Rep. Claire Janowski Speaks At The Vernon Senior Center

State Rep. Claire Janowski visited the Vernon Senior Center on Thursday morning and spoke to a crowded room about issues concerning seniors.

The information session, the 11th in a series that Janowski has held, began at 10 a.m.  Her talking points were based on questions frequently brought to her office.  

Programs such as Dial-A-Ride, Home Care for Elders, ConnPACE and home heating assistance were all discussed.

Although a period for questions was scheduled after Janowski’s talking points, she was interrupted several times to respond to concerns from the crowd.

She also briefly mentioned the Charter Oak Pass program.

“Hopefully it has not been cut because so many things have been cut or are being charged for now and it kind of upsets me,” said Janowski.

After a half hour, she officially opened up the floor for questions.

“It is more relevant to me that you ask questions so I know what issues you are facing,” Janowski told the audience.

And the audience asked a stream of questions.

Medicare, specifically prescription drug coverage, was a hot topic.

“So many things are happening with Medicare that it has become unaffordable,” Janowski said. “I am afraid that Medicare will become more complex in efforts to privatize it.”

Another topic that raised plenty of questions was the state budget.

Janowski said that because Connecticut's debt, accumulated over a period of many years, she does not think that the government should try to completely erase it all at once.  She said that if changes were spread out, the pay-off would not hurt so much.

Janowski was one of 15 Democrats who voted against Gov. Dannel Malloy’s first state budget.  She said she felt that it was heavy on taxes for the middle class.

“I listened to my constituency when I voted ‘no’ on the budget,” Janowski said.

Besides Medicare and budgetary issues, Janowski answered questions on topics as varied as ethanol concerns to the Roosevelt Mills project.  A question regarding marijuana legalization, to which Janowski is opposed, sparked a particularly lively discussion.

Although Janowski put down her microphone at 11:10 a.m., she walked around the room answering more questions one-on-one for another 30 minutes.  Attendees helped themselves to stacks of informational booklets and brochures that Janowski brought with her.  Two employees from Vernon Social Services were also on hand to address concerns.