Hartford Courant Endorses Joe Courtney

Return Incumbents To The House

Courant

Editorial

10/23/08

Connecticut enjoys considerable influence in the U.S. House of Representatives — more than its size would suggest — because of a strong group of incumbents. They include the fifth highest-ranking Democrat in the House, the second highest-ranking Democratic woman in the House, and New England's sole GOP representative, one of a dwindling number of moderate Republicans nationwide. Connecticut's able delegation will help the state and nation weather a tough two years ahead. The Courant endorses them all for re-election.

1st District

In a decade of service, U.S. Rep. John B. Larson, 60, of East Hartford has risen to become the fifth-ranking House Democrat, a position that accrues to the benefit of the district. He has taken principled stands against the Iraq war, the Patriot Act and the privatization of Social Security.

But perhaps the best reason to return Mr. Larson for a sixth term is his leadership role in the district. Since he arrived in Congress, he has pushed to revive the state's manufacturing economy by focusing on aerospace, fuel cells and other green technology. He was the driving force behind the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology in East Hartford, which provides services and resources to businesses and entrepreneurs in these industries.

Other political leaders have belatedly discovered the green economy; Mr. Larson was planning for it 10 years ago. There may not be a more important need in the state. He has also been a key player in the successful campaign to have Hartford's Coltsville named a National Historic Landmark, a step which should help the renewal of the former industrial complex.

With about 70,000 registered voters, less than half the Democrats' 180,000 (with 156,000 unaffiliated), Republicans have not aggressively contested the district in years. The GOP nominee this year is Joe Visconti, 51, a first-term West Hartford town councilman mostly known for his opposition to the Blue Back Square project. Green Party candidate Stephen E.D. Fournier, 63, a Hartford lawyer, is also seeking the seat.

2nd District

Joseph Courtney, 55 and a Democrat from Vernon, should be returned for a second term to the House. The sprawling district has many needs, and Mr. Courtney has been responsive to the major ones. He has gotten more shipbuilding work at Electric Boat in Groton, had the Eightmile River included in the Wild and Scenic River program and pushed hard for the College Cost Reduction Act, a good first step toward solving the increasingly daunting problem of high tuition. He has pushed hard for improved health care.

We did not agree with his decision to vote no on the $700 billion Economic Stabilization Act a few weeks ago, but we believe Mr. Courtney, normally a team player, understood the vote's importance and agonized over balancing the inclinations of his district, his party and his conscience.

Mr. Courtney has made a strong impression as a freshman, and has the potential to be a most effective congressman.

His principal opponent is Republican Sean Sullivan, 49, of Ledyard, a lawyer and retired Navy captain and former commander of the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton. Mr. Sullivan is an impressive candidate, a conservative who favors stricter spending controls and increased use of nuclear energy as part of a broader alternative energy program.

Green Party candidate G. Scott Deshefy, 56, of Lebanon is also running for the seat.

3rd District

Rosa DeLauro, 65 and a Democrat from New Haven, is seeking a 10th term in the House. She understands better than many of her colleagues the watchdog role that Congress should play, and has pushed hard for greater oversight of consumer goods.

She has been a vocal critic of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, calling it a handmaiden of the industries, and has proposed a bill that would break it into two agencies, one to oversee the safety of food, the other drug safety. Both are vitally important for reasons of health and national security, and Ms. DeLauro should be commended for taking on the issue.

A tenacious lawmaker, she pushed for years for a law guaranteeing equal pay for women and finally got a bill through the House. Same with a bill that would guarantee women who've had breast cancer at least 48 hours in the hospital.

We would like to see Ms. DeLauro intervene more forcefully in the ongoing fiasco about locating an Army Reserve training center in Middletown. She should have the legal language clarified so the Army can find the best location for a base in central Connecticut, and not be limited to sites in Middletown.

As in the 1st District, Republican opposition is token, this time provided by Boaz "Bo" ItsHaky, 49, of Bethany, an Israeli-born acupuncturist who came to this country in 1989 and has unsuccessfully run for first selectman and a state Senate seat. Green Party candidate Ralph A. Ferrucci, 36, of New Haven is also in the race.

4th District

We endorse 21-year Republican incumbent U.S. Rep.Christopher Shays, who lives in Bridgeport, both because of what he is and what he represents. He is the last Republican House member from New England, but more important, one of the last Republican moderates in Congress. The GOP loses this limb of the party at its peril and the country's.

Mr. Shays, 63, is a social progressive with a good environmental record and a fiscal conservative. He has one of the best ideas we've seen for immigration reform, a "blue card" granting legal, though noncitizen, status to undocumented workers who don't have criminal records.

He's a hard worker and has stood up to his party's leaders. However, we fervently disagree with his support for the Iraq war and his seemingly changing support of timelines for withdrawal from Iraq. He believes the surge of U.S. troops has calmed the country, but is willing to admit, as some in his party are not, that the surge doesn't justify the war.

Mr. Shays has survived some tough challenges in the past. His task this year is daunting, because he faces an apparent Democratic surge and an impressive challenger.

Democrat Jim Himes, 41, of Greenwich was born in Peru, raised by a single mother in a small town in New Jersey, went to Harvard and won a Rhodes scholarship. He spent 12 years as an investment banker with Goldman, Sachs, running the firm's South American operation, then left in 2002 to head a nonprofit that builds affordable housing.

