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GENNEWS

STRIPP REAPPOINTED TO BANKS COMMITTEE

HARTFORD - State Representative John E. Stripp, R-135th District, which is

composed of Easton, Redding and parts of Weston and Newtown, has been

reappointed as the House Ranking Member (Republican Leader) on the General

Assembly's Banks Committee by House Minority Leader Robert M. Ward,

R-Northford.

Rep. Ward also re-assigned Rep. Stripp to the Appropriations and Commerce

committees.

"John Stripp has done an outstanding job as the Republican Leader on the Banks

Committee," Rep. Ward said. "His background and experience made him a natural

choice to be the House Ranking Member when I made the original appointment two

years ago. His record of achievement led me to reappoint him for another two

years.

"John has been a strong voice for spending restraint on the Appropriations

Committee and his work on the Commerce Committee has contributed to

Connecticut's economic recovery. He is an effective leader and a conscientious

legislator. I know he will continue to do an outstanding job on both of these

important committees," Rep. Ward said.

"I'm very pleased to have been reappointed as House Ranking Member on the

Banks Committee," Rep. Stripp said. "Connecticut's banks have played a major

role in restoring our state's economy. As a member of this committee, I will

continue to support policies that strengthen banks doing business in

Connecticut and which help then to remain competitive. I also will work for

measures to protect consumers and depositors.

"Thanks to the tax and spending cuts we implemented over the past four years,

Connecticut's economy has rebounded," Rep. Stripp said. "With the improvement

in the state's economy, revenues are up significantly and we have had three

surpluses in a row. As always, I will carefully scrutinize new spending

proposals that come before the Appropriations Committee to ensure that

taxpayer dollars are invested wisely. For example, we now can afford to spend

more on programs that will improve the quality of public education in

Connecticut and on projects that contribute to economic growth and job

creation."

Continuing, Mr Stripp said, "As a member of the Commerce Committee, I have

supported policies that have contributed to improving the business climate in

our state. Over the past four years, we have changed Connecticut's reputation

as a state that was hostile to business to one that is friendly to employers.

As a result, new companies have moved here and established firms have stayed

here and expanded their operations and thousands of new jobs have been

created. I will continue to work with other members of this committee on

legislation that will keep Connecticut's economy expanding and creating jobs

into the 21st Century and beyond."