Christopher G. Donovan
Encyclopedia
Christopher G. Donovan is the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives
. He was sworn in as Speaker on January 7, 2009.
in Drexel Hill
in 1971. He earned his Bachelors degree in Biology at Villanova University
in 1975 and his Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut
School of Social Work. He is a teacher on the faculty of the University of Hartford
.
, Connecticut
. He later served as House Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee from 1997 to 2003 and was elected Majority Leader, serving from November of 2004 to 2008. Donovan was first elected to serve as Speaker of the House in 2009.
] contains provisions related to health care workforce, long term care, slowing cost growth, prevention and wellness. The SustiNet framework provides many opportunities for capturing and coordinating these new resources and the committee will have the chance to consider targeting resources at areas that could benefit from cost and quality improvements. For example, there are many grants opportunities for workforce development and community health promotion.
Rep. Donovan has been recognized for his efforts by numerous groups.
On July 13, 2010 House Speaker Donovan came out in favor of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
decision in Green Party of Connecticut v. Garfield on campaign finance ("pay to play
"), in solidarity with Governor Rell.
In 2000 he set the first standard wage for service workers across the state. PA 99-142
Other bills he helped pass include; balancing the state budget and eliminating a $10 billion deficit (HB 6802); stem cell research (SB 934); creating green technology jobs (SB 494); addressing the education achievement gap (HB 5491); campaign finance reform; allowing civil unions; paid family medical leave; and fully funding the Teacher’s Retirement Fund at $235 million (HB 5845).
programs, and measures to ensure victims can remove themselves from dangerous and unsafe living environments.
The Speaker’s Commission on Municipal Opportunities and Regional Efficiencies (MORE) initiated a new approach to finding cost efficiencies through regional collaboration between state and local governments in Connecticut. Employee health insurance plans and school transportation agreements can now be jointly contracted and cities and towns can now take advantage of the negotiating power of the state’s health plan for prescription drug coverage for their employees.
During his tenure as Speaker in 2009 and 2010, Donovan brought forth a 2/3 majority vote, successfully overturning the governor’s veto 15 times on important issues, such as
Connecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
. He was sworn in as Speaker on January 7, 2009.
Education
Donovan graduated from Monsignor Bonner High SchoolMonsignor Bonner High School
Monsignor Bonner High School is an all-male Augustinian Catholic High School in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It is located in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, United States. Bonner was created in 1953 as Archbishop Prendergast High School for Boys...
in Drexel Hill
Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania
Drexel Hill is a census-designated place in Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Drexel Hill is located southwest of Center City, Philadelphia and is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area...
in 1971. He earned his Bachelors degree in Biology at Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
in 1975 and his Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
School of Social Work. He is a teacher on the faculty of the University of Hartford
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of...
.
Family Life
Donovan is married to Elaine Gallen Donovan. They live in Meriden. They have a daughter, Sarah, who is a freshman at George Washington University, and a grown son, Aaron, who resides in Massachusetts.Career
He was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in 1992 representing the 84th Assembly District of MeridenMeriden, Connecticut
Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. He later served as House Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee from 1997 to 2003 and was elected Majority Leader, serving from November of 2004 to 2008. Donovan was first elected to serve as Speaker of the House in 2009.
Healthcare
During his legislative career, Donovan has championed many successful healthcare initiatives which include expanding prescription drug assistance for seniors and disabled adults (ConnPACE); health insurance for low-income children (HUSKY) (HB7065) ; adding supplemental Medicare coverage, and; establishing school-based health clinics. Other notable healthcare initiatives include:SustiNet
SustiNet (PA 09-148) lays out a framework for leveraging the bargaining power of state health care purchasing to create a large pool open to individuals and groups and a structure for a state-wide healthcare delivery system that contains costs and promotes preventive care. The 2009 legislation authorized the SustiNet Board of Directors and its task forces and committees to make recommendations on the implementation of SustiNet to the 2011 General Assembly. The final report is expected prior to the start of session. The Public Health Committee anticipates that it will raise a bill outlining the next phase of the SustiNet proposal based on these recommendations.Implementing Federal Health Care Reform
In addition to insurance reforms, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act [^ Pub.L. 111-148, 124 Stat. 119, to be codified as amended at scattered sections of 42 U.S.C.Title 42 of the United States Code
Title 42 of the United States Code is the title of the United States Code dealing with public health, social welfare, and civil rights.—The Public Health Service—The Public Health Service, Supplemental Provisions—Sanitation and Quarantine—Leprosy—Cancer—Viruses, Serums, Toxins, Antitoxins,...