Unlike so many members of Congress, Mr. Himes actually understands what went wrong with Wall Street. He believes that deficits matter and that the Bush tax policies have added to the country's fiscal problem. He wants to rebuild the country's infrastructure and revive its cities.

Mr. Himes has a good grasp of energy issues and would push for policies that would save energy in buildings, which account for almost 40 percent of U.S. energy consumption.

So, props to Mr. Himes, nod to Mr. Shays.

Green Party candidate Richard Z. Duffee, 60, of Stamford and Libertarian Party candidate Michael Anthony Carrano, 29, of North Haven are also running for the seat.

5th District

When talks between the state and Amtrak lagged over the expansion of commuter rail service on the New HavenHartford Springfield line, U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy intervened and got the ball rolling. In doing so, Mr. Murphy, a Democrat from Cheshire and a one-term incumbent, showed that he understood the importance of energy conservation to the nation's future.

Although much of the energy debate has focused on offshore drilling, Mr. Murphy could see that getting people onto trains, and thus out of cars, would save a lot of energy right away. This pragmatic intelligence, the ability to see what is right in front of his nose, has influenced much of Mr. Murphy's work in Congress. He has pushed for more disclosure of profits and CEO salaries in government contracting, stronger congressional ethics and more federally funded supportive housing. He is the youngest member of the delegation at 35, yet has the poise of a veteran legislator. He said he challenges voters to understand the subtleties of issues — a bold thought. He deserves another term.

His Republican opponent, David Cappiello, 40, is, as Mr. Murphy was two years ago, a bright, young and successful state senator trying to move up.

Mr. Cappiello casts himself as a budget hawk. He opposes public financing of campaigns as well as government-funded health care, and favors a strict immigration policy, a position this page has opposed. He was one of the first Republicans in the legislature to call for the resignation of Gov. John Rowland, with which we agreed. Mr. Cappiello will be heard from again, win or lose.

Green Party candidate Harold H. Burbank II, 51, of Canton, and Independent Thomas L. Winn, 57, of Watertown, round out the list of candidates.

New London Day Endorses Joe Courtney

Close Call For Congress In 2nd District

Voters in the 2nd Congressional District are fortunate to have good options, but in the end the choice is a clear one.

The Day

Editorial

10/19/08

Voters in Eastern Connecticut once again face a propitious dilemma in choosing their representative in Congress - two highly qualified major party candidates.

The 2nd Congressional District incumbent, Democrat U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, has proved to be an unusually influential freshman congressman, thanks in part to his party gaining control of the House of Representatives in the 2006 election, but also due to his own initiative.

He secured a seat on the Armed Services Committee, no easy accomplishment for a first-year congressman and critical for a representative serving a district that is home to both the Naval Submarine Base and the Electric Boat submarine manufacturing plant.

Rep. Courtney fought to secure funding that will allow for two-a-year submarine production to begin in 2011, a year ahead of schedule. Rep. Courtney also secured $5 million for EB to start conceptual work on the next generation of submarines and $21.5 million for new submarine base construction, increasing the odds the base will not land on any future base closings lists.

The Iraq war was a major issue in the 2006 campaign, and while Rep. Courtney and the Democratic Congress did not bring an end to the conflict, it introduced the oversight that was lacking when the Republicans controlled both the White House and Congress.

The incumbent is an advocate for health-care reform and well-versed in its complexities. If he wins re-election and Democrats gain control of the presidency and increase their majority in the Congress, we would expect the 2nd District representative to play a role in framing legislation to finally assure all Americans have access to health-care coverage.

While Rep. Courtney opposed the $700 billion financial rescue package this newspaper only reluctantly endorsed, the congressman's opposition was principled. He objected because the rescue bill did nothing for struggling mortgage holders, a concern shared by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Blair, a President Bush appointee. If returned to office, we would expect Rep. Courtney to continue pushing this issue.

Rep. Courtney is not seen as frequently at southeastern Connecticut functions as his predecessor, Rob Simmons - something we would like to see change if the congressman is returned to office - but he does appear well cognizant of the important issues facing this region. While the incumbent did not succeed in getting work started on the completion of Route 11, his office was instrumental in bringing together the local, state and federal agencies to better understand and begin working on the challenges that confront the long-sought highway project.

Normally such accomplishments for a first-year legislator would lead to a slam-dunk endorsement, but Rep. Courtney faces an impressive challenger in Republican Sean Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan is a retired U.S. Navy captain and a former commander of the submarine base in Groton. The graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy also has a law degree (as does Rep. Courtney), which Mr. Sullivan obtained after the completion of his Navy career.

A fiscal conservative, Mr. Sullivan appears prepared to make the tough choices the next Congress must confront if it wants to bring some sanity to out-of-control deficit spending. He is a strong voice for the need to develop a comprehensive energy plan that confronts that issue on all levels - both the development of renewable energy technologies and conservation techniques, but also increased domestic drilling and expanded nuclear plant construction. We urge Rep. Courtney to follow Mr. Sullivan's lead and find ways to build more nuclear plants, rather than focus on impediments to prevent it.

While the choice is not an easy one, on balance The Day considers Rep. Courtney to be the wiser pick on Election Day. If the incumbent can build on the success of his first term, he could prove to be a very accomplished congressman, especially considering he will almost certainly be working with the majority party. While we suspect Mr. Sullivan would prove an able lawmaker, that is not justification for firing a diligent, productive incumbent.

The Day endorses Joe Courtney for Congress

EDITORIAL: Re-elect Courtney in 2nd District, New Haven Register

EDITORIAL: Re-elect Courtney in 2nd District

New Haven Register

Editorial

10/20/08

A primary job of Connecticut’s 2nd District representative in Congress is protecting the U.S. submarine base and Electric Boat in Groton.

Democrat Joseph Courtney picked up that job when he defeated former Republican U.S. Rep. Robert R. Simmons two years ago. Like Simmons, he serves on the House Armed Services Committee. Courtney has pushed legislation that allocated $588 million for the construction of a second submarine annually and has moved up this construction schedule from 2012 to 2010.

His Republican opponent, Sean Sullivan, is even more versed in the need for greater submarine production. Sullivan, a retired Navy captain, was commander of the sub base during the last round of closure hearings. He has commanded a Los Angeles class attack submarine.

Aside from the need for more submarines, the pair agree on a few issues — the end of the ethanol mandate for fuel, a need for more nuclear power and quick withdrawal from Iraq. Both opposed the financial bailout plan passed by Congress.

Sullivan backs the odd idea of a U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and use of sea-based missiles to attack the Taliban. A withdrawal would leave the fragile regime in Kabul at great risk.

Sullivan opposes abortion, except to save the life of a mother. Courtney supports the far more humane position of a woman’s right to choose. Sullivan opposes federal aid for embryonic stem cell research, despite its potential promise. Courtney supports the research.

Courtney votes in lockstep with labor unions. He wants to throw out workers’ right to a secret ballot in union recognition elections. He voted against or opposed free trade agreements because they did not include provisions to protect American workers. Sullivan supports keeping the secret ballot and free trade agreements. The state’s economy and jobs depend on exports and free trade.

Sullivan opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants. Courtney has supported an immigration compromise. It is impossible to deport all of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants.

Despite our disagreement with Courtney on trade and labor issues, he has worked hard in his first term. He has paid particular attention to the needs of veterans in the 2nd District and backed student loan legislation that has made college education more affordable. He has our endorsement for a second term.

Rell, Courtney Want New Stimulus Plan, The Day

Rell, Courtney Want New Stimulus Plan

The Day, Connecticut Post

Associated Press

10/12/08

Hartford - Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Congressman Joe Courtney are among a growing number of officials asking the federal government to enact a second economic stimulus plan.

Rell and Courtney have written separate letters to Washington leaders, saying Connecticut residents and municipalities need relief as the economy darkens.

Rell, a Republican, says state and local governments are struggling. She adds that everyday residents need help as they see their savings and investments erode.

Courtney, a Democrat, says creating new jobs and extending unemployment benefits to people who have been laid off also are critical.

The filing deadline to receive checks under the first economic stimulus package is Wednesday. The plan allocates $300 to $600 for individuals and $600 to $1,200 to couples.

Courtney secures $50k grant for NECASA, Villager Newspapers

Courtney secures $50k grant for NECASA

Matt Sanderson

Villager Newspapers

9/26/08

DAYVILLE — Congressman Joseph Courtney (D-Conn., 2nd District) secured a $50,000 grant last week for the Northeast Communities Against Substance Abuse (NECASA) in order to reduce youth access to alcohol in the northeast region of Connecticut. NECASA has said it will use the funds to place advertisements on television and radio programs to get the message out to parents and adolescents.

Along with the social marketing campaign, the agency will use the funds to start a workplace campaign in mid-November, to bring their message to parents at work and tell them how they can communicate with their kids about the subject. They will also have a presentation for the workers.

Bob Brex, executive director of NECASA, said the grant is called the Sober Truth on the Prevention Act of underage drinking, or S.T.O.P. Act. Brex said their surveys from 2006-’07 indicate that all the access for children grades eight through 10 is at home.

“It’s either they’re getting it from their parents, they’re taking it from their parents or they’re taking it from a friend’s house,” said Brex. “We have to do more to stop that access. Parents and guardians have to understand that the longer you stop a teenager from starting to drink, the less likely they are to have an eventual problem. I am extremely appreciative of this grant, that it will allow us to do so much more to educate our parents on this serious problem.”

The grant goes into effect Oct. 1, he said, adding that sometime in November is when area residents should start seeing and hearing the advertisements. “The biggest thing we try to do is reduce the numbers,” he said of those kids using alcohol. “If parents disapprove, the less likely it is they will use.”

The 2006-’07 surveys conducted polled 1,323 students age 12 to 17 (grades 8, 9 and 10). More than half (51 percent) of those surveyed were eighth-graders, 26.2 percent were ninth-graders and 22.9 percent were 10th-graders.

According to the survey results, more than half of the respondents reported having a drink at some point in their lives. It stated that nearly twothirds of the 10th-graders (62.6 percent) responded positively to that. A total of 22.9 percent of all those polled said they had drunk enough to feel high or drunk before; four-fifths of those answers came from people ages 12 through 15. Almost one-fifth (18.9 percent) stated they drank at least one drink in the last 30 days. Among the 10th-graders, almost one-third (31.1 percent) reported having had at least one drink during the past 30 days, and 81.6 percent of those 10th graders polled said they had a drink in the past 30 days and drank more than one drink per occasion.

The survey reported that 12.8 percent of all 10th-grade respondents stated they had more than five drinks per occasion in the last month.

“The biggest one here is over 15 percent said they obtain alcohol from parents with permission and about 8 percent said they did it without permission,” said Brex.

Along with the S.T.O.P Act grant, Brex said NECASA will do another needs-assessment analysis this year to compare its 2004 numbers to their 2008 numbers.

“NECASA’s work is so important to our communities and I congratulate its employees for proactively applying for and securing this grant,” said Courtney. “Keeping Connecticut’s children safe and healthy are critical missions that I share with NECASA, so I will continue to support their worthy efforts in every way possible.”

Courtney said he applauds NECASA because this grant was obtained the right way, through the Department of Health and Human Services, than through the Congressional earmarking practice, which has gotten a lot of attention in the 2008 campaign season.

“It’s not for the faint of heart,” he said. “These grants are hard to get. It’s very competitive.” For more information on NECASA’s services, call 779-9253 or reach the agency on the Web at www.necasaonline.org.

Ledyard gets grant to help plan industrial park, Norwich Bulletin

Ledyard gets grant to help plan industrial park

Norwich Bulletin

9/19/08

Ledyard, Conn. — Ledyard will receive a $100,000 federal grant to promote a stronger relationship between town businesses and the Naval submarine base in Groton.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, announced the grant Thursday. The money, from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, will help fund the planning and feasibility studies for an industrial park in Ledyard, near the base.

“The EDA award will allow planning to go forward for a project that is a key component of the community's economic development strategy,” Ledyard Planning Director Brian Palaia said.

2nd District Congressional Debates Are Scheduled, The Day

2nd District Congressional Debates Are Scheduled

The Day

9/19/08

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, has announced his planned participation in five debates against Republican Sean Sullivan and Green Party candidate G. Scott DeShefy before Election Day.

The first debate, co-sponsored by The Day, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Garde Arts Center in New London.

The others:

Oct. 14 - Lebanon Connecticut Business Association debate at 7 p.m. at Lyman Memorial High School, 917 Exeter Road, Lebanon.

Oct. 15 - Plainfield debate at 7 p.m. at Plainfield High School, 105 Putnam Road, Plainfield.

Oct. 21 - Enfield debate at 7 p.m. at Enrico Fermi High School, Enfield.

Oct. 28 - Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce debate at 7 p.m. at Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, 53 Lyme St., Old Lyme.

Area Democrats kick off campaign season, Villager Newspapers

Area Democrats kick off campaign season

Matt Sanderson

Villager Newspapers

9/19/08

BROOKLYN — “Come Together: A Democratic Celebration” took place last Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds to kick off the 2008 campaign season.

Congressman Joseph Courtney (DConn., 2nd District), a representative for the Sen. Barack Obama campaign, and many state elected officials and candidates turned out to promote the Democratic spirit.

The event was co-sponsored by Democratic Town Committees in Brooklyn, Eastford, Killingly, Pomfret, Putnam, Woodstock, Ashford, Canterbury, Hampton, Union and Vernon.

Drew Dionne, chairman of the Brooklyn Democratic Town Committee, said between 160 and 175 people turned out for the event. “It was a very nice event,” he said. “It was very family-oriented.

It was more of a rally than anything else. There was plenty to do for kids.” Dionne said the event certainly “fanned the flames” of the Democratic spirit in this year’s presidential race between Obama and Sen. John McCain. Sue Woodward, chairman of the Woodstock Registrar of Voters, said it was well organized by Chris Pitts of the Canterbury Democratic Town Committee.

“All towns were asked to donate $50,” she said. Woodward said Courtney gave a speech as well as Nancy Wyman, state comptroller.

Courtney, Sullivan Square Off On Economy, The Day

Courtney, Sullivan Square Off On Economy

The Day

Ted Mann

Republican congressional hopeful Sean Sullivan took to the airwaves Tuesday with an unconventional message, given a spate of bad news from the financial sector: The economy's really doing fine.

”Our economy is actually fundamentally sound,” Sullivan said in a Tuesday morning appearance on the WNPR radio program Where We Live. “We still have unemployment at historically low levels. That doesn't help people who are out of a job. ... (Unemployment is) not what it would have been a hundred years ago, when we had real depressions and unemployment over 30, 40 percent.”

Sullivan's comments, which were immediately contested by his opponent, Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, echoed a similar statement made Monday by Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee. While McCain was quickly forced to backtrack from his own remarks, Sullivan was holding firm on Tuesday afternoon, saying in a phone interview that reports of economic problems were being exaggerated by Democrats like Courtney and Sen. Barack Obama, the presidential candidate.

”Why run around yelling, 'The sky is falling?' “ Sullivan said in the phone interview. “Unemployment is at 6 percent, which is not good. We'd like it to be better. But it's clearly not a Great Depression-type thing. We've had Great Depressions before, and they've really been where people are starving and out of work.”

A spokesman for Courtney criticized Sullivan's remarks after the radio program, in which he was pressed by host John Dankosky about his assertion that the economy was structurally sound, given the failure of the investment bank Lehman Brothers over the weekend, amid fervent federal talks about how and whether to keep it and other huge firms afloat.

At one point, Dankosky also corrected the candidate on the percentage of Americans now estimated to be unemployed: More than 6 percent, not 5 percent, as Sullivan had said on the radio.

”Wow, Mr. Sullivan just doesn't get it,” said Courtney spokesman Brian Farber in an e-mail message. “The unemployment rate is over six percent - yet Sullivan claims it's (historically low). The more we learn about Mr. Sullivan's disturbing views, the more we see how out-of-touch Sean Sullivan is with eastern Connecticut.”

