state officials and advocates to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day.  Unfortunately, COVID is not the only health crisis we are dealing with right now. The damage done by the opioid crisis continues to take to many lives and damage families across Connecticut and our nation

Because of the social and emotional toll on state residents due to the pandemic and the job losses, there has been a 22% increase in opioid overdose deaths in 2020. Sadly, even before the pandemic the number of overdoses were increasing after seeing some improvement in 2018. At the 2020 rate, Connecticut will surpass last year’s record of 1,200 overdose deaths.

Many families have been impacted by this deadly disease, to many young lives cut short.
Almost everyone, myself included, has family member or knows of someone effected by this terrible crisis. We need to help as many people as we can, raise awareness to this massive problem that effects our families, neighbors and friends.

On Monday, we listened to stories from families effected by addiction.  Both inspirational and alarming sad when they speak of lost love ones, most at such a young age, with what should have been there whole life ahead of them.

We have tried to help over the years, I am proud of some of the legislation I have worked on a bi-partisan bases to solve this health emergency. I commend my fellow legislators and those on the front lines combating the addiction and overdose crisis.

Some of the laws we have past recent years are:

• Limiting the supply for opioid prescriptions for adults and minors
• Advocating for legislation that approved the wide spread use of naloxone (NARCAN), making sure first responders had access and training to this life saving medication
• Fixing legal language to protect those who administer naloxone (NARCAN) to try and save a life
• Prohibiting health carriers from requiring prior authorization for coverage of naloxone (NARCAN)
• Modifying the prescription drug monitoring system so doctors and pharmacist can better spot abuses
• Increasing the accessibility to the overdose reversing drug naloxone (NARCAN) by first responders and family members
• Expanding access to drop-off boxes for unused prescription drugs to all pharmacies
• Increased penalties for those who deal in fentanyl
• Fought for expanded treatment for those addicted including alternate therapies and funds for additional rehab facilities and beds

Clearly there is more work to be done. The work always starts with awareness and to let people know that there is help.  Help starts with life-saving NARCAN and then information to help with recovery. If you suspect you have someone struggling with addiction in your life, please have NARCAN available.  It literally can save a life, and a life saved is an opportunity to recover.

So on Monday we remembered those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of a drug overdose, we came together to spread the message that overdose deaths are preventable, there is help for those who need it.

For more state and local resources please contact: The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services has the Prescription Drugs and Heroin Prevention and Treatment program: 
https://portal.ct.gov/DMHAS/Programs-and-Services/Opioid-Treatment/Prescription-Drugs-and-Heroin-Prevention-and-Treatment.
More regionally we have: The Hub, the Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization for SW CT www.thehubct.org/covid The Hub CT and Melissa McGarry. Melissa is the project director for TPAUD, Trumbull’s Prevention Partnership www.tpaud.org.


David Rutigliano
State Representative, Trumbull

HARTFORD- Today at the State Capitol, State Rep. David Rutigliano (R-123) joined state officials and advocates for a press conference in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day.

​Rep. Rutigliano stood with U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Governor Ned Lamont, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Commissioner of the State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Ph. D., representatives of the Center for Addiction Recovery and the Greater Hartford Harm Reduction Coalition along with several family members affected by addiction.

Rep. Rutigliano has spent many years in the General Assembly working to pass legislation to combat opioid abuse and addiction.  Some of the laws Rep. Rutigliano has championed in recent years are:

• Prohibiting, for adult patients, an initial prescription of opioid drugs for longer than seven days
• Prohibiting, for minor patients, any prescriptions of opioid drugs for longer than five days and requiring the prescriber to discuss the risks associated with the drug with the patient and, a parent, or guardian.
• legislation that approved the wide spread use of naloxone, making sure first responders had access and training to this life saving medication
• fixing legal language to protect those who administer naloxone (NARCAN) to try and save a life
• Prohibiting commercial health carriers from requiring prior authorization for coverage of naloxone (NARCAN)
• Requiring the Alcohol and Drug Policy Council's state plan to include a goal of reducing the number of opioid-induced deaths in the state
• Making several changes to the state's electronic prescription monitoring program to help facilitate prescriber and pharmacist compliance
• Improving prescription monitoring programs and prescribing practices, and increases the accessibility to the overdose reversing drug naloxone (NARCAN) by first responders in cases of emergencies
• Expanding access to drop-off boxes for unused prescription drugs to all pharmacies
• Increased penalties for those who deal in fentanyl
• Fought for expanded treatment for those addicted including alternate therapies and funds for additional rehab facilities and beds

