Guest column: Candidate sees economy as key issue for state

By Tony Szewczyk
Republican Candidate
17th District 

As I run for Senate, I feel a great urgency about what I’m doing. I’m alarmed at how bad our economy is and that it has been this way for so long. I’m deeply concerned about the enormous weight put on our citizens’  shoulders by ever-increasing inflation and too many taxes.

Now, in our 60s, my wife and I worry about whether we’ll have enough money to get us through our retirement years. 
We’ve saved over the years but inflation is reducing our nest egg more and more. Will we be forced to move away from Connecticut to a “kinder” state? Will my wife have to leave her beloved grandchildren behind? Will I have to sell my ancestral home and move away?

The scariest thing is that, as I look around, I don’t see this same urgency in most people. I get the impression that most people think it will all just work out somehow.  I don’t understand that. If we keep electing the same people, or the same kind of people, to office then how can things just work out?

I remember reading “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.” That Yankee was in that Court because of his intelligence and all of the innovations he could offer. 

Connecticut was famous for its forward thinking and abilities. What happened to that?  I remember seeing the movie "Blade Runner," more than once.
That is how I see Connecticut becoming in the not too distant future. Is that what we want?


Szewczyk is a Derby resident. He is challenging incumbent state Sen. Joseph J.Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, in the November election.

GOP senate candidate unveils campaign logo

The following is a press release from the Tony Szewczyk campaign.

What is it with names in Derby?

We went through the whole James Butler Sr. versus James Butler Jr. ballot controversy for the 2011 elections.

And we have something just as good, or better, for this year!

Tony Szewczyk, from Derby, is running for State Senate in the 17th District.  Chances are, unless you are related to Tony, that you can’t pronounce his name.

You may say no big deal because the voters aren’t likely to confuse “Szewczyk” with “Crisco” on the ballot – not even close.

There is a problem though when the name voters hear (in this case Chef Chick) doesn’t match up in their minds to what they see on the ballot.  Szewczyk just simply doesn’t come out as Chef Chick for most people.

To help out the voter, Szewczyk has adopted a campaign logo that actually tells people how to pronounce his name.  We can only wonder if this is a first!

Crisco says state poised for growth in stem-cell field

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, co-chair of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee and vice-chair of its Commerce Committee, said today Connecticut is poised for economic growth in the near future to coincide with an ongoing expansion of stem cell and genetics research in the state.  
Crisco was among those briefed Tuesday on the topic at a special Legislative Office Building forum.

He said Connecticut’s investments in genomic and stem cell research are setting the stage for a new generation of high-tech jobs and economic growth, centered on the research underway at Yale, Wesleyan, and the University of Connecticut.

“The work underway by scientists at Yale and UConn has already resulted in new patents and innovations that are likely to translate into new jobs in the field of bioscience and personalized medicine,” Crisco said. “Connecticut is well positioned to attract the type of private sector investment necessary to capitalize on our public investments in research and development.”

 Crisco said Tuesday’s forum was convened by the legislature’s Appropriations Committee.

 “Our decisions to invest modestly and steadily in this emerging field are expected to return additional dividends as a direct result of last year’s move to bring the Jackson Laboratory to the state to continue its stem cell and genomics research near and in conjunction with the UConn Health Center in Farmington,” Crisco said.

 “Jackson Labs is scheduled to break ground soon after the first of the year as additional, bricks and mortar evidence of growth and economic development in this relatively new sector of our economy.”

This information was provided by Crisco's office.

GOP fundraiser slated in Derby

DERBY -  Tony Szewczyk will host a cocktail party fundraiser from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 4 at La Sala at Sons of Italy, 73 High St.
Szewczyk, a Republican, is running in the 17th District against 10-term incumbent state Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, D-Woodbridge.
Admission is $35.
Tickets must be purchased in advance at www.Tony4Senator17.com or by contacting Judy Szewczyk, 203-906-3602.

Crisco: School readiness options coming to Ansonia, Naugatuck, Hamden

Senator lauds education reform

 State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, this week welcomed confirmation from the governor’s office of 46 new school readiness opportunities for eligible children in Ansonia, Hamden, and Naugatuck.
The 21 new pre-kindergarten slots in Ansonia, 10 in Hamden, and 15 in Naugatuck are among the 1,000 created statewide by this year’s new public education reform law.

Beyond these opportunities to help early learners acquire essential skills for kindergarten, the new law enhances primary school reading programs, creates or fortifies 20 school-based health centers, and establishes ten school-based family resource centers.

“When this bill was under consideration I felt strongly the state should maximize its commitment to school readiness, and I’m delighted the resulting law provides for 1,000 young students, 46 of them right here in the 17^th Senatorial District,” Crisco said. “These opportunities will help ensure these students enter kindergarten with adequate and age-appropriate communications and math skills. “

“Just as importantly, school readiness programs help teachers, parents, and students alike identify potential obstacles to learning so they can be addressed in a timely fashion, and they provide social and emotional readiness as well,” Crisco added.

All told, $6.775 million in new funding for increased access to high-quality early childhood education is made available through PA 12-116, An Act Concerning Education Reform. 

The slots are to be administered through the Connecticut School Readiness program, a state Department of Education initiative designed to strengthen and increase access to high-quality preschool for children ages three and four.

