LIEBERMAN: General Services Administration Chief Martha Johnson submitted her resignation on Monday following reports of lavish spending during a Nevada training conference in 2010, according to the Associated Press.
Sen. Lieberman released a statement on his Web site in response: "This was a stupid and infuriating waste of taxpayer dollars. The people responsible for it should be held accountable."
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BLUMENTHAL: The U.S. senator — along with Gov. Malloy, Lt. Gov. Wyman and other elected officials — joined family members and friends Saturday morning at a to thank over 175 troops for their recent deployment overseas.
“I have said more than once, ‘When you call out the National Guard, you call out America,’” he said. “‘When you call out the Connecticut National Guard, you call out the best in America.’”
Blumenthal went a step further by acknowledging the sacrifices that members of the National Guard made as volunteers in serving in conflicts overseas. “This generation will come to be known in our lifetime as our greatest generation,” he said.
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DELAURO: At a press conference with local anti-hunger leaders and advocates from the Connecticut’s 3rd District on Monday, Rep DeLauro commented on the effects that the Ryan Republican budget would have on federal anti-hunger efforts:
“In this economy, with jobs paying less, 13 million unemployed and one in six living below the official poverty line, millions of middle-class and working families are hurting, and hunger and food insecurity are on the rise.” DeLauro said. “Yet, Congressman Ryan and the House Majority have put forward an unconscionable budget that slashes the social safety net to shreds. Over 10 years, their budget cuts Food Stamps by over 17 percent, or $133.5 billion, even though food stamps keep millions of Americans fed and help to grow the economy. That is more than the amount of food stamp funds going to 29 states and territories. If passed, over 8 million men, women, and children may be cut from the rolls and thus go hungry — all so the America’s millionaires can enjoy an average tax cut of $400,000.”
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HIMES: The congressman, along with Senators Lieberman and Blumenthal announced on Monday a $108,384 grant that will assist homeless veterans in Bridgeport with permanent housing and support, according to a press release. The grant will provide 10 of Bridgeport’s homeless veterans with housing vouchers, as well as clinical and supportive services through the West Haven VA Medical Center.
“Ensuring veterans have access to safe, affordable housing is the least we can do for those who risked everything to protect us,” Himes said. “I am pleased Bridgeport will receive funding to help these brave men and women.”
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MURPHY: The congressman used Twitter on Monday to remind his followers about National Autism Day:
"Today is World #Autism Day. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with diabetes and cancer combined."
Murphy also tweeted a picture of himself hosting the fourth annual Autism Forum in Hartford this past weekend.
“Eye on the Beltway” is a new feature on your local Patch that looks each day at the activities of elected officials in our nation’s capitol from your town and other parts of southwestern Connecticut.
Those officials are:
- Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
- Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)
- Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), a Democrat representing Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Branford, Derby, Durham, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Middlefield, Middletown, Milford, Naugatuck, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford, Wallingford, Waterbury, West Haven and Woodbridge.
- Rep. Jim Himes (CT-4), a Democrat representing Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Oxford, Redding, Ridgefield, Shelton (part), Stamford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport and Wilton.
- Rep. Chris Murphy (CT-5), a Democrat representing Avon, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Burlington, Canaan, Canton, Cheshire, Cornwall, Danbury, Farmington, Goshen, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Meriden, Middlebury, Morris, New Britain, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Norfolk, North Canaan, Plainville, Plymouth, Roxbury, Salisbury, Sharon, Sherman, Simsbury, Southbury, Thomaston, Torrington (part), Warren, Washington, Waterbury (part), Watertown, Wolcott and Woodbury.
