Please find below information related to the State
budget deficit, recent rescissions by the Governor and
other information.
Connecticut Election Results - November 4, 2008
Democrats increase majorities in State House and Senate,
Republican Congressional seat goes to Democrats;
Constitutional Convention defeated
Connecticut Democrats increased their majorities in the
State House and Senate. In Connecticut Congressional
races all Democratic incumbents won easily and longtime
Congressman Chris Shays was defeated by political
newcomer and former Goldman Sachs investment banker, Jim
Himes. Shays was the last remaining Republican member
of Congress in New England.
State House Democrats added to their sizable majority by
winning 5 additional seats bringing the totals in the
House to 114 Democrats to 37 Republicans. The Democrats
captured 10 Republican seats, but lost three
incumbents. The House will be led by a new Speaker,
progressive Democrat, Chris Donovan (Meriden). It is
expected that Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield) will become
the new House Majority Leader.
Senate Democrats picked up at least one additional seat
and now have a veto-proof majority in the upper chamber
at 24-12. Although a group of four moderate Democratic
Senators may make the “veto-proof” majority less of a
threat. Progressive Democrat Don Williams (Windham)
will continue to lead the Senate as its President.
There will be 5 new Senators and 26 new
Representatives. This presents an opportunity and
challenge for educating legislators about the needs of
the nonprofit sector. The respective caucuses will be
meeting in the next few days to elect their Leaders.
Committee chairs and other leadership appointments may
be made prior to the end of the year or
may not be made until January.
Constitutional Convention
Question 1 on the ballot, “Shall there be a
Constitutional Convention to amend or revise the
Constitution of the State?” was overwhelming
defeated 59% to 41%.
See
upcoming joint meetings/public hearings.
The following information is presented in collaboration with the Connecticut Association For Human Services
Maggie Adair is the principal author.
Governor Announces Plan to Eliminate Budget Deficit; Calls Legislature into Session November 24th
Governor Rell today announced her proposal to eliminate the FY09 budget deficit through spending cuts, carry-forward reductions, new revenue from the federal government, delay in start-up of new state programs, a tax amnesty program, and other cost-saving measures. The Governor said her plan does not require new taxes, employee layoffs, and it keeps the $1.4 billion Rainy Day Fund intact.
The Governor has called the Legislature into session on November 24 to discuss and vote on her plan.
The Governor has already ordered two rounds of budget cuts - $150 million in July and $34 million in October.
See Governor Rill’s press release: Governor Rill Announces Deficit Mitigation Plan
See the Govenor's Mitigation Plan summary
See a
budget-related story in CT News Junkie: New Criminal
Justice Laws & the Budget Deficit
Read
the
summary of the rescissions enacted by the Governor.
Personal Services Holdbacks are cuts to State
personnel. Holdbacks to Other Expenses are the
costs state agencies incur in operating their
departments e.g. office rent, utilities, office
supplies, etc. To get a sense of what has happened
in the past day is to look at the holdbacks plus the
September rescissions by the Governor.
Rell Makes $35 Million in
Additional Budget Cuts
- Hartford
Courant
Please Join Us on November 17,
2008
CT Nonprofits' 6th Annual
Connecticut Nonprofits Conference
Sustaining Nonprofits,
Strengthening Communities
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Cromwell, Connecticut
Featuring Key Note
Speaker:
Paul C. Light, Ph.D.,
an award-winning and best-selling author, management
expert, respected professor from the Wagner School of
Public Service, New York University, and non-resident
senior fellow from the Brookings Institution.
Also featuring:
Patrick A. Corvington,
a senior associate at The Annie E. Casey Foundation and
former executive director of Innovation Network.
Ami Dar, founder and
executive director of Action Without Borders/the
nonprofit organization that maintains idealist.org, a
popular online resource for nonprofits, and one of the
NonProfit Times' past 50 powerful and influential people
in the nonprofit sector.
Download the
Conference Brochure
Get Registration Form
2008 Public Policy
There has been a good deal
of public policy activity this fall for the staff and
members of CT Nonprofits. Representatives of CT
Nonprofits Board and Public Policy Council met with the
Governor’s Legislative staff to express our concerns
over the Governor’s veto of several pieces of
legislation and to invite the Governor to our Annual
Conference on November 17, 2008.
Read entire article.
There is still work to
be done particularly with educating new legislators
following the election.
Please find a copy attached of the
handout we used for the legislative meetings. Please
feel free to use this and other materials we will be
developing.
The next Public Policy
Council meeting will be Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at
9:30 a.m. in Newington. Please
contact us for copy of agenda and directions.
How We Communicate
Our Value Is Important - Read Handout
CT
NonProfits Workshop Updates
FALL ‘08
Financial Management for Non-Financial Managers
Tom McLaughlin is a nationally known nonprofit
management expert, and together with him you will cover:
This session is ideal for CEO’s, board members,
managers, volunteers, funders, and government
officials. Come to this session and walk away with
knowledge that you can use tomorrow.
Thursday, November 13, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. University of
Bridgeport, Waterbury Campus
Fee: $80 Code: FME3
Lunch and a copy of the book “Street-smart Financial
Basics for Nonprofit Managers” included.
Courtesy of the Nonprofit Assistance Initiative,
organizations in the Connecticut Community Foundation
service area only pay
$40
Getting the Most from Your Team
Have ideas to grow your nonprofit? Challenges meeting
your mission? In a world of limited resources, where do
you find the means to move your organization forward?
In this highly interactive, research-based workshop, you
will discover practical, use-it-today approaches for
releasing all the potential within your current
resources and team. Join us to explore:
Six factors under your control that drive effort,
effectiveness and satisfaction among your employees;
designing evolving teams that exceed goals and how to
create metrics and non-monetary rewards that boost
motivation.
Trainer: Mary Ann Emswiler, MA, MBA Wednesday,
December 3 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., CT Nonprofits
Member: $60 / Non-member: $100 Code: HR
View the entire Fall workshop catalog by clicking
HERE
Reserve your seat today by completing a
registration form
