House Republican Press Release

March 16, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Kalinowski: Democrats Are Failing on Energy Issues

Legislative Session Is Half-Over With No Action

HARTFORD- State Representative Ray Kalinowski (R-100^th Dist.) today expressed disappointment at the failure of the legislature’s majority Democrats to take any action on energy issues thus far during the legislative session.  “We are halfway through the current session, and the Energy Committee’s deadline for bills was yesterday,” said Kalinowski. “We don’t have a lot to show for it.  We have a bill that promotes having school kids sell fluorescent light bulbs.”

Beginning January 1, 2007, United Illuminating began instituting a rate increase of 42.7% for commercial customers, and 66.0% for industrial customers.  A 24.7% rate increase for residential customers began at the same time.  Further increases throughout the year will nearly double that increase over the course of 2007.

“Back in December Speaker Amann promised there would be a Democrat package called ‘Energize Connecticut’ that would be introduced at the beginning of the session,” said Kalinowski. “We have yet to see this piece of fiction with only three months left in the session.  In the meantime, solutions offered by Republican members have been dismissed.”

Kalinowski noted that the longer the legislature delays, the more money is drained out of ratepayers’ and businesses’ pockets. “The increase in the cost of energy is having a significant impact on the state’s economy,” said Kalinowski.  “This year is turning into a disgraceful repeat of the previous year when Democratic leaders in the Senate and the House couldn’t agree on a bill so nothing was done.  This isn’t leadership.”

This session of the General Assembly concludes on June 6^th.