Due to social and emotional toll on state residents due to the pandemic and the stinging state job losses from the state shutdown, there has been a 22% increase in opioid overdose deaths in 2020. Sadly, even before the pandemic the number of overdoses were increasing after seeing some improvement in 2018. At the 2020 rate, Connecticut will surpass last year’s record of 1,200 overdose deaths.

"So many families have been impacted by this deadly disease, to many young lives cut short. almost everyone, myself included, has family or knows of someone effected by this crisis. We need to help as many people as we can, raise awareness to this massive problem that effects our family, neighbors and friends.  We must give resources for recovery, and continued access to the life-saving NARCAN drug". Rep Rutigliano said

"Today, as we remember those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of a drug overdose, we come together to spread the message that overdose deaths are preventable, there is help for those who need it.   There is still so much to do, " said Rep. Rutigliano. "We are truly fortunate to have many passionate people on board the fight against substance abuse. "

TRUMBULL- Last week, State Rep. David Rutigliano (R-123) took a stand against a faulty police accountability measure that he believed was rushed through and did not have a full public vetting and could potentially do more harm than good for communities, like Trumbull, while also opposing federal legislation to eliminate School Resource Officers (SRO) in schools.

​Rep. Rutigliano said, "Yes, I support greater transparency and more accountability for our Connecticut law enforcement officers but unfortunately this bill brands all police officers as the problem, when we know vast majority of law enforcement officers are good, well-intentioned, professional officers."

Rutigliano was disappointed he could not support the bill because it contain some good reforms, like;  1) greater transparency when it comes to collective bargaining and public records disclosure; 3) looking to keep better data on minority recruitment of police officers ; 4) studying the feasibility of having licensed social workers assist on certain calls where appropriate ; 5) periodic mental health and drug screenings to make sure we are putting the best officers in the field.

According to Rutigliano, a result of rushing the bill through to process has exposed some major flaws that could potentially make our streets less safe and make it more expensive to live here in Connecticut. Two of the most disturbing sections of bill were the rewriting of laws on qualified immunity for police officers, which would increase expenses on already overburdened municipalities, some use of force standards that may place our officers in immediate danger, and the elimination of some proactive policing measures.

Without having qualified immunity, police officers and towns, like Trumbull that employ them have serious concerns that the additional liability will make officer recruitment and retention more difficult and could potentially be very costly to insure Trumbull's police force.  To be clear, even now, willful misconduct by a police officer is not protected by qualified immunity.

According to police, by taking away this indispensable policing tool, we hinder their ability to keep drugs and guns off Trumbull streets.


On subject of School Resource Officers, Rep Rutigliano had this to say:
"Trumbull worked in a bipartisan manner with educational officials, law enforcement  and parents to implement a school resource officer program in our local schools and I have heard nothing but good things about the program and how the SROs have provided a positive impact on the overall school environment with a greater sense of security and also permits for a constructive relationship between students and police," said Rep Rutigliano.  "I don't support any attempt to eliminate these school resource officers. Furthermore, Trumbull should be able to make their own local decisions on SROs and not have the heavy-hand of the federal government interfere."

Trumbull, CT - State Representative David Rutigliano was unanimously endorsed to represent the 123rd district of Trumbull in Connecticut’s House of Representatives.

“These are very challenging times,” said Rep. Rutigliano. “We have adapted with a compassionate and understanding of the complexities brought by the coronavirus, as we have witnessed its widespread negative impact. Through this I have witnessed positives -- our community genuinely working together to ensure we all get through this pandemic. Collaboratively, we seek common sense solutions that allow us to return to a more normalized life for our families.

“The stakes for Connecticut have never been higher.  We must have health outcomes on the forefront as we look to restore our economic confidence. Even before our current crises, Connecticut's economy had not fully recovered from the great recession due to multiple years of questionable economic policies.  We need someone in the room that will look out for working families, students, small businesses and job creators while plans are considered to rebuild our economy."