Media Room

Media Room

Media Contact:
Mary Crean
Yankee Institute for Public Policy
Chief Development Officer
(860) 881-5589 or mary@yankeeinstitute.org

News Release 

May 5, 2008

Live Radio & TV Debate '08:

Balancing Cost of Education with Property Taxes  

Hartford, May 5, 2008 - On Thursday, May 15th, The TALK of Connecticut and the Yankee Institute for Public Policy will co-sponsor their second live radio debate: “Debate ‘08 – Balancing the Cost of Education with Property Taxes.”  It will be broadcast on The TALK of Connecticut’s 4 station network, during “The Dan Lovallo Show,” from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. at the Legislative Office Building, Hearing Room 2E. 

The debate will promote a discussion of factors driving the ever-increasing costs of public education. With property taxes continuing to climb, tied to education funding, we ponder a better way of financing education budgets or at least a better way of understanding the process. 

Co-moderated by NBC 30’s chief political correspondent Tom Monahan and The TALK of Connecticut’s Dan Lovallo, the debate will be broadcast live on The TALK of Connecticut’s “Dan Lovallo Show.”  It is also scheduled to air on Connecticut Network (CT-N), a statewide source for complete and balanced television and webcast coverage of Connecticut state government and public policy. 

Lovallo said, “Hopefully this forum will provide an opportunity to address the root causes of never-ending property tax hikes. We're long overdue for a discussion on this issue, as costs rise and key demographics leave the state.”

Panelists represent a cross section of legislators and town leaders from large and small communities in Connecticut, all versed on property taxes and/or local education. They include:  Speaker of the House James A. Amann, House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., Lee C. Erdmann Chief Operating Officer for City of Hartford, Mayor Michael J. Jarjura of Waterbury, John N. Barry, Chairman of the Town Council of Southington, First Selectman Barbara Henry of Roxbury, Barbara B. Carpenter, President of the West Hartford Education Association, Brian Clemow of Shipman & Goodwin, LLP, and Dan Lips, Education Analyst from the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. 

Speaker of the House Jim Amann said, “Our municipalities face the ongoing challenge of meeting the needs of their school system while trying to keep property taxes affordable for residents. This debate occurs in every town and I look forward to helping bring this discussion to listeners of ‘The TALK of Connecticut’ and viewers on CTN.” 

“This is a great opportunity for thousands of listeners to take part in an open dialogue with their elected officials on important topics. Everyone is busy in their daily lives and it is easy to lose track of what is going on in the Capitol - programs such as this make for more informed voters,” said House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr. from Norwalk.  

To schedule print, radio or television interviews or to learn more about the debate, contact Mary Crean at mary@yankeeinstitute.org or at (860) 881-5589.

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