Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations

WASHINGTON -- As a result of lawsuits, the U.S. government released this week the actual U.S.-Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement, an understanding signed between the Bush administration and the Mexican government in 2004 that would funnel billions of U.S. Social Security funds to Mexican citizens.� Continued at the following website: http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/1/4/174024.shtml?s=al&promo_code=2BBD-1

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

TWO DYNAMIC AND ARTICULATE WOMEN

JUDY ARON AND THERESA MCGRATH

Judy Aron and Theresa McGrath of West Hartford are two dynamic, articulate women who have been challenging issues in an attempt to protect the interests of West Hartford and Connecticut taxpayers.� FCTO is honored to have them contribute to our publications.

Theresa McGrath face0203@comcast.net was recently featured in the Hartford Advocate for her efforts on property tax reform.� The article is captioned TAX REVOLT and can be found at the following website �.� http://www.ctnow.com/custom/nmm/hartfordadvocate/hce-hta-0104-ht02nc4whart02.artjan04,0,1142819.story?coll=hce-utility-ha-advocate

Judy Aron has established a terrific website captioned Consent of the Governed http://www.yedies.blogspot.com/ .� Judy has also provided us with a list of the bills anticipated to be considered in the 2007 Connecticut Legislative session, to include a review of the Bills Judy has found most interesting.� Please refer to her list below.� Also, if you click on the House Bill Number you will go directly to the Bill.�

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From Judy Aron, imjfaron@sbcglobal.net

House Bills - http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/ClerkDocList.ASP?house=H&doc_type=lob

Bills of Note for 2007 session - Good Stuff

Proposed H.B. No. 5224 REP. O'NEILL, 69th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING ACQUISITION BY EMINENT DOMAIN OF OWNER-OCCUPIED DWELLINGS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES', to exempt certain owner-occupied residential dwellings from eminent domain if the entity exercising the power is an economic development authority and "taking" of the property is for economic development purposes.

Proposed H.B. No. 5226 REP. O'NEILL, 69th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING A MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAX FREEZE PROGRAM', to allow municipalities to enact a property tax freeze program for their citizens.

Proposed H.B. No. 5227 REP. O'NEILL, 69th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING A CAP ON PROPERTY TAXES LEVIED BY MUNICIPALITIES', to reduce the property tax burden on taxpayers.

Proposed H.B. No. 5210 REP. MILLER, 122nd DIST.; REP. PISCOPO, 76th DIST.; REP. CARON, 44th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING BIODIESEL FUEL BLENDS AND THE MOTOR VEHICLE FUELS TAX', to encourage economic development in the production of environmentally friendly products by providing a tax incentive for the use of fuels that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Proposed H.B. No. 5211 REP. MILLER, 122nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING BIODIESEL FUEL BLENDS AND DIESEL-POWERED EQUIPMENT, TRANSIT AND SCHOOL BUSES, MOTOR VEHICLES, BOATS, GENERATORS AND LOCOMOTIVES', to increase the use of biodiesel fuel blends in order to benefit the environment and improve public health.

Proposed H.B. No. 5212 REP. MILLER, 122nd DIST.; REP. PISCOPO, 76th DIST.; REP. CARON, 44th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING BIODIESEL FUEL BLENDS AND THE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS GROSS EARNINGS TAX', to encourage economic development in the production of environmentally-friendly products by providing a tax incentive for the use of fuels that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Proposed H.B. No. 5020 REP. PANARONI, 102nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING RESIDENTIAL WINDMILLS', to provide tax credits to homeowners who install and use windmills to produce electricity.

Proposed H.B. No. 5023 REP. PANARONI, 102nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING WINDMILLS', to allow windmills on residential lots of one-half acre or more.

Proposed H.B. No. 5214 REP. ALBERTS, 50th DIST. 'AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSIONER OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO ALLOW PRIVATE ENTITIES TO GENERATE HYDROELECTRICITY', to allow the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to enter into lease agreements with private entities to generate hydroelectricity.

Proposed H.B. No. 5216 REP. DREW, 132nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING A REDUCTION IN THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX', to provide tax relief to our taxpayers.

Proposed H.B. No. 5217 REP. DREW, 132nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR RESIDENTIAL WEATHERIZATION PRODUCTS', to encourage consumers to improve energy efficiency in their homes.

Proposed H.B. No. 5219 REP. MILLER, 122nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AND INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY', to protect the privacy of individuals by requiring the deletion of social security numbers from certain records.

Proposed H.B. No. 5220 REP. MILLER, 122nd DIST. 'AN ACT REQUIRING ELECTRONIC DATA ENCRYPTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS', to protect individuals' social security numbers from negligent or wilful disclosure.

