Together, the House of Representatives and the Senate constitute the Connecticut General Assembly (CGA). The General Assembly enacts legislation dealing with state appropriations and finance, public welfare, the environment, public works, housing, education, civil and criminal laws, and other matters. The Senate tries all impeachments of executive and judicial branch officials. In Connecticut, members of the state’s legislative body, the General Assembly, must be at least eighteen years old and reside in the district they represent. Senate and House members serve two-year terms. Candidates were asked to respond to questions developed by local Leagues of Women Voters (LWV). Candidates enter their replies directly into Vote411, and replies are not edited by the LWV.This is the link to the CGA website: https://www.cga.ct.gov/
Candidate Name
Stephen Harding
Campaign Website
www.harding24.com
Campaign Email
andrew@harding24.com
Campaign Phone
203-788-1183
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/HardingforSenate/
Stephen Harding was elected to his first term representing the 30th District in the State Senate in 2022 after four terms serving the people of the 107th House District. Sen. Harding serves as the Minority Leader of the State Senate on behalf of the Republican Caucus. Steve is the Ranking Member of the Legislature’s Environment Committee, and as a member of the Judiciary Committee, Education Committee, and the Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee. Senator Harding continues to advocate for solutions to address Connecticut's skyrocketing electric rates and rising inflation.
My priority would be fostering innovation and supporting private-sector solutions to address climate change while ensuring Connecticut's economy resiliency. We need to strike a balance between environmental protection and economic growth, focusing on practical solutions that don't overburden businesses and families.
I would prioritize investment in clean energy technologies, while also encouraging energy independence through natural gas and other responsible energy sources. By incentivizing innovation and creating a regulatory environment that encourages businesses to develop cleaner technologies, we can both protect the environment and create high-paying jobs for Connecticut residents.
First, I would prioritize reducing the regulatory burden on small businesses. Connecticut is known for its complex and often burdensome regulations, which can discourage small business owners from starting or expanding their operations here. Simplifying the regulatory process, cutting red tape, and making it easier to navigate local and state requirements would make Connecticut a more attractive place to do business.
Second, we need to reduce taxes on small businesses. High taxes make it difficult for small businesses to remain competitive and hinder job creation. By lowering corporate and personal income taxes, along with property taxes for small businesses, we can encourage growth and make Connecticut a more competitive state for entrepreneurs.
Finally, we need to invest in workforce development by supporting vocational training and apprenticeships.
Connecticut's highly educated workforce is one of our greatest assets, and the state's role should be to support this by fostering strong public-private partnerships. We must invest in education and vocational training programs that align with the needs of industries in Connecticut, ensuring that businesses have access to a skilled workforce. At the same time, we need to reduce barriers like high taxes and over-regulation that drive talent and businesses out of the state. By creating a pro-business environment, we can retain talent and encourage companies to invest in our workforce.
To address Connecticut’s housing shortage, we need to focus on solutions that encourage private sector investment and streamline regulations that make building affordable housing more difficult. First, I would work to reduce unnecessary regulations that drive up the cost of housing construction. By making it easier and more affordable to build, we can increase the housing supply and lower costs for residents.
Additionally, I would promote public-private partnerships to incentivize developers to build affordable housing while ensuring that we preserve the character of our communities. It’s important that local governments maintain control over zoning decisions, so we can balance growth with community needs.
Finally, I would support efforts to revitalize underutilized or vacant properties for residential use, particularly in urban areas where housing demand is highest.
To tackle the rising cost of healthcare, CT needs to focus on market-driven reforms that encourage competition and transparency in the healthcare system. One of the biggest factors driving up costs is over-regulation and bureaucracy. I would work to reduce unnecessary regulations and streamline the approval process for healthcare providers, making it easier for doctors and clinics to operate, which in turn would increase access to care.
As for the shortage of primary care physicians, I would advocate for incentives to encourage medical professionals to practice in Connecticut, particularly in undeserved areas.
Additionally, we need to address the rise of walk-in clinics by ensuring that they meet the needs of patients while encouraging the development of more community-based healthcare services. Allowing a broader range of healthcare providers to serve patients, we can help more in need.
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