Joint Agency Legislative Breakfast

Joint Middlesex Coalition for Children -- Middlesex Area Interagency Council
2011 Legislative Breakfast:
Protecting Children and Families
Thursday, January 13, 2011
8:00 AM - breakfast
8:30 - 10:00 AM - program
Chapman Hall, Middlesex Community College
100 Training Hill Road, Middletown

Members of the Connecticut General Assembly 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 -- while solving the State's record budget deficit. No easy task! The session will be videotaped for broadcast on Comcast stations in the county.

Legislators Invited                       Representing towns in Middlesex County
Rep. Christie Carpino            Cromwell, Middletown
Rep. James Crawford              Clinton, Killingworth, Westbrook
Senator Eileen Daily             10 Middlesex County towns
Senator Paul Doyle                        Cromwell, 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. Linda Orange                         East Haddam
Rep. Joseph Serra                         Middletown
Senator Andrea Stillman                  Old Saybrook

Note: One House and one Senate seat in Middlesex County are open. They will be filled by special elections in coming months.

At last year's legislative breakfast we argued that the state's budget crisis should not be solved by cutting programs that sustain children and families. Our voices were heard. This year, facing a far WORSE deficit we need to repeat that message. There are budget solutions that are fairer and do less harm.  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 protect children and families both from the effects of the recession and from damaging cuts to programs? We need thriving families AND solvent state government!

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!