Governors Deliver Inaugural/State of the State & Budget Addresses; Governors Lead in Spite of Shutdown; CONEG Launches New Website

Volume 11 | January 31, 2019

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Governors Deliver Inaugural & State of the State Addresses

The CONEG Governors have delivered their 2019 Inaugural and/or State of the State addresses. Highlights of their speeches are provided below including a word cloud illustrating the commonalities among the states.

Governors Leading In Spite of Shutdown

Only a couple weeks into office, and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has signed legislation that directly confronts negative consequences from the federal shutdown . His first bill he signed into law and first of its kinds nationwide, House Bill 5765, allows federal workers impacted by the shutdown to receive financial assistance through a partnership with banks and credit unions in Connecticut. The partnership guarantees that federal workers in Connecticut, some of whom are still required to work while not receiving a paycheck and are otherwise ineligible to apply for unemployment assistance, will be able to receive financial assistance during the shutdown.

While federal workers who protect our country like Coast Guard and TSA are not getting paid due to the shutdown, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker gave a pay raise to the National Guard. Governor Baker signed the legislation into law on January 18, 2019 , which provides an increase to the minimum daily pay for soldiers and airmen performing state active duty, making Massachusetts the highest minimum pay in the nation for active duty National Guard.

In a memorandum issued January 21 , Governor Phil Scott directed the Vermont Department of Labor to offer unemployment benefits to all federal workers affected by the shutdown .

CONEG Launches a New Website

CONEG is pleased to announce the launch of our brand new website. Amongst some new features, the site contains integrated social media buttons, and a blog section to foster improved communications with our stakeholders. We've also included committee transparency, as well as a new resources section. We will be updating content with helpful information, articles, and newsletters.

Please visit https://www.coneg.org and let us know what you think!

Bridging the Gap Between Conservation and Energy Advocates: A Historical Leadership Moment

By: Lana Bluege

In the energy and environmental field, consequential outcomes lurk around every report and every new study determining the fate of the planet. States are prioritizing areas where change needs to occur in order to reduce the effects of climate change and the continued damage to the earth. New England in particular has very

News from the States

Connecticut

Gov. Lamont Signs First Bill: Bipartisan Legislation Allows Federal Workers Impacted by the Shutdown to Receive Financial Assistance Through a Partnership With the State’s Banks and Credit Unions

Lamont talks grid reliability, offshore wind with DEEP staff (The Day)

Maine

Maine’s governor solicits proposals to install solar panels on the Blaine House (Portland Press Herald)

Bill To Tax Fossil Fuel Producers Among Dozens Of Climate-Related Proposals Before Maine Legislature (Maine Public Radio)

Massachusetts

Massachusetts’ Nation-Leading Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plan Approved

Governor Baker Unveils School Finance Proposal to Fully Fund the Foundation Budget Recommendations with FY20 Budget

New Hampshire

Governor Chris Sununu Letter to Dr. Walter Cruickshank regarding BOEM Offshore Renewable Energy Task Force for New Hampshire

Sununu Requests State-Federal Offshore Wind Task Force ; Advocates Court Supply Business (NHPR)

New York

Governor Cuomo Announces Green New Deal Included in 2019 Executive Budget

Andrew Cuomo's New York Budget Plan Includes Call to Change MTA Governance (Bloomberg)

Rhode Island

Governor releases proposed $9.9B state budget (Newport Daily News)

Rhode Island Jobs Hit New All-Time High, Unemployment Rate Level with National Average

Vineyard Wind offers $6.2M to compensate R.I. fishermen (Providence Journal)

Vermont

Governor Scott's Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Address

With No Shutdown End In Sight, Vt. Extends Unemployment Benefits To Federal Workers (VT Public Radio)

Governor Chris Sununu and Governor Phil Scott Introduce Twin State Voluntary Leave Plan