Why is Ryan Running?
The Issues
Public Saftey
Connecticut needs to change state policy to support law enforcement, enforce reasonable criminal justice laws, and keep the public safe. Since the weakening of criminal justice laws and a police reform law that handcuffed police, serious crimes in Connecticut have skyrocketed. Car thefts more than doubled in Greenwich and New Canaan. Shootings increased significantly in Stamford. And homicides rose by 35 percent across the state.
Ryan has co-introduced laws to untie the hands of our police and change the police bill so that they can keep us safe. He supports changing our criminal justice statutes so that people who commit several felonies, including stealing cars, will not continue to see zero consequences for their actions. For all these reasons and more, Ryan has been repeatedly endorsed by our local police organizations and will always work to keep the public safe.
Tax Relief & Affordability
To solve Connecticut’s economic and fiscal crisis and create prosperity for all families, we should pursue three major reforms:
1.) Slash income tax rates for all families for the first time in state history
2.) Reduce wasteful spending and reform state employee packages
3.) Cut red tape to alleviate the burden on workers
Educational Excellence
Connecticut should reduce the cost of higher education, raise standards for K-12, and preserve local control of our schools:
1.) Freeze tuition for state universities indefinitely like it has been done successfully in Indiana and Wisconsin
2.) Raise standards for K-12 education across the state and give more choice to poor kids stuck in failing schools
3.) Reduce unfunded mandates that constrict teachers and principals
4.) Stop regionalization and preserve local control no matter what
Women's Issues
Connecticut should keep abortion legal in state law. Our state should ensure that the industry maintains high health and safety standards for women. We should also expand access to contraception. Leaders in both parties are clear on the record that abortion should remain legal in the state, so voters have clarity.
Ryan's stance on this issue is very clear. Connecticut should keep abortion legal in state law. He has voted with colleagues of both parties against lowering health and safety standards for the industry. Specifically, he voted against HB5414 alongside Democrats and Republicans, which lowered the standard of care for surgical abortion in the state. That's why six independent health care organizations testified critically of the bill.
Ryan also has led on this issue by introducing a bill in January to expand access to contraception and make it easier for women to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Other states have also made similar reforms with success. Ryan will always work across the aisle in a constructive way to protect the health and safety of women in our district.
Local Control
Connecticut must protect local control over our towns, including planning and zoning decisions, and advance affordable housing goals with local buy in.
1.) Stop any legislation the further erodes local control of planning and zoning or education
2.) Reform 8-30g, most importantly to give town’s added buy in over decisions and to count all forms of affordable housing in municipalities
3.) Advance affordable housing goals in a more discrete way, in the scope and style of our neighborhoods