With a tie in the state Senate, a new agreement between Republicans and Democrats to cooperatively manage the State Senate has gone into effect.  Wilton state Senator Toni Boucher now holds the title of Chief Deputy Senate Republican Majority Leader, which brings her more authority and greater responsibilities.

Boucher says she looks forward to the challenges a leadership position brings. She will now be a Co-Chairman on the Education and Transportation committees. She will also serve as Vice-Chairman on the Banking Committee, and as a member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

Boucher called for structural changes to state government, the state budget, and state funding to reduce burdensome taxes, shore up infrastructure, and create sufficient, sustainable funding for schools and municipalities.  She says making cuts to municipal aid is the wrong thing to do right now, noting that many towns only get one penny for every dollar they send to Hartford.  Boucher says municipalities are also burdened with 380 regulations and mandates.

Boucher wants legislation approved to ban overtime and mileage reimbursements from any pension calculation for any category of state employee including all legislators.  She also called for the inheritance tax to be phased out and the elimination of state income tax on social security benefits.  She also supports setting a minimum number of social workers for each high school at one for every 400-500 students to address mental health and special education issues.