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March 20, 1998
TULISANO OPPOSES BILL TO LOWER BLOOD ALCOHOL COUNT IN DRUNK
DRIVING CASES
Rocky Hill lawmaker's skepticism, memo to committee,
brings change of language to proposed bill
In a letter of memorandum to members of the Judiciary Committee today, State Representative Richard D. Tulisano (D-
Rocky Hill) voiced his opposition to a proposal that would both lower the legal driving under the influence blood alcohol count (BAC) from .10 to .08 and make those who register a BAC of .05 to .07 guilty of a driving infraction.
Tulisano indicated that his primary concern was for protecting life and limb not engaging in a numbers game. "As the facts
bear out, there is absolutely no statistical evidence showing that a proposal such as this would have any effect on making our roads safer," he said. "Connecticut already has an outstanding record in promoting highway safety when compared to the rest of the country. There must be a point where we say 'enough'."
"In mandating our police forces to focus even more on BAC levels instead of a person's demonstrated ability to operate a
car we, in essence, are creating a status offense," said Rep. Tulisano, who currently serves as Majority Whip in the state House of Representatives. "This is a dangerous precedent that lends itself to overzealous enforcement, abuse and infringement of the driver's rights. The emphasis here is on arresting those who would be in violation of the new standard, thereby taking away limited resources from apprehending those who would in fact cause a danger to others on the road."
As a result of opposition by the former longtime chairman, the Judiciary Committee voted to strike the language from the
proposal that called for police to charge drivers found with BAC's of .05 to .07 with a driving infraction.
The committee ultimately passed the scaled down version of the bill by a nearly unanimous margin in Hartford Friday.
Connecticut trails only Rhode Island (.10 BAC) and Massachusetts (no defined BAC limit) in terms of highway fatality
rates.
Rep. Tulisano's memorandum to the Judiciary Committee included a study by the General Assembly's non-partisan Office
of Legislative Research (copies available by request, call 240-8483) that also showed Connecticut's fatality rate is better than any state with an existing .08 BAC law on its books. |
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March 3, 1998
REPRESENTATIVE TULISANO ANNOUNCES LAND CONVEYANCE
TO ROCKY HILL
State Representative Richard D. Tulisano (D-Rocky Hill), House Majority Whip, announced today that the Department of
Public Works has notified Rocky Hill officials that it will convey to the town a parcel of 50 acres of land adjacent to the Veteran's Home and Hospital on West Street, pursuant to a bill he promoted during last year's legislative session.
"This is excellent news for both the town and the Veteran's Home," Rep. Tulisano said. "By bringing this land under the
stewardship of the town, we gain local control and thus an opportunity to develop additional recreation facilities for our residents."
The identification of land to be conveyed was made possible through discussions between Rep. Tulisano, local Rocky Hill
officials in the Town Manager's Office and the Parks and Recreation Department, the state Office of Policy and Management and the Department of Public Works.
Rep. Tulisano added, "this is a great example of what can be accomplished with cooperation at all levels of government. I
thank the local and state officials who made this acquisition possible. We look forward to continuing our work with local officials and are pleased that over 50 acres of land have been obtained by the town of Rocky Hill at no real cost." |
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February 21, 1998
Hartford Courant
Letter to the Editor
A LACK OF CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
The Jan. 25 editorial "A Pregnant Moment For Hartford'' quotes Heublein's criticism of Hartford city officials as one
reason it was pulling jobs out of Hartford and abandoning its leadership role in what the editorial termed "Hartford's revival."
The editorial went on to recommend various proposals for such a revival, including state government commitments to help
create and maintain jobs and revitalize the economy.
I believe that only a partnership between the public and private sectors will allow the United States to compete in the
world economy.
Unfortunately, The Courant and others are often silent about corporations that take government aid yet abandon their
partnership commitments. Their commitment, in fact, is to their own bottom line at the expense of the local economy and workers.
Heublein is a prime example of a corporation whose leaders have been the recipient of government benefit but who have
abandoned their commitment to the community.
In 1982, Heublein petitioned for a change in corporate law. Heublein asserted that without the change, its future as a
Connecticut based company would be in danger. The change in corporate law made it more difficult for a hostile takeover of a Connecticut corporation. Heublein got its wish.
Shortly after the legislature changed the law, corporate executives cut themselves a sweetheart deal, first at the expense of
manufacturing employees and now of the white collar jobs that are slated to move out of Hartford.
Should government expect more for its effort? I believe so. Businesses should be bound to recognize the needs of the
community and employees, as well as the bottom line, if they want benefits from government. |
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February 13, 1998
Mr. John J. Zakarian
Editor, Courant Editorial Page
285 Broad Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06115
To the Editor:
Your January 25, 1998 editorial "A Pregnant Moment for Hartford" quotes Heublein's criticism of Hartford city officials as
one reason it was pulling jobs out of Hartford and abandoning its role in what you term 'a leader in Hartford's revival'. The editorial goes on to recommend various proposals for such a revival, which include state government commitments in both helping to create and maintain jobs and revitalize the economy.
Many of us believe that in this day, only a partnership between the public and private sectors will allow the United States
to compete in the world economy. Such a partnership would mean a true commitment from both partners to the success of any joint venture.
Unfortunately your newspaper, and others, are often silent of any criticism of corporations that take government aid and
support with one hand yet abandon their partnership commitments citing 'market' conditions with the other. Their commitment, in fact, is to their own bottom line at the expense of the local economy and workers who have been partners with their government.