] contains provisions related to health care workforce, long term care, slowing cost growth, prevention and wellness. The SustiNet framework provides many opportunities for capturing and coordinating these new resources and the committee will have the chance to consider targeting resources at areas that could benefit from cost and quality improvements. For example, there are many grants opportunities for workforce development and community health promotion.
Connecticut Healthcare Partnership
The Connecticut Healthcare Partnership legislation (last considered in 2009 as PA 09-147) would allow municipalities, small businesses, and non-profits to voluntarily join the state employee health insurance plan, creating a large pool of insured lives yielding significantly lower costs. The governor vetoed this measure twice, but finally signed a less sweeping form of the legislation, which permitted municipalities to purchase prescription coverage through the state, in 2010. This legislation will be considered again in 2011.Rep. Donovan has been recognized for his efforts by numerous groups.
On July 13, 2010 House Speaker Donovan came out in favor of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
decision in Green Party of Connecticut v. Garfield on campaign finance ("pay to play
Pay to Play
Pay to play, sometimes pay for play, is a phrase used for a variety of situations in which money is exchanged for services or the privilege to engage in certain activities...
"), in solidarity with Governor Rell.
Labor, Minimum Wage, State Budget
In 1998, 2000 and again in 2002, as Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee, Donovan successfully brought out of committee bills that raised the state’s minimum wage (HB 5160).In 2000 he set the first standard wage for service workers across the state. PA 99-142
Other bills he helped pass include; balancing the state budget and eliminating a $10 billion deficit (HB 6802); stem cell research (SB 934); creating green technology jobs (SB 494); addressing the education achievement gap (HB 5491); campaign finance reform; allowing civil unions; paid family medical leave; and fully funding the Teacher’s Retirement Fund at $235 million (HB 5845).
Speaker Task Force Initiatives
House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan has convened a bipartisan legislative task force to formulate Connecticut's response to domestic violence and the legislature approved its most sweeping reforms to domestic violence laws in over 25 years when it approved a package of bills addressing criminal justice, housing and human services, and education issues related to this crime. The changes include GPS monitoring for high risk domestic violence offenders, improvement of enforcing protective orders, the creation of three additional domestic violence court dockets, school family and teen dating violenceTeen dating violence
-What is teen dating violence?:Teen dating violence is defined as the physical, sexual, or psychological/emotional violence within a dating relationship. According to the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the prevalence of teen dating violence is often misunderstood...
programs, and measures to ensure victims can remove themselves from dangerous and unsafe living environments.
The Speaker’s Commission on Municipal Opportunities and Regional Efficiencies (MORE) initiated a new approach to finding cost efficiencies through regional collaboration between state and local governments in Connecticut. Employee health insurance plans and school transportation agreements can now be jointly contracted and cities and towns can now take advantage of the negotiating power of the state’s health plan for prescription drug coverage for their employees.
During his tenure as Speaker in 2009 and 2010, Donovan brought forth a 2/3 majority vote, successfully overturning the governor’s veto 15 times on important issues, such as
- Clean Elections (SB 551)
- Standard Wage for Certain Connecticut Workers (HB 6502) []
- Establishment of the Sustinet Plan (HB 6600)
Recognition
Rep. Donovan has been recognized for his efforts by numerous groups, such as:- The Purple Tie Award for "men who have taken a stand against domestic violence" by the Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis Inc.;
- The Mental Health Outstanding Advocate Award from the Region II Regional Mental Health Board;
- The CT Early Childhood Alliance Legislator of the Year Award;
- The Connecticut Family Resource Center Alliance “Friend of the Family Award;”
- The Connecticut Police Chief’s Association Legislative Award;
- The Connecticut Voices for Children “First for Kids 2009 Legislative Leadership Award;”
- The Child Advocacy Legislative Leadership Award, was NASW’s Legislator of the Year;
- Capitol Community College’s recognition as an honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society.[3]
External links
- State Representative Christopher G Donovan official constituent site
- Bills Introduced at the Connecticut General Assembly
- Profile at OurCampaigns