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My husband Ralph penned this opinion piece four years ago. It came up in my Facebook memories today.
Showing posts with label opinion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label opinion. Show all posts
Sunday, July 17, 2022
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Newsletter features thoughts on effects of social media
Dear readers,
In our latest Valley Voice newsletter my husband Ralph offers his take on the current climate on social media.
Check it out!
Thanks for reading,
Patti
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Opinion: Gentile says Dems 'want to work in a bipartisan manner' on budget
By Linda M. Gentile
State Representative
104th District
HARTFORD - Last Thursday, State Reps. Themis Klarides and Nicole Klarides-Ditria made a statement in which they criticized the Democrats for not proposing a balanced budget.
 |
| State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia |
However, that same day, the House Democrats presented a revised budget proposal that was honest, balanced, and had the support of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.
Democratic leadership additionally welcomed Republicans, including Minority Leader Themis Klarides, to discuss this proposal.
For myself and my fellow Democrats, it is important to have a budget that maintains our commitment to our public schools, helps businesses thrive, includes structural changes, and avoids taxing hospitals or increases in property taxes.
This budget proposal also protects the critical services that thousands of residents rely on and invests in Connecticut’s future.
In fact, CCM, (Connecticut Conference of Municipalities) has called it the most honest of budgets that has been presented, as it includes level funding of municipal aid, a new additional revenue option for towns from a portion of the sales tax, and promotes vital economic growth and development.
'Unrealistic numbers'
The Republican caucus has touted their three proposed budgets, but the truth is, those budgets did not have all of these critical components.
Additionally, the Republican budget was using unrealistic numbers and therefore could not be achieved.
Additionally, the Republican budget was using unrealistic numbers and therefore could not be achieved.
It is important to note that the House Democrats' proposed budget includes ideas from all legislative caucuses, as well as input from municipalities, the business community, hospitals, and other constituencies.
This is why this budget proposal is honest and fair. It combines the ideas of all parties so that everyone will benefit.
House Democrats have acknowledged that good ideas are not exclusive to a political party and therefore, we have made ourselves available to the Republicans to discuss this budget. We want to work in a bipartisan manner. We want to work collaboratively. Republicans need to come to the table.
The Democrats plan to call for a vote on our proposed budget on Tuesday, July 18.
In the meantime, I urge Republicans, including Klarides and Klarides-Ditria, to meet with Democrats to discuss our budget proposal.
I hope they are willing to collaborate with us to pass this balanced and honest budget.
This is a release from the House Democrats' office.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Column: Conroy calls for bill to fight opioid abuse epidemic
By Theresa Conroy
State Representative
105th District
Our state and our nation are in the midst of a public health crisis...an epidemic.
Opioid abuse is tearing apart families and tearing at the fabric of our communities.
Heroin and opioid abuse does not discriminate. It knows no political affiliation, does not care what sex, age, religion, race, socio-economic class or any other status that historically have been discriminated against.
A year ago, I was, like many in the community, unaware of the epidemic. It was brought to my attention by the untimely death of a young college student.
Over the past year many people have come to me to tell me their stories.
There is always a variation, but the one theme that remains constant is that not one of them sought out to be a heroin addict. Too often, the use of prescription opioids, such as Percocet, lead to illegal street purchasing. When prescription drugs become too cost prohibitive, heroin is the cheap alternative.
Between 2009-2013, there were over 1,900 accidental and unintentional opioid involved deaths that occurred in 150 of Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.
One of several bills (HB 5782) that I submitted will aid in the battle against opioid overdose.
This legislation will allow pharmacists to dispense certain opioid antagonist drugs without a prescription, which could be done through a state-approved protocol or collaborative practice agreements; such is what currently allows pharmacist’s to administer certain vaccines.
Our neighboring states, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, have successfully implemented this type of program.
Naloxone, or Narcan, is an opioid antagonist that works to reverse the effects of opioids. Nalaxone is not addictive and has little side effects, as compared to other self-administered drugs such as an epi pen – it simply saves the lives of people who have overdosed on an opioid.
A recent evaluation of a Naloxone program in Massachusetts, which trained over 2,900 potential overdose bystanders, reported that opioid overdose death rates were significantly reduced in communities in which the program was implemented compared to those in which it was not available.
I am also proud to see Gov. Malloy out front on this issue. He has a proposal (HB 6856) to provide new tools to battle to opioid crisis.
His proposal, among other things, would streamline the reporting process by alerting practitioners if patients seeking certain prescriptions have recently received these medications from multiple other prescribers or pharmacists.
The proposal requires all pharmacies in Connecticut to report the dispensing of prescriptions for all controlled substances immediately-rather than weekly. Gov. Malloy is taking a strong stance with his leadership on this issue.
These are tools we need to protect our loved ones and our communities from the ravages of opioid abuse.
We can save lives by meeting this crisis head on with strong policy initiatives.
Conroy represents Seymour, Beacon Falls, and Derby. She is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.
State Representative
105th District
Our state and our nation are in the midst of a public health crisis...an epidemic.
Opioid abuse is tearing apart families and tearing at the fabric of our communities.
 |
| Theresa Conroy |
A year ago, I was, like many in the community, unaware of the epidemic. It was brought to my attention by the untimely death of a young college student.
Over the past year many people have come to me to tell me their stories.
There is always a variation, but the one theme that remains constant is that not one of them sought out to be a heroin addict. Too often, the use of prescription opioids, such as Percocet, lead to illegal street purchasing. When prescription drugs become too cost prohibitive, heroin is the cheap alternative.
Between 2009-2013, there were over 1,900 accidental and unintentional opioid involved deaths that occurred in 150 of Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.
One of several bills (HB 5782) that I submitted will aid in the battle against opioid overdose.
This legislation will allow pharmacists to dispense certain opioid antagonist drugs without a prescription, which could be done through a state-approved protocol or collaborative practice agreements; such is what currently allows pharmacist’s to administer certain vaccines.
Our neighboring states, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, have successfully implemented this type of program.
Naloxone, or Narcan, is an opioid antagonist that works to reverse the effects of opioids. Nalaxone is not addictive and has little side effects, as compared to other self-administered drugs such as an epi pen – it simply saves the lives of people who have overdosed on an opioid.
A recent evaluation of a Naloxone program in Massachusetts, which trained over 2,900 potential overdose bystanders, reported that opioid overdose death rates were significantly reduced in communities in which the program was implemented compared to those in which it was not available.
I am also proud to see Gov. Malloy out front on this issue. He has a proposal (HB 6856) to provide new tools to battle to opioid crisis.
His proposal, among other things, would streamline the reporting process by alerting practitioners if patients seeking certain prescriptions have recently received these medications from multiple other prescribers or pharmacists.
The proposal requires all pharmacies in Connecticut to report the dispensing of prescriptions for all controlled substances immediately-rather than weekly. Gov. Malloy is taking a strong stance with his leadership on this issue.
These are tools we need to protect our loved ones and our communities from the ravages of opioid abuse.
We can save lives by meeting this crisis head on with strong policy initiatives.
Conroy represents Seymour, Beacon Falls, and Derby. She is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.
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