February 9, 2012
MALLOY ‘ECONOMIC REVIVAL’ INCLUDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING
By Paul Hughes, Republican-American
After a bad couple of years economically, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says he wants to lead an economic revival of Connecticut.
Malloy appealed to Democratic and Republican legislators Wednesday to help his administration bring about this rejuvenation.
“Yes, it has been a long 13 months. But a state that was on its knees has stood up and said, ‘Enough is enough — we’re ready to change our future,’” he said. “Yes, we have a long way to go, but a state that was at the crossroads of crisis and opportunity is beginning to turn a corner because we chose opportunity.”
The governor, Democrats and Republicans came together to pass a sweeping bipartisan jobs bill during a one-day special session last October. House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, said Malloy is looking to building on that success.
However, Democrats and Republicans also split last October on legislation to help finance construction of a $1.1 billion genetics laboratory on the Farmington campus of the University of Connecticut Health Center.
Republican and Democratic leaders were making no commitments on Wednesday.
The Connecticut economy is picking up after the worst recession since the Great Depression, said Rep. Jeffrey J. Berger, R-73rd District, House chairman of the Commerce Committee.
“I certainly feel that the economy is turning around. The state of Connecticut lost roughly 120,000 jobs between 2008 and 2010,” he said.
Berger said the state has added back 35,000 jobs since 2010, including 9,400 last year, according to the state Department of Labor.
Rep. Larry B. Butler, D-72nd District, is encouraged to see housing is a component of governor’s budget plan and the economic revival that Malloy is seeking to spur. The Waterbury lawmaker is House chairman of the Select Committee on Housing.
Malloy is proposing to allocate an additional $20 million in state bonding for developing af-fordable housing. The two-year, $40.5 billion budget that was enacted last year included $50 million for that purpose this year.
“I am thrilled to see this kind of commitment toward funding housing,” Butler said.
The governor’s plan also includes proposals regarding rehabilitating public housing, congregate housing for the elderly and supportive housing for people with special needs.
Malloy wants to commit $30 million a year for the next 10 years to upgrade state-assisted housing. He is seeking $12.5 million to develop 50 new units of congregate housing and $750,000 for rental assistance for people who need supportive housing.