Senator Kane Fights To Protect Legislation Important To Local Communities

State Senator Rob Kane (R-32) said he helped to protect legislation important to local communities during the General Assembly’s recent veto session.

The legislation, House Bill 6649 (Public Act 09-186) An Act Concerning The Programs And Activities Of The Department Of Transportation, includes provisions for installing a sign at Exit 37, Route 8 southbound, for the Watertown Business Park, and for installing signs on I-84 at exits 15 east and west in Southbury for the Connecticut Antiques Trail. Senator Kane voted to preserve the legislation during the veto session.

“I respect Governor Rell’s efforts to control costs during these tough economic times, but I disagree with her on this bill. Supporting community efforts to promote local businesses is a way for the state to help revitalize our economy. These particular projects, installing highway signs pointing the way to the Watertown Business Park and to the Connecticut Antiques Trail, have a great deal of community support. Providing this type of help to our local businesses, especially during the recession, is an investment,” said Senator Kane.

Senator Kane did vote to sustain the Governor’s vetoes of seven other bills considered Monday, including legislation that begins the process of establishing a universal health care system in Connecticut, and that creates a cumbersome, time-consuming system of forecasting revenues as part of the budget process. However, the General Assembly successfully overrode seven of the eight gubernatorial vetoes acted upon.

“I was disappointed when the General Assembly overturned the Governor’s veto of the so-called SustiNet bill that creates a board charged with making recommendations for a very costly state universal health care system that might not even work with whatever plan Congress ultimately adopts. There is just too much we do not know, and need to know, before the state starts down this road,” said Senator Kane, adding that he joined other legislators in successfully helping to sustain Governor Rell’s veto of another bill that would have converted the state employee health care plan to a self-insured plan available to municipal government workers, non-profit employers and small employers.