With the 2022 legislative session underway, Rep. Matt Ritter and Sen. Martin Looney continue to preside over Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, respectively, making them major influencers in shaping state policy.
Looney (D-New Haven) is the Senate President Pro Tempore, who was first elected in 1992. He’s now in his fourteenth Senate term and has been known for advocating for progressive policies, including an earned income tax credit for the working poor, increases to the minimum wage, and paid family and medical leave.
Ritter (D-Hartford) comes from a political family.
His father Tom Ritter was a former House Speaker and is now a partner at law firm Brown Rudnick in Hartford. Tom Ritter also sits on the UConn board of trustees. Matt Ritter’s mother, Christine E. Keller, is a justice on the state Supreme Court.
Ritter and Looney both know well how business runs inside the Capitol, but the pandemic presented new challenges as the public — including lobbyists and other special interests — was barred from entering the building during last year’s legislative session.
This session the state Capitol will be open for business, although committee meetings, at least at the start, will be held virtually.
Meanwhile, Connecticut is still dealing with the pandemic and the state’s economic recovery has been slower than the national average. A significant workforce shortage affecting many industries has only made matters worse.
Ritter and Looney have said one of their key priorities this year will be passing significant legislation to shore up the state’s mental healthcare system, particularly services for children. Other healthcare reforms are also on the table. They will also be wrestling with various proposals to cut taxes amid a sizable budget surplus, helped by a massive influx of federal stimulus dollars.