Matt Blumenthal (D)
CT House, District 147
Democrat
Trial lawyer. Supervising Attorney, Rule of Law Clinic at Yale Law School. Former U.S. Marine Infantry Officer. Board Member, Boys & Girls Club of Stamford. Judge Advocate, Springdale VFW (Post 9617).
203.818.1877
Yes. I support early voting as well as the no-excuse absentee ballot, otherwise known as vote-by-mail. We should do everything we can to reduce and eliminate obstacles to voting. Our democracy can only truly reflect our will when everyone makes their voice heard. That means we must ensure that no condition—age, finances, employment, disability, or otherwise—will be a barrier.
My top three priorities will be (1) upgrading our outdated transportation infrastructure, especially our mass-transit systems; (2) fighting for high-quality education by making sure our Stamford public schools receive the increased resources they need and deserve, while also ensuring we properly resource our vocational schools and community colleges to fill the more-than-14,000 good-paying jobs currently open in Connecticut; and (3) unleashing economic growth by championing small business and investing in attracting the jobs, technologies, and businesses of the future.
We must do all these things while standing up for our values. We must ensure our state is open and inclusive to all people, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We must protect women’s rights to equal pay, to make their own healthcare decisions, and to control their own bodies. We must take measures to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to all. We must pass earned paid family and medical leave. We must protect and enhance our gun-safety laws, and continue to pursue smart, evidence-based criminal justice reform.
These are all not only values issues, but economic ones: a state where all are welcome and middle-class families can get ahead is one that will attract the most talented workers and most promising businesses.
We must do all these things while standing up for our values. We must ensure our state is open and inclusive to all people, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We must protect women’s rights to equal pay, to make their own healthcare decisions, and to control their own bodies. We must take measures to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to all. We must pass earned paid family and medical leave. We must protect and enhance our gun-safety laws, and continue to pursue smart, evidence-based criminal justice reform.
These are all not only values issues, but economic ones: a state where all are welcome and middle-class families can get ahead is one that will attract the most talented workers and most promising businesses.
I support the transportation lockbox ballot initiative. While the measure is not perfect, it is a strong step in the right direction.
It is absolutely essential that we safeguard our transportation funding and ensure it is spent on fixing our crumbling, dysfunctional infrastructure. For decades, we have neglected properly upgrading and maintaining our roads, rails, and bridges. Bringing our transportation systems into the 21st century is the number-one concern of businesses, and the number-one hindrance to their growth in Connecticut. For years, the special transportation fund was depleted by lower gas-tax receipts, declining funds dedicated to transportation, and transportation funds being diverted for other purposes. We must prevent that from happening in the future.
Properly upgrading our transportation infrastructure is essential for improving business growth, public safety, and quality of life. The transportation lockbox is a key piece of the solution.
It is absolutely essential that we safeguard our transportation funding and ensure it is spent on fixing our crumbling, dysfunctional infrastructure. For decades, we have neglected properly upgrading and maintaining our roads, rails, and bridges. Bringing our transportation systems into the 21st century is the number-one concern of businesses, and the number-one hindrance to their growth in Connecticut. For years, the special transportation fund was depleted by lower gas-tax receipts, declining funds dedicated to transportation, and transportation funds being diverted for other purposes. We must prevent that from happening in the future.
Properly upgrading our transportation infrastructure is essential for improving business growth, public safety, and quality of life. The transportation lockbox is a key piece of the solution.
Ending our recent cycle of repeated deficits is essential to getting our state’s economy back on track. We can improve in three primary areas:
First, we must enact pro-growth policies. We must invest in upgrading our transportation infrastructure, especially our mass-transit systems. We must invest in our cities, so that we can attract the next generation of talent. We must improve our public education systems, especially our vocational schools and community colleges, to augment our already world-class workforce and ensure Connecticut businesses have the skilled workers they need. And we must reorient our economic development funding toward creating hubs for the businesses and technologies of the future.
Second, we must find savings while protecting the vulnerable among us. That means eliminating duplicative municipal services and using shared services to achieve efficiencies and economies of scale. It means carefully evaluating our bonding practices.
Third, we must find new sources of revenue without increasing taxes on the middle class. We should lease, sell, place in trust, and/or professionally manage certain non-essential state-owned assets in order to maximize their value and properly fund our long-term financial obligations. We must attract new businesses and people to broaden our tax base. Out-of-state drivers and trucks should finally pay their fair share for the burdens they impose on our transportation infrastructure. We should legalize, regulate, and tax recreational marijuana use. We should legalize sports betting. And we should increase clean-energy investments and incentives to reduce energy costs, fight climate change, and grow green jobs.
First, we must enact pro-growth policies. We must invest in upgrading our transportation infrastructure, especially our mass-transit systems. We must invest in our cities, so that we can attract the next generation of talent. We must improve our public education systems, especially our vocational schools and community colleges, to augment our already world-class workforce and ensure Connecticut businesses have the skilled workers they need. And we must reorient our economic development funding toward creating hubs for the businesses and technologies of the future.
Second, we must find savings while protecting the vulnerable among us. That means eliminating duplicative municipal services and using shared services to achieve efficiencies and economies of scale. It means carefully evaluating our bonding practices.
Third, we must find new sources of revenue without increasing taxes on the middle class. We should lease, sell, place in trust, and/or professionally manage certain non-essential state-owned assets in order to maximize their value and properly fund our long-term financial obligations. We must attract new businesses and people to broaden our tax base. Out-of-state drivers and trucks should finally pay their fair share for the burdens they impose on our transportation infrastructure. We should legalize, regulate, and tax recreational marijuana use. We should legalize sports betting. And we should increase clean-energy investments and incentives to reduce energy costs, fight climate change, and grow green jobs.