A set of bills before the Connecticut General Assembly are meant to open more opportunities for women and girls. The bills have the support of the state’s top elected officials.
Among them — a bill that would allow some candidates running for office to use state funds for child care expenses. Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz said it would make it easier for women to run and win elected office and serve on state boards.
“Child care continues to be a barrier that prevents too many mothers, especially low-income mothers who can’t afford outside help, from running for office,” Bysiewicz said.
State Senator Mae Flexer is the chair of the Elections Committee.
“This is another policy that will advance the original mission of the Citizen’s Election Program and allow more parents to choose to run for office. And we need more parents in the General Assembly so that more of these issues can be at the forefront of our agenda,” Flexer said.
Another bill would make it easier to operate in-home child care services. And another would make it easier for military spouses to have out-of-state professional licenses recognized in Connecticut. Additional bills address age discrimination and public transportation — issues, officials said, that disproportionally affect female employees.