ROCKY HILL - Candidate: Pankaj Prakash

       Running for: 29th State House District

       District towns: Rocky Hill/Wethersfield

       Party: Republican

       Status: Challenger

      

      

      

       1. For those unfamiliar with your journey, what first inspired you to get involved in politics? How has your background in business and real estate guided your legislative vision?

      

       Pankaj:

       My experiences as an immigrant have inspired me to get involved in public service. I have experienced America as an international student from India, a professional on a work visa, and as a proud American citizen. I have lived the life of a restaurant worker, an engineer, a business school professor, and an elected official. My family and I have lived in Rocky Hill since 2009. I am running because I want to continue to give back to the community that has given me the opportunity to succeed.

      

       2. Despite tax relief included in the latest state budget, affordability remains a hot topic this election cycle -- where might there be opportunities for Connecticut to continue pushing toward this goal?

      

       Pankaj:

       Affordability is the number one issue facing the state. Connecticut is the 8th most expensive state, with the 2nd highest tax burden in the country, 4th highest utility costs, 50th in income growth, and in 2023 health care premiums are going to significantly increase. Rents are soaring. Young people and seniors can’t afford this state. But this is a symptom of a larger problem. One-party rule in our legislature has impeded new, critical thinking. Same old politicians keep getting reelected, who recycle the same old prescriptions from 30 years ago, while voting with their party 98% of the time. Elections are about the future. This November 8, the biggest risk we can take is to vote for the same old politics and same old players and hope for a different result.

      

       My proposal will reduce the income tax from 5% to 4% for families making less than $175,000, index state income tax brackets to inflation so that taxes paid on earnings do not outpace inflation, increase the retirement income exemption to $150,000, increase the property tax credit that can be claimed for real estate and motor vehicles from $300 to $500 to all families filing state income taxes. Repeal taxes and fees which cost more to collect than the revenue they generate.

      

       3. A large piece of the affordability question is how to lower healthcare costs for Connecticut consumers. How would you look to tackle this problem?

      

       Pankaj:

       Health care premiums in Connecticut are going to increase by as much as 25% in 2023. This is unsustainable as we are pricing out people in our community. As your State Representative, I would pursue a variety of strategies to curb the rising cost of health care, ranging from promoting competition among providers, reducing prices of prescription drugs, payment reform, greater use of data and technology, and increasing the availability of qualified personnel. For example, to address our nursing shortage, I have proposed a new Nursing Delegation Pilot Program that some other states have implemented

      

       Unfortunately, the Insurance Committee (our current Representative is the Chair) is focused mainly on one those aspects �" regulation and controls �" when a more holistic approach is required in a very complex health care landscape.

      

       To understand trends in health care spending and implement many of these strategies, the state also needs better data �" more detailed claims-level data will allow for more thorough analyses. To this end, “all-payer” claims databases can be particularly useful for understanding and reducing prices.

      

      

       4. With candidates and constituents alike calling for an economic recovery that balances business and worker interests, how might the state improve existing policies (such as paid family medical leave) and what new ones (if any) would you pursue if reelected?

      

       Pankaj:

       Now this might be surprising to some, but I am a Republican who supports paid family leave. I believe that strong families and individual responsibility are keys to strong communities. Many multi-generational families like mine, in Rocky Hill and Wethersfield are raising children and taking care of our parents, and so far, more than 500 Rocky Hill and Wethersfield residents have applied for the program in the first six months of CT's new law. This is a clear indicator of how needed this program is for the residents of the 29th House District. Issues like paid family leave require diligent legislative work, balancing the needs of the employers and the employees. I am disappointed that our current Representative voted against this important program for the families in the 29th district, a program whose funding comes from employee payroll deductions. There is no employer match, and the future benefits payments will be adjusted to assure fund solvency in the future. It was a missed opportunity on part of our State Representative to shape this important legislation and lead on this important issue.

