Both the House and Senate passed the two healthcare reform bills our members supported. The SustiNet Plan offers greater access to quality medical insurance, and the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership provides for a reduction in costs for municipalities, small businesses, and non-profits by allowing their employees to join the State health plan "pool."

The Governor has threatened to veto both bills, so members must contact her office and tell her not to cave-in to the special interests, as she did when she rejected the pooling law when it was passed last year.

I've listed the priority bills that did not make it through the legislative process to follow:

• Expanded Rights to Form a Union (HB 6545): Passed in the House, not acted on in the Senate.
• Free Choice to Join a Union (HB 6534): No vote taken in either chamber.
• Telecommuting for State Workers (SB 1144): No vote taken in either chamber.
• Security for Criminal Justice Professionals (HB 6709): Passed in the House, not acted on in the Senate.
• Prohibit Captive Audience Meetings (SB 365): Passed in the Senate, not acted on in the House.
• Paid Sick Days (HB 6187): Passed in the House, but when it was clear the vote would be tied in the Senate, it was never called.
• Block Outsourcing Public Information Technology Services (HB 6373): Not acted on in either chamber.

In addition to the ten priority initiatives our Legislative Action Committee (LAC) chose to focus on during the final month of the session, there were a number of additional bills we supported that we can add to our list of wins for working families.

Both chambers passed legislation that delivers government services and saves taxpayers money, giving municipalities the ability to implement cost saving measures and offering real property tax reform through regional cooperation initiatives. The bill includes a provision to return a portion of the state sales tax to towns as an incentive for participating in regional incentives.

There were three proposals to benefit children's health and safety, including a ban on Bisphenol-A from baby bottles, limiting the use of pesticides at daycare centers, and promoting green cleaning products in our schools.

The House and Senate also passed a bill that provides wage and healthcare protection for janitors cleaning state-owned buildings. Another initiative will allow SEIU members working in hazardous duty to serve on a correctional behavioral health committee. Both bills have been sent to Governor Rell for her signature.

There is still important work to be done to close out the session with the Governor signing the bills we supported into law. Plus, we are committed to restore funds cut from an earlier deficit mitigation bill that impact our CSPCOA Council members working in the DPS State Police Division whose union rights are still not recognized by the Administration.

And our top priority remains a fair and reasonable budget that includes a progressive income tax package. That effort could take several additional months of grassroots lobbying and outreach to our elected officials.

I look forward to working on behalf of CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 members in the weeks and months to come. Should you have any suggestions for the next legislative agenda, please feel free to contact me at (800) 894-9479, extension 111.