An interview with State Representative Maria Horn

By Jeremy Withnall

On Friday, Jan. 15, Norfolk Now interviewed Maria Horn (D), recently re-elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives for District 64, which includes Norfolk as well as much of the far northwestern corner of the state. As she starts her second term in office, we wanted to ask her a few questions regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, the state of the economy, and the kind of work the legislative committees she serves on will be handling during the session that just started.

NN: As we have started to move through the vaccination phases, what part does the legislature play in determining who falls into which phase? 

MH: The phases come from the governor’s executive authority. The legislature could step in to make a different ruling if they disagreed significantly from the governor’s office, but that is unlikely to happen. The reason being that the governor is in regular contact with legislators on what the group in charge of phasing is doing. This gives legislators an opportunity to weigh in. For instance, originally phase 1b was to include only those aged 75 and up, but upon input from legislators, 1b will be expanded to 65 and up. 

NH: There were massive lines and traffic backups at a vaccine distribution site in Brooklyn, N.Y., owing to online misinformation. How is Connecticut working to avoid similar issues as we roll out the vaccine?

MH: The online process for signing up for vaccines is not going as smoothly as it could. It is important to hear feedback from constituents on their experiences. So far, it is a messy process, but work is constantly going on to make it better. There’s a trade-off. Things might go smoother if the decisions were done autocratically, but the fact that we have input makes for better policy. There being 151 people in the legislature, it can get complicated, but I do believe that better policy emerges due to us being able to hear from those on the ground.

While we do need national resources, we don’t want an entirely nationally run system for vaccine rollout. To get the vaccine to an elderly rural couple is very different from getting it out in a dense urban area. The ability to make decisions based on local conditions and communication is key.

NN: What more can be done to support small businesses that are suffering during the pandemic?

MH: There are some good grants coming around to assist small businesses. Most so far have been federal, but there are some state-sponsored ones too. An example for arts-based institutions is Save Our Stages, geared toward performance spaces. Ultimately there is no such thing as a purely public health crisis. Economic health is intertwined inextricably with public health. One is tied to the other.

NN: As co-chair of the Public Safety and Security Committee, can you tell us about any plans or initiatives in the works to prevent the kind of violence that occurred in DC last week from happening here in Connecticut?

MH: Yes. Many briefings have occurred already. Particularly in this moment, the Capitol police in Hartford kept us safe in a very different swearing-in than we saw in DC. The Capitol police are on full ready. The Capitol looks quite different right now. Officers with long guns, police are very visible right now. We’d prefer it not to have to be this way, but heightened readiness is vital. 

It’s harder to see groups as they are planning for violence, since they are now being removed from traditional social media. It will come down to local authorities being in touch with state authorities. The local level has an ear to the ground, the state has technical capabilities. 

NN: Any initiatives you would like to highlight from the other two committees you serve on, Energy and Technology or Environment?

MH: I’m new to the Energy and Technology Committee, which I joined because of concerns about connectivity. I’ve proposed a bill to enact a “one-touch make-ready” system for utility poles which would ensure that towns that want to set up municipal broadband have physical access to poles. The governor has previewed that he will introduce a budget that includes universal access to broadband. Infrastructural needs in the Northwest Corner are especially pressing. Cost is an issue for many municipalities, and this has been brought up by the council of small towns. We’re trying to keep up momentum to get better connectivity for our area.

On the Environment Committee, we are in a solid waste crisis in that the facility that solid waste goes to is on its last legs. This will force proposals for dealing with food waste, anaerobic digestion, composting, such as moving those out of the physical waste stream, tighter recycling restrictions, extended producer responsibilities. The fact is, we are generating more waste than ever due to the pandemic. The costs associated with the packaging, more than just the materials production, are born by the municipalities having to deal with the waste. 

NN: Any other top priorities for the Connecticut State legislature this session that you would like to mention?

MH: The financial situation is constantly changing, but the budget numbers are getting better, the projected deficit is getting smaller. In gaming, sports betting, online gaming, we have promising revenue-producing sectors.