      

       For me paid family leave is about investing in our communities but also about affordability, and workforce development, and talent retention. Among possible improvements to keep the program sustainable and available, I could support ideas such as: Incentivizing rather than requiring small businesses to offer paid family leave, tying the level of benefits to employee contributions, time-of-service requirements, and a repeated usage cap.

      

      

      

      

      

       5. Over the past couple of years, current lawmakers have passed legislation to address motor vehicle property crime -- with newer policies including the streamlining of officer access to juvenile records, harsher penalties on adults who entice minors to commit car thefts, GPS ankle bracelet monitoring for juvenile repeat offenders, and expedited arraignments. Given that public safety is still a concern for Connecticut residents, what else do you feel needs to be done?

      

       Pankaj:

       In 2020, when the Police Accountability Bill became Law, an important dialogue was underway in our communities about the need for reforms. And many people in law enforcement will be the first to agree with that. However, I strongly believe that legislators should not make policy decisions based on emotional highs and lows and “in the moment” without doing their homework. As a Town Councilor in Rocky Hill, I know that many families in Rocky Hill and Wethersfield feel less safe today than they did two years ago. Our current Representative voted for the Police Accountability Law. While well intentioned, this law has resulted in low morale in our police force, impacted hiring and retention of police officers, and made communities like Rocky Hill and Wethersfield less safe. The most concerning parts of the law are about qualified immunity, and restrictions on proactive policing policies like consent searches. Those are the two parts of the bill that I would like to revisit as a State Representative.

      

       6. Educators say the pandemic has put a spotlight on preexisting achievement gaps, mental health challenges, and equity issues in schools -- what else can the state do to support local districts in these areas, and what might that look like from a legislative policy standpoint?

      

       Pankaj:

       Education is a big part of my life story. When I was a kid, my parents used to say education is your ticket to the middle class and they were right. In my campaign I talk about Community, Opportunity, and Responsibility. Education is about Opportunity.

      

       Connecticut’s per student spending has increased by more than $6,000 per student since 2012. Connecticut’s per-pupil spending for students from kindergarten through 12th grade is higher than the national average by more than $5K annually. But we are one of the worst in the nation in achievement gap. So, in my view, it is not just about spending more money, it also about measuring outcomes, accountability, and responsibility.

      

       My vision about education is about -- 1. how we fund K through 12 education. 2. teacher pay. 3. school choice.

      

       - I want to reform the education cost-sharing formula (ECS), which provides state aid to local public schools. The ECS formula today is a socioeconomic model with demographic criteria and where you live. Instead, it should be student centric - based on student outcomes and factors like class size and student teacher ratio.

       - Teachers right now are underpaid and overburdened. We need to look at pay increases if that’s what it takes to recruit and retain good teachers.

       - We need to provide more choice for students challenged with traditional schooling and I support magnet and charter schools.

      

      

       7. What is Connecticut doing well when it comes to climate and the environment, and what improvements would you look to make going forward?

      

       Pankaj:

       We as a state have done a good job identify the focus areas. However, we need to balance our green energy and sustainability goals with minimizing the need for more regulation on businesses. That is why, this issue to me is a no-brainer for a public-private partnership. We can do a lot more and a lot faster working with the private sector on this issue. I support building an electric vehicle infrastructure in our state. We should also build more sidewalks and bikeways, something that I have initiated and supported as a Town Councilor in Rocky Hill, improving sustainability and our quality of life.

      

      

       8. We’ve heard that reproductive rights are on the ballot this year, with the SCOTUS overturning of Roe v. Wade -- what is your view on Connecticut’s current policies concerning abortion, and what’s the legislature’s role going forward? What would you say to those questioning whether moderate Republicans will truly be able to shape their party’s agenda on this issue?

      

       Pankaj:

       I am a fiscal conservative and social moderate. I am an old style, pro-choice New England Republican. I don’t believe that reproductive rights are on the ballot in Connecticut. A woman’s right to choose is strongly protected and codified in state law, and I support the Connecticut law.