“Connecticut has an additional, time-sensitive need to emphasize school readiness among its youngest students so every one of them is fully prepared to maximize his or her educational opportunity,”  Crisco said.  “Connecticut has an untenable achievement gap between its highest-performing students and those who don’t perform as well. Early childhood education to ensure school readiness is the best antidote for that achievement gap.”

The above is taken from a release from Crisco's office.  

Crisco backs Supreme Court ruling on health care

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, Senate chair of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, today embraced the decision handed down by the United States Supreme Court upholding the major tenets of the federal Affordable Care Act. 

Crisco said many aspects of healthcare reform undertaken by the federal government have already been enacted in Connecticut.

As insurance committee chairman Crisco has successfully expanded insurance coverage to include new screening and diagnostic procedures, has worked to improve consumer options and increase transparency with regard to insurance rates, and has supported economies of scale, giving more people access to coverage through insurance pooling.

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling provides dramatic reaffirmation that we’re on the right track with regard to healthcare reform in Connecticut and encourages us to recommit to the process already underway,” Crisco said. “The goal remains to provide increased access to affordable, high-quality healthcare – we believe expanding the pool of those insured sufficiently spreads risk and responsibility to control costs for individuals, families, businesses, and both private and public insurers.”

Crisco said Connecticut’s Health Insurance Exchange is another initiative meant to make information about health insurance options available to residents, and will play a key role as the state continues preparing for full ACA implementation in 2014.

“Connecticut has made great strides in its approach to improved healthcare, through preventative care, expanded options for consumers and insurance providers alike, and with optional, extended coverage for children through the age of 26,” Crisco said. “Today’s decision upholds our belief that effective healthcare reform must include all stakeholders, must be comprehensive in its scope in terms of coverage, cost, and eligibility, and perhaps most importantly of all, must be ongoing.”

“I heartily endorse the decision announced today and look forward to further implementation of healthcare reform in Connecticut so more residents have access to affordable, meaningful health insurance coverage,” Crisco said.

This is from a release from Crisco's Senate office.

Crisco wins expansion of captive insurance incentives

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco Jr., D-Woodbridge, Senate chair of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, won legislative approval this week for his continuing work to make Connecticut more receptive to the nations’ captive insurance industry.  

Crisco’s latest initiatives were included in one of the state budget implementation bills approved during Tuesday’s Special Session.

Captive insurance is an emerging strategy for financial risk management in business, in which companies, groups of companies, or associations form subsidiaries specifically designed to protect and insure the assets of the parent company, group, or association.

“As more and more business entities find it more and more difficult to secure traditional insurance coverage these captive insurance arrangements are growing in popularity, and I want to be sure Connecticut is receptive to this emerging industry in terms of its regulatory climate,” Crisco said. “I’m pleased to have received legislative support for the revisions included in this week’s budget implementers.”

Crisco said this week’s legislation eliminates the state’s separate, non-lapsing account dedicated to captive insurance-related fees and assessments and simply directs that revenue to the state’s general Insurance Fund.

“The more we can streamline our state regulations specific to these types of reinsurance strategies the more likely we are to attract new business and capital to our state from this growing sector,” Crisco said. “Connecticut has become more receptive to captive insurance companies because legislation enacted last fall underscores our intention to expand the definition of ‘Insurance Capital of the World’ into this new part of the industry, and this week’s success continues that trend to promote economic development and generate jobs and revenue.”

Crisco said the captive insurance option for companies is likely to become more and more popular because in-house premiums are often lower and likewise, in-house claims procedures are often less complicated and time-consuming.

The above information is from a release from Crisco's office. 

Crisco supports education reform bill

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, today voted with a Senate majority for a comprehensive package of public education reforms deemed a priority for the session. Crisco said the bill begins the lengthy process of reform with a goal to provide Connecticut children and families a chance to capitalize on all the opportunities inherent in a good education.

Crisco said the bill represents compromise among many of the governor’s original proposals, priorities of legislative leaders, and suggestions from stakeholders: teachers, administrators, parents, reform advocates, and policy experts.

“As an integral part of a sustained economic development strategy, public education reform is properly placed in the spotlight this year,” Crisco said. “These meaningful changes address everything from school readiness for young children, to the turnaround of failing schools, to teacher certification and evaluation standards, all with the goal of preparing students for the 21st century’s global marketplace.”
Crisco highlighted several landmark reforms and initiatives among the lengthy and painstakingly negotiated legislation:

• 1,000 new school readiness slots, recognizing the undeniable value of early childhood education.
•  At least 20 new or expanded school-based health clinics, understanding that a healthy mind depends upon a healthy body.

• At least 10 new Family Resource Centers, to involve more families in their children’s education.

• Two new literacy initiatives, because reading proficiency is the foundation of learning in every discipline and subject area.

• Direct intervention of the state Department of Education at under-performing schools, utilizing School Governance Councils comprised of administrators, teachers, parents, and other local talent.

• Incentives for and evaluations of ever-improving, professional teachers and administrators, acknowledging and respecting that no one is better suited to improve student achievement than the teachers who lead Connecticut’s classrooms and the principals and superintendents who lead Connecticut’s schools and school districts.

•  Modest funding increases for vocational/technical and vocational/agricultural schools, charter and magnet schools, and a kindergarten through 8th grade science initiative, with a move to a uniform accounting system to better track school funding and accurately gauge per pupil costs from district to district.

The above release was provided by Crisco's office.