The 2019 Legislative Session ended at midnight. Exhausted legislators, staff, and lobbyists have stumbled home to sleep it off; only the reporters must return today to write their follow-up stories. To be determined: when a special session to address tolls will take place.
McDowell Jewett saw a number of wins for its clients:
Connecticut's newly-adopted biennial budget includes the historic partnership formed by Dalio Philanthropies and the State. The Partnership will benefit youth ages 14-24 and under-resourced communities throughout Connecticut as part of a five-year initiative. MJC has been proud to work with Barbara Dalio and Dalio Philanthropies for several years to strengthen public education in Connecticut through collaboration.
For the fifth year in a row we supported the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association in its efforts to prevent Tesla from implementing a risky direct sale model in Connecticut. MJC also supported the dealers' fight against double-taxing Connecticut consumers who trade in a car for a new one. The Association supports more than 270 dealerships throughout Connecticut with a focus on jobs and the future of our state's economy.
The state legislature sent a strong message to the wind industry that Connecticut is in the business of offshore wind. It approved a plan that could lead to 1,000 wind turbines in federal waters off the coast of Connecticut. Our client, the Connecticut Port Authority, is a partner in the new deal that will revitalize New London's State Pier and help to establish the region as a central hub in New England for the developing offshore wind industry.
MJC client Dominion and the state's two electric utilities came to an agreement in March to keep the Millstone nuclear facility in Waterford open for at least another decade. The shutdown of the plant would have exposed the region to a nearly 25 percent increase in carbon emissions, increased risk of rolling blackouts, billions of dollars in power replacement costs, and the loss of more than 1,500 well-paying jobs in Connecticut.
MJC partner Steve Jewett served as spokesperson for Insurance Matters to Connecticut. The coalition, comprised of the major Connecticut health plans, CBIA, health care retailers, and numerous chambers of commerce, is dedicated to preserving Hartford as the "Insurance Capital of the World." The group opposed government-run insurance proposals at the state legislature that had the potential to hurt our hometown health insurance industry.
MJC client, the New England Cable Television Association (NECTA), successfully fended off a legislative attempt to pass a net neutrality bill. NECTA argued that its members already abide by the net neutrality principles and because the Internet knows no state or even national boundaries, regulation should come from the federal government, not the states.
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