Shaban: Karvelis' