| NOVEMBER 5, 2020 -- The Legislative committee met in January to review the Connecticut State Grange Legislative Policy Handbook and added any new resolutions pertaining to state and national issues to it. In early February Gordon Gibson and I went to Hartford to deliver copies of this guide to all Connecticut General Assembly members as well as the Governor and Lt. Governor.
This year Susan Masino offered to step in as our Legislative Liaison to the General Assembly with Gordon Gibson assisting her. We had just started following proposed bills of interest and had sent in a letter of support to the Environmental Committee for one bill when all things came to a complete halt. All public hearings and all legislative events were cancelled. The Capitol was closed and all legislative activity and sessions were halted. This included the annual Agriculture Day at the Capitol in which the State Grange Agricultural Committee along with the Legislative Committee always participated in by manning a Grange booth.
Since the emergence of the pandemic and the state shutdown, the Connecticut General Assembly has only held a couple of special sessions. They were called into session by the Governor to address specific issues that were needed, mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gordon Gibson continued his involvement with the Working Land Alliance even as their activities were also reduced. The Grange is a partner with this organization.
Hopefully next year the General Assembly will be back running the state as it should. |