That, Sullivan counters, is an effort to exaggerate the current fiscal problems to stimulate momentum toward Democratic candidates.

In Connecticut, “4 percent (of homeowners) are behind on their mortgages, and they are suffering,” Sullivan said. “But 96 percent are not. The sky is not falling. They see that gas prices are too high. Everything else is stuff they're being fed on TV, and they're not seeing the same crisis.”

The collapse of the investment banks and shudders in major firms with questionable holdings represent the bursting of a “credit bubble” dating to the economic boom years of the 1990s, Sullivan said, adding that he still didn't foresee wider job losses.

”I don't see a lot more people losing their jobs in this economy,” he said.

Courtney: Afghanistan Must be Military Priority, CT Public Broadcasting Network

Courtney: Afghanistan Must be Military Priority

Challenger Sean Sullivan disagrees on deployment strategy

Lucy Nalpathanchil

Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network

09/10/08

Second District Congressman Joe Courtney says the U.S. needs to prioritize military resources given the growing insurgency in Afghanistan.

Congressman Courtney, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, says it's troubling news that the Taliban is gaining ground in Afghanistan.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Michael G Mullen appeared before the Armed Services Committee to allow members of Congress to ask questions about President Bush's recent announcement to withdraw about 8-thousand troops from Iraq in January.

Courtney says while the President is willing to draw down troops in Iraq....he also needs to respond to the needs of US forces in Afghanistan.

"Terrorists training camps are in full bloom as the national intelligence estimate reported last year. We still have a movement of troops into that region which are far below what the combatant commander, General (David) McKiernan in Afghanistan requested. He requested three brigades. All he's getting is one brigade sometime in 2009."

Courtney says fewer troops in Afghanistan will result in the US depending on long distance air strikes to fight insurgents. He says that strategy won't work in the long run.

Republican Sean Sullivan, who's running to unseat Courtney in the Second district says he disagrees with Courtney on the idea of increasing ground troops in Afghanistan. Instead, he supports building up Naval forces.

'You can move these Navy ships to wherever you need them off the coast and keep them there for an indefinite period of time. And you don't have to worry about the political ramifications and the cost and the potential loss of life that comes with putting the troops on the ground. So I think we should be going towards a long term strategy combating terrorism that focuses primarily on Naval forces."

Sullivan says he's hopeful troop levels in Iraq will continue to be reduced within the next two years.

Norwich: Board of Education will host legislators, Norwich Bulletin

Norwich: Board of Education will host legislators

Norwich Bulletin

9/14/08

The Board of Education will host a legislative breakfast featuring state and federal elected officials at 8:15 p.m. Oct. 24.

The forum will be at Kelly Middle School, and will be split into federal and state education issues.

Courtney to speak
School Board Chairman Charles Jaskiewicz said U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, is scheduled to address the group about changes to the federal Title 1 program, which Jaskiewicz said could cost Norwich $250,000, and the ongoing No Child Left Behind program.

Aubin leads discussion
The second portion of the program will feature Norwich Superintendent of Schools Pamela Aubin leading a discussion about state issues, including changes to Connecticut’s Education Cost Sharing reimbursement regulations.

Aubin also is expected to discuss a Norwich initiative to teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use of automatic external heart defibrillators to all students 12 and older.

Jaskiewicz said invitations to the breakfast will be sent to all local candidates for state and federal office in November, as well as mayors, first selectmen and school superintendents throughout the region.

Courtney to hold town hall meeting for veterans, Journal Inquirer

Courtney to hold town hall meeting for veterans

Journal Inquirer

9/12/08

ENFIELD — U.S. Rep. Joseph D. Courtney, D-2nd District, will hold a special town hall meeting for Second Congressional District veterans from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Enfield Elks Club, 138 North Maple St.

While the meeting is open to the public, the meeting will focus on issues related to veterans.

“With the unique needs and concerns of Connecticut's veterans, I want to make sure that their views are well represented in Congress,” Courtney said.

Courtney’s Norwich District Office also has opened more than 450 veterans cases dealing with medical and health care benefits, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and replacement medals.

Youth Council Awarded $125,000 Federal Grant, The Day

Youth Council Awarded $125,000 Federal Grant

Marianne Sullivan

The Day
Blogs: The Source

9/4/08


The town has been awarded a $125,000 Drug Free Communities Grant from the Office of National Drug Policy Control, one of the two large federal grants it sought this year to begin to address the problems of alcohol and drug abuse among Madison’s youth.

“This grant is the first of its type for us and for Madison. It will provide us with the opportunity to address these problems in a new way. It will bring us and our efforts to a new level,” David Melillo, director of human services, said. “This was an enormous undertaking by the Selectmen’s Council on Youth Substance Abuse and other cooperating groups in town. A lot of people did a lot of work on this.”

The $125,000 award this first time is expected to be renewed each year for the next three years.

“This allows us to continue to apply for these funds. We are now on track for additional funding beyond that, we believe,” Melillo said.

The goal of the Madison program laid out in the 80-page grant application is to reduce the current use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana among Madison youth. Much of the foundation for the grant is based upon a study of drug and alcohol use administered to 1,766 Polson Middle School and Daniel Hand High School students in October 2006.

In announcing the grant last week, Congressman Joseph Courtney said Madison is one of only 199 recipients across the country.

“This program will establish and strengthen cooperation among private non-profit agencies, federal, state, and local governments to support the effort of community coalitions to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth,” Courtney said.