Proposed S.B. No. 121 SEN. PRAGUE, 19th DIST.; SEN. MAYNARD, 18th DIST.; REP. OLSON, 46th DIST.; REP. RITTER, 38th DIST.; REP. WRIGHT, 41st DIST.; REP. URBAN, 43rd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF TOLL BOOTHS ON HIGHWAYS', to generate revenue for the state of Connecticut.

Proposed H.B. No. 5064 REP. WITKOS, 17th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING EMPLOYMENT OF ALIENS NOT ENTITLED TO LAWFUL RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES', to amend the existing fine for employers who employ illegal aliens.

Proposed H.B. No. 5109 REP. WITKOS, 17th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE DETENTION OF TRUANTS', to repeal the provisions that authorize police to detain truants in protective custody.

Proposed H.B. No. 5117 REP. WITKOS, 17th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE REDUCTION OF THE EDUCATION COST SHARING CAP', to reduce the ECS cap through a two per cent retention of income tax for towns that do not receive at least one hundred per cent of their ECS funding.

Proposed H.B. No. 5133 REP. GIULIANO, 23rd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING AN EXTENSION OF THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR SOLAR ENERGY ELECTRICITY GENERATING SYSTEMS', to extend the property tax exemption for solar energy electricity generating systems.

Proposed H.B. No. 5135 REP. WILLIAMS, 68th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE INCOME TAX TREATMENT OF PENSION INCOME', to exempt pension income from the state personal income tax.

Bills Of Concern

Proposed H.B. No. 5161 Rep. Linda A. Orange 48th Dist. AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEFINITION OF CHILD FOR PURPOSES OF CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND MENTAL HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES. Statement of Purpose: To provide that children are not subject to adult criminal penalties until the age of eighteen and ensure adequate age-appropriate mental health and support services for youth.

Proposed H.B. No. 5110 REP. TRUGLIA, 145th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH', to require the Department of Education to analyze the effectiveness of safe learning policies, including antibullying programs, and to report annually to certain committees of the General Assembly.

Proposed H.B. No. 5021 REP. PANARONI, 102nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY', to reregulate the electrical industry in Connecticut.

Proposed H.B. No. 5022 REP. PANARONI, 102nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING NEW POWER PLANTS', to regulate any new power plants being built in the state.

Proposed H.B. No. 5074 REP. DILLON, 92nd DIST. 'AN ACT INCREASING FUNDING FOR SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS', to increase funding for school-based health centers.

Bills To Raise Your Taxes:

Proposed H.B. No. 5206 REP. PANARONI, 102nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE FUNDING OF THE EDUCATION COST SHARING FORMULA AND AN INCREASE TO THE FOUNDATION', to fully fund the education cost sharing formula and raise the foundation.

Proposed H.B. No. 5005 REP. DILLON, 92nd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING AN APPROPRIATION FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS', to provide funds for after school programs.

Proposed H.B. No. 5118 REP. STRIPP, 135th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR THE PROVISION OF REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS TO STUDENTS OF NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS', to provide required textbooks to nonpublic school students at no cost.

Proposed H.B. No. 5132 REP. ADINOLFI, 103rd DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE SALES TAX ON CERTAIN TAKE-OUT FOOD', to apply the sales tax to all take-out food sold by grocery stores.

Nanny State Bills:

Proposed H.B. No. 5204 REP. GENGA, 10th DIST. 'AN ACT PROHIBITING SMOKING IN MOTOR VEHICLES WITH CHILDREN', to protect children from second-hand smoke.

Proposed H.B. No. 5164 REP. ORANGE, 48th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING PARADES AND PROJECTILES', to prevent children and spectators from getting in the path of moving vehicles or marching units.

Proposed H.B. No. 5188 REP. MIOLI, 136th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING REFLECTIVE SAFETY VESTS IN MOTOR VEHICLES', to provide reflective safety vests which will increase safety for distressed motorists by making them more visible to vehicular traffic.

Dumb Bills

Proposed H.B. No. 5114 REP. CARON, 44th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING THE TEACHING OF THE METRIC SYSTEM', to provide youth with an understanding of the metric system.

Self Serving Bills for Legislators:

Proposed H.B. No. 5065 REP. MCCLUSKEY, 20th DIST. 'AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC PARKING AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND THE LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING', to increase the number of parking lot spaces available to the public at the State Capitol and the Legislative Office Building.

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H.J. No. 2 REP. MIOLI, 136th DIST. 'RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE A FOUR-YEAR TERM OF SERVICE FOR MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND TO CREATE AN ALTERNATING ELECTION CYCLE FOR SUCH MEMBERS', to reduce the cost of elections while preserving the continuity of the legislative process.

H.J. No. 3 REP. MILLER, 122nd DIST. 'RESOLUTION PROPOSING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE FOR DIRECT REFERENDUM', to provide for direct public participation in the legislative process.