Legislative Breakfast About Children and Family Issues

Joint Middlesex Coalition for Children -- Middlesex Area Interagency Council
2010 Legislative Breakfast:
Protecting Children and Families in the Recession
Thursday, January 21, 2010
8:00 AM - breakfast
8:30 - 10:00 AM - program
Chapman Hall, Middlesex Community College
100 Training Hill Road, Middletown

Members of the State Legislature from Middlesex County will be present to hear our views and discuss how the State, working with Local Governments and the Federal Government, can avert or temper the devastating effects of the recession on children and families. The session will be videotaped for broadcast on Comcast stations in the county.

Legislators Invited                       Representing towns in Middlesex County

Senator Eileen Daily             10 Middlesex County towns
Senator Paul Doyle                        Cromwell, Middletown
Senator Thomas Gaffey            Middlefield, Middletown
Rep. Marilyn Giuliano            Old Saybrook, Westbrook
Rep. Gail Hamm                    East Hampton, Middletown
Rep. Matthew Lesser              Durham, Middlefield, Middletown
Senator Edward Meyer             Durham, Killingworth
Rep. Brian O'Connor              Clinton, Killingworth, Westbrook
Rep. Linda Orange                         East Haddam
Rep. James O'Rourke              Cromwell, Middletown
Rep. Joseph Serra                         Middletown
Rep. James Spallone              Chester, Deep River, Essex, Haddam
Senator Andrea Stillman                  Old Saybrook

At last year's legislative breakfast we argued that the state's budget crisis should not be solved at the expense of children and families. Our voices were heard. This year, facing another $500,000,000 state deficit, we need to repeat that message. There are budget solutions that are fairer and do less harm. But we also need to look hard at what is happening around us. Children who suffer in recessions take an average of 8 YEARS to recover. Parents who lose jobs or housing may never get on their feet again. How can we act -- together, at all levels of government and community endeavor -- to prevent harm every bit as real as from an earthquake?

An important first step is to get to know the State legislators whose constituents we are. Middlesex County is lucky to have an outstanding legislative delegation. Introduce yourself over breakfast, let your legislators know what you care about, and find out how YOU can help move things in the right direction!