First Selectman Al Goldberg said, “It is not frequent for small towns such as Madison to receive a direct federal grant like this. The Selectmen’s Council and the many others who came before me are to be congratulated. We must recognize that we have a problem with young people and alcohol and drug use. Through efforts like this, we are facing that problem directly.”

In its application, the Selectmen’s Council said its goals include strengthening the council itself by increasing community collaboration and involvement in community prevention efforts through town-wide efforts as a means of reducing alcohol and drug use among youth.

To achieve those goals, a coalition will implement the several strategies. Some examples include:

• Increase the coordination of existing programs and efforts

• Develop the capacity of sports, recreation, and after-school programs to teach and model prevention principles and practices

• Expand the use of peer advocates and peer counselors to address stress and substance issues

• Explore, assess, and further develop, as needed, town ordinances, policies, and procedures that focus on prevention and the consequences of underage drinking at house parties in Madison

• Implement an informational campaign to provide parents with factual information on “myths” surrounding underage drinking

• Establish a subcommittee, chaired by the Police Department, to review security at all sporting events.

280 Seniors, Veterans Risk Losing Rebate Checks, The Day

280 Seniors, Veterans Risk Losing Rebate Checks

Marianne Sullivan

The Day

Blogs: Valley Courier

9/11/08

According to Congressman Joe Courtney’s list, there are more than 200 seniors–208 to be exact–in Chester, Deep River, and Essex who have not claimed their economic stimulus rebate checks, checks to which they are entitled.

There are another 72 area residents, disabled veterans, who are also entitled to the rebate checks but have not received them, Courtney said.

Senior citizens and some veterans who normally do not file income tax returns, and who did not file this year, are in danger of losing the economic stimulus rebate check mailed to millions of households across the country earlier this year.

“These senior citizens and disabled veterans must act before Oct. 15 to receive the tax free rebate check, money that is theirs,” Courtney said.

In a town-by-town listing of unclaimed economic stimulus rebate checks released by Courtney, there are 96 residents in Chester who have not filed claims for rebate checks. Of those 96, 83 are 65 years of age or older. In Deep River there are 72 residents, including 46 seniors, who have not received the tax free checks. In Essex, there are 112 residents who have not received checks. Of those, 79 are seniors.

“To receive the economic stimulus check, a senior or a veteran must file a form. Perhaps these residents are ones that don’t earn a paycheck or have income sufficient to file a regular tax return with the IRS. If they did not file, they did not receive the check to which they are entitled,” Brian Farber of Courtney’s office explained. “We will help them with that.”

Courtney and House Democrats fought to include senior citizens and disabled veterans who earned $3,000 or more from Social Security or Veterans Affairs benefits when Congress was debating the economic stimulus bill. Under the bill, individuals receive up to $600 and a married couple up to $1,200, tax free. There is also a provision for $300 per child.

“A benefit that is not claimed is no benefit at all,” Farber said. “With the winter approaching, with the costs for gas and food and fuel increasing, an economic stimulus check can make a difference.”

Courtney said he has hired additional staff to work directly with seniors and veterans to help them secure and file the necessary form. In order to receive the check from the Internal Revenue Service this year, eligible residents must apply on or before Oct. 15. Persons with questions are urged to call Courtney’s office at 860-886-0139.

Courtney, Access Agency Team up for Weatherization Tours, Villager Newspapers

Courtney, Access Agency Team up for Weatherization Tours

Matt Sanderson

Villager Newspapers

9/12/08

DANIELSON — Congressman Joe Courtney (D-Conn., 2nd District) and representatives from the Access Agency paid three residents in three different counties a visit last Wednesday to go over reducing household energy costs through the agency’s weatherization assistance program. Access Agency’s weatherization assistance program began approximately 30 years ago, according to Kathryn Crees, director of development of community services. She said the program consists of various measures taken to make a home more energy efficient. A weatherization audit is performed at a home to know where energy is escaping the house.

“Measures include insulation, storm windows, doors, caulking, clean tune, and tests of furnaces and repair,” she said. “In addition, low-flow aerators, energy-efficient light bulbs, etc., will save on the electric bill. Homeowners are provided with information regarding what they can do to save energy, like shutting off computers and unplugging items.”

The weatherization tour last Wednesday included a stop at a house in New London, a house in Tolland and the home of Stacey Sheppard in Danielson. She said the congressman and representatives from the agency spent more than six hours auditing and working on her house.

“They sealed up my windows and insulated my basement door,” said Sheppard. “They’re coming back to blow insulation into my walls and change my light bulbs.”

Sheppard said she was contacted last May by Courtney about the tour and thought it would be a good idea.

“I think it will make a big difference,” she said about the upcoming winter and the agency’s help. “I applied for oil assistance in April.” Crees said the visits provided people the opportunity to understand the importance of weatherizing their homes.

“In a time when oil is at an all-time high and the cost of living is going through the roof for everyone, it highlights how important it is to keep your heat inside your home and not let it escape through the roof and windows,” she said. Crees said Courtney had requested the tour in order to familiarize himself with the process.

“Congressman Courtney is trying very hard to restore and add funds to this program,” she said. Courtney said the weatherization program is federally funded through the Department of Energy.

“It’s a very smart program,” he said, “because if taxpayers are going to be paying for fuel expenses, we should couple that program to make sure that the homes that are benefiting are as energy efficient as possible.”