Heublein is a prime but forgotten example of a corporation whose leaders have been the recipient of government benefit
but who have abandoned their commitment to community. In 1982, Heublein, with the backing of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) during a special session of the General Assembly petitioned for a change in corporate law. Heublein's assertion at the time was that without the change, its future as a Connecticut-based food and beverage company would be in imminent danger. The change in corporate law made it more difficult for a hostile takeover of a Connecticut corporation. They got their wish.
The Legislature, in approving the law, was trying to protect jobs and the local economy. At that time over 1,300
employees were located in Connecticut. Unfortunately, the rest is history. Shortly after the Legislature changed the law, corporate executives cut themselves a sweetheart deal- with special benefit for themselves- first at the expense of manufacturing employees and now, the white-collar jobs that are slated to move out of Hartford. The state- and our capitol city- has now been left with nothing to show for our previous effort.
Should government expect more for its effort? I believe so. Business should be bound to recognize and consider the needs
of community and employees as well as the bottom line if they intend to receive benefit from the government. If they wish to apply only 'free market values' to their business operations, they should be prohibited from feeding at the public trough.
Sincerely,
Richard D. Tulisano
State Representative (D-29th District)
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February 6, 1998
TULISANO CALLS FOR ELIMINATION
OF PRIVATIZED LOTTERY SYSTEM
"Publicize, do not privatize the Lottery companies," said State Representative Richard D. Tulisano (D-Rocky Hill) today,
Majority Whip and an outspoken opponent of expansion of gaming options in Connecticut.
Rep. Tulisano, in a letter to legislative leaders and the co-chairs of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, urged
them to support abandonment of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation and reassertion of absolute state control over gaming operations in Connecticut.
"First we were treated to a TV bingo proposal," said Rep. Tulisano. "Now, it is 'Play It Again, Sam', an obvious attempt
to rope more and more individuals into the gaming habit."
"Recent studies show that problem gambling is on the increase in Connecticut," Tulisano continued. "This addition has
adverse effects, not only on the individual, but on their families and local commerce. For the state to support expansion of gambling in order to satisfy short term budget problems was, and continues to be, short-sighted public policy."
"Many legislators are now beginning to see that continued expansion of lottery games are attempts to introduce the gaming
habit to more and more of our population, including our youth," said Rep. Tulisano. "Will we be faced in 20 years with the same problems we now discover with the tobacco and alcohol industries- appeals designed to attract the young to insure increased and continued sales? The introduction of condoned vice earlier and earlier in an individual's life make it harder and harder to control." |
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February 2, 1998
TULISANO CALLS FOR ADMISSIBILITY
OF "DECLARATION OF LIFE" IN HOMICIDE CASES
State Representative Richard D. Tulisano (D-29th District), Majority Whip, has requested that the Judiciary Committee
raise a bill, that would formally recognize in the sentencing phase of a capital felony case, a victim's execution of a "Declaration of Life".
Tulisano, longtime Chair of the Judiciary Committee and opponent of the death penalty, said, "We have allowed victim
impact statements to be introduced into sentencing phases of capital cases, and allowed survivors of homicides a role in court procedures. It is appropriate that the impact of a crime be understood by those imposing sentences. However, we must also recognize the finality of the death penalty, and recognize that some victims might opt for life over death!"
"The bill I am suggesting," Tulisano said, "would formally recognize how some victims' opinions might differ from the
prevailing dogma. For so many of us, who believe it is inappropriate for the State to condone the taking of life as punishment, and that such actions beget only more violence, we are provided an opportunity to make our actions speak louder than our words."
Having once been in a position believing he would be a victim of homicide, Tulisano said, "I hoped then that someone
would, should I have died, acknowledged my opposition to the death penalty." This way they would. |
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January 29, 1998
TULISANO REISSUES HIS CALL FOR CONTROL OF
HIGH-SPEED CHASES IN CONNECTICUT
HARTFORD - State Representative Richard D. Tulisano (D-29th District) Majority Whip today reissued his call
for the state legislature to adopt new legislation which would create a new state wide policy to regulate high speed chases in Connecticut.
Tulisano in a letter to the Chairmen of the Judiciary Committee presented them with a working draft of a proposal he had
fleshed out after studying the issue individually and as a member of the Public Safety Committee Task Force on High Speed Chases. (A copy of his draft and letters to the Judiciary Committee are attached.)
"As a former chair of the Judiciary Committee" said Tulisano, "and sponsoring similar legislation in the past, I welcome the
interest and concerns of Senator Alvin Penn, Co-Chair of the Public Safety Committee. I am sure he will want to add to many of the proposals, which will emanate in the Judiciary Committee and be referred to Public Safety." |
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January 8, 1998
REPRESENTATIVE TULISANO TO SEEK BAN
ON HUMAN CLONING IN STATE
State Representative Richard Tulisano (D-Rocky Hill) announced today that he will seek passage of a law in the upcoming
legislative session that would make human cloning practices by doctors a criminal act in Connecticut.
Rep. Tulisano was responding to reports earlier this week of a Chicago physicist who has said he is prepared to begin
cloning humans, along the lines of the nuclear transfer process that successfully cloned sheep last year.
"The cloning of human beings is a terrifying thought," said Rep. Tulisano. "A scientific 'advance' such as this pays no
attention to the manipulation and threat to human dignity that such genetic engineering may cause."
"There are far too many troubling questions that must be answered before moving forward with this practice," Tulisano
added.
Rep. Tulisano has been a leader on issues such as surrogate parenting in the General Assembly, including his authorship of
legislation concerning first generation procreation through artificial insemination in the 1980's.
Tulisano, currently serving his 12th term in office, serves as House Majority Whip and is a former chairman of the
Legislature's Judiciary Committee. |