More than 100 gathered at the home of Michael and Elena Trueworthy in New Britain on Saturday to show their support for the Connecticut Citizen Action Group.
Several attendees took a moment to talk about why they feel that it was so important for them to come out and support CCAG on a hot Saturday afternoon:
Alderwoman Eva Magnuszewski says that she supports CCAG because "it is very important that every citizen in Connecticut has access to health care [because] health care is a right not a privilege."
"CCAG is the state's primary vehicle for getting power to people" says Congressman Chris Murphy. "I don't think I'd be the progressive legislator that I am if I didn't have CCAG standing by my side."
House Majority Leader, Representative Chris Donovan said of CCAG that "As a state representative working on issues that the people in the community care about, CCAG has always been there making sure that the public is represented."
If you missed the BBQ but were with us in spirit on Saturday, you can show your support for CCAG at this link.
James Craven attended the event, and filed a report in The New Britain Herald:
Along with the hot food was an even hotter thread of conversation on the veto by Gov. M. Jodi Rell of HB 5536, known as the Healthcare Partnership Bill. The proposed bill would have opened up the state employee’s health insurance plan to towns, nonprofits and small businesses.
House Majority Leader Christopher Donovan showed up to support the group, but found himself fielding questions from several people on the bill he wrote and had strongly advocated.
“The governor used information that was incorrect to make her decision,” Donovan said. “We supplied her with information, and so did the insurance companies that do so much business in this state.”
Donovan told a small group that the information given to her by the insurance interests in the state was misleading and, in some cases, untrue.
“She chose to accept what they said rather than the comprehensive analysis we put together,” he said.
A group of CCAG Field Canvassers who helped set up Saturday's event take a well-deserved break
CCAG would like to thank the Trueworthys for hosting the event, all those who attended, the canvassers, staff, and volunteers who set everything up, and of course all of our special guests: Congressman Chris Murphy, Senator Donald DeFronzo, Representative Chris Donovan, Representative Peter Tercyak, Representative John Geragosian, Representative Tim O'Brien, City Treasurer Teresa Sapieha-Yanchak, Mayor Pro Temp Suzanne Bielinski, Alderman Phil Sherwood, Alderwoman Tonilynn Collins, Alderwoman Eva Magnuzewski, Alderwoman Shirley Black, Alderwoman Sylvia Cruz, Alderman Larry Hermanowski, Alderman Greg Gerratana, Alderman Roy Centeno, Alderwoman Lori Rocha, Alderman Adam Platosz