Courtney said last year’s energy budget called $250 million for weatherization programs across the country. “President Bush requested zero dollars,” Courtney said about this year’s weatherization budget request. “So, we had to overcome that. It makes no sense to pay for heat if you have homes that are full of cracks.”

He said they are in the midst of another budget battle in Congress to counter the proposed

2008 $0 increase for weatherization spending. He said the New England caucus calls for quadrupling the $250 million in weatherization spending to $1 billion.

Courtney said that during the weatherization tour, such as at the Sheppard household, they sucked the energy out of the house so they were able to tell where air was coming in.

“There was no insulation along the foundation and there were old windows,” he said about one of the houses they toured. “The readings we got was that the home was using about twice as much energy with which what would have been the case if they had proper insulation.” Courtney said that in Danielson they mostly did the second phase of the process, which was the actual fixing of windows, caulking and sealing.

“The home was energy eligible,” he said. Access Agency has two different sources of funding for the weatherization program, according to Crees. She said one is through the Department of Energy and the other is through Connecticut Light and Power called the Weatherization Residential Assistance Partnership (WRAP).

“With the Department of Energy funds we anticipate serving 200 households in Windham, Tolland and New London county,” she said. “Through WRAP, since January we have served 774 households, which by the end of the year will represent about 1,500 households.”

For more information on the weatherization program, call Access Agency at 450-7146 or visit online at www.accessagency.org. For more information on Courtney’s energy initiatives, visit www.joecourtney.com or contact his campaign headquarters in Vernon at 577-8283.

Courtney backs further R&D tax credits, The Day

Courtney backs further R&D tax credits

Patricia Daddona

The Day

9/9/08

Mystic — U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, who toured the Monsanto research labs here Monday, said he will work toward extending this nation's research and development tax credits.

As he talked with molecular scientists at the Monsanto research facility, Courtney called the firm's work to genetically transform corn plants to resist herbicides, drought or insects “miraculous.”

The Mystic R&D labs' Steven Reiser said the St. Louis-based Monsanto focuses on plant breeding, biotechnology and crop protection. In Mystic, researchers and scientists are working on biotechnology aimed at developing drought-tolerant corn, which could help double yields by 2030, he said.

Scientists in various departments walked Courtney through the journey of bacterium used to transfer DNA to plant embryos, the cloning and insertion of genes into plants, and the tracking of successfully functioning genes in plant varieties.

The entire process can take up to eight years, Reiser said.

Tax credits already in place allow companies such as Monsanto to write off costs for long-term research investments, but they are set to expire and need to be renewed, Courtney said.

He told Monsanto officials that he and another lawmaker signed a letter in April backed by more than 80 colleagues urging the House Speaker to consider a bill, the Investment in America Act of 2007, which includes the tax credit renewal.

“It's not just a Monsanto issue,” Courtney said after the tour. “Pfizer is following this like a box score, and (the future of the bill) is very tied to the politics of how to pay for these things.”

There is widespread support for the legislation but concern about the country's mammoth deficit and how to fund the tax credits, he said.

Courtney hopes the entire bill will be brought up and backed within the next three weeks. Under a possible continuing budget resolution, the tax credits now in place would likely still stand, he said.

In a statement, Monsanto said it supports the extension of the R&D tax credit.

“We invest $2 million a day in developing agricultural solutions that will help farmers produce the food, fiber and energy needed by a growing world. Federal tax incentives that encourage growth in such investment help create good paying jobs for high-tech employees here in the U.S.,” the company stated.

Courtney also praised Monsanto for working with the DNA EpiCenter, which has applied for a grant on how to teach students about biotechnology, genes and genomes, saying it is important to connect students to science skills.

Dodd, Courtney help Mystic Aquarium land $282,000 for science program for children, The Day

Dodd, Courtney help Mystic Aquarium land $282,000 for science program for children

Jenna Cho

The Day

9/6/2008

New London - Boys played football in the courtyard of the Thames River Apartments Friday afternoon with little regard for the adults milling around in business suits.

Suit One just happened to be U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn. And Suit Two was U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District.

The two were at the public housing complex for a tour of the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Connecticut's new site, which opened in the complex's Building C in July.

There, Dodd announced that he and Courtney had helped secure $282,000 in federal funds for Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration's national Immersion Presents science program, with which the Boys and Girls Club partners for children all over the country.

”It's not a huge amount of money,” Dodd said of the funds, “but it makes a big difference in places like this.”

He joked, “Joe has already promised he's going to get all the extra money you need.”

Immersion Presents is a nonprofit program founded in 2002 by Mystic Aquarium president and CEO Stephen Coan and Institute for Exploration president Robert Ballard, who discovered the Titanic wreckage.

The program, designed to stimulate children's interests in science, has given participants of the Boys and Girls Club hands-on activities meant to stimulate their interest in the sciences. Most of the children in the New London Boys and Girls Club are from low-income families who might not otherwise have such opportunities.

On Friday afternoon, club members were trying to figure out how to build clay boats to withstand the weight of pennies - an Immersion Presents activity.

”Who's making my boat?” Dodd asked the children. Tyson McNeil, 8, and Shawn Brown, 11, explained that they'd thus far managed to land 12 pennies on their blue clay boat before it sank in water.

Later, they made structural improvements to the boat while Dodd took a tour of the club's site, bringing the new number to 15.

Also at the complex for the visit were Dodd's wife Jackie Clegg-Dodd; Coan; Peter Glankoff, a senior vice president at Mystic Aquarium; Joseph Abrams, executive director of the New London Housing Authority; Lisa Sullivan, director of the Front Porch Foundation; and Ellen Roman, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Connecticut.

Day, League Of Women Voters Sponsor 2nd District Debate, The Day

Day, League Of Women Voters Sponsor 2nd District Debate

The Day

9/8/06

Democratic Congressman Joe Courtney and Republican challenger Sean Sullivan will debate the evening of Oct. 7 at the Garde Arts Center in New London. The 2nd District debate may also include Green Party candidate G. Scott Deshefy and Libertarian candidate Daniel Reale if they are certified by the secretary of the state for the ballot and meet the League of Women Voters' campaign criteria regarding broad public support, fundraising and other standards.

The Day and the League will sponsor the event moderated by Kiki Karpen of Darien, a veteran moderator for the League. WTNH-News Channel 8 is the broadcast partner. The length of the debate and the starting time will vary depending on how many candidates qualify. The starting time will be announced later.

The debate will be shown live on My Channel 9, WTNH's affiliate station, and will be rebroadcast several times on a schedule to be announced.

Editorial Page Editor Paul Choiniere of The Day, as well as a reporter for the newspaper and a reporter from WTNH, will ask questions of the candidates. The public also will be able to ask video-recorded questions through an advance program put together by The Day and WTNH.

Tickets for the debate will be available beginning today at The Day in New London, the Garde box office, the Waterford Public Library, the Groton Public Library and the Otis Library in Norwich. To better balance the distribution, no one may request more than four tickets.

The candidates' campaign staffs will be given a large allotment of tickets as well.

Grant for Firefighters, Hartford Courant

Grant For Firefighters

Hartford Courant

Sept 5, 2008

COVENTRY — - U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, announced Thursday that the North Coventry Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded $139,650 to improve operations and safety.

The Assistance to Firefighters grant program enables local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations to purchase or receive training, conduct first responder health and safety programs and buy equipment and response vehicles.

Sub funding increase advances, New London Day

Sub funding increase advances

House Defense subcommittee report includes $397.6 million for work on Virginia-class boats

By Jennifer Grogan, New London Day, 31 July 2008

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney made a beeline through the other representatives on the House floor after a vote Wednesday afternoon to reach the chairman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.

The subcommittee had just released highlights from its version of the fiscal 2009 defense appropriations bill, which is the legislation that allocates money to the Pentagon, and included on the list $397.6 million for the Virginia-class submarine program.

To U.S. Rep. John Murtha, the influential Pennsylvania Democrat who heads the subcommittee, Courtney said, “on behalf of the people of southeastern Connecticut, thank you for believing in us and remaining committed to a program that is good for Connecticut and good for our country.”

Courtney, a Democrat, represents the 2nd District, which includes submarine manufacturer Electric Boat in Groton.

Murtha said he has been impressed with the talent and skill of the work force at Electric Boat, and he called Courtney an “effective advocate for the submarine industry.”

”I'm convinced that moving towards construction of two submarines per year is in the best interest of both our industrial base and national security,” Murtha said in a statement issued Wednesday.

The $487.7 billion bill is $4 billion below the president's budget request and $28.4 billion above last year's total.

”You've heard me say that we must 'look beyond Iraq,' and to this degree the committee has added and redistributed funds that will prepare our military for future threats and future conflicts,” Murtha said.

Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Newport News in Virginia jointly produce one $2.5 billion submarine a year, a production schedule that will increase to two a year starting in 2011.

The Navy could use the $397.6 million to start building two submarines a year in 2010 or to start work earlier on the second submarine in 2011.

Both the Secretary of the Navy and the chief of Naval Operations said last month that they do not support increasing production of submarines before 2011 because the service has to address a range of threats.

The Navy's plan called for an increase in production in 2012 before Courtney began his successful push last year to accelerate the schedule by increasing the funding for the submarine program.

This year, Courtney wanted to further hasten construction and helped shift $300 million in the budget authorization for buying Navy ships into the Virginia-class submarine account.

He then worked with the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee to further amend the authorization to add another $422 million, for a total of $722 million for the construction of two submarines in both 2010 and 2011.

The Senate version has significantly less money for new construction on Virginia-class submarines, $79 million. The authorization act establishes the policy for funding that is allocated through the appropriations process.

”We always knew that given where the Senate was at, $722 million was going to be the hitting a home run with the bases loaded kind of figure,” Courtney said. “This figure, in this budget, still is an extra-bases hit any way you slice it. This is an extremely tight year.”

Kevin Devine, a vice president at Electric Boat, called the subcommittee's action “another step toward the stability the program requires to produce capable and affordable submarines.”

The appropriations committee must approve the funding, followed by the full House expected in September. The differences between the House and Senate versions will have to be worked out in conference.

Courtney to host telephone town hall meeting, Norwich Bulletin

Courtney to host telephone town hall meeting

Norwich Bulletin

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, will host a telephone town hall meeting from 7:20 p.m. to 8:20 p.m. on Thursday.

Tens of thousands of residents in the district will receive automated calls from Courtney inviting them to participate.

Second District residents who do not get the calls but who wish to participate may do so by calling (877) 229-8493 about five minutes before the scheduled start of the call and dialing the access code 13035.

Residents will be able to ask questions of Courtney, though due to the anticipated number of participants the questions may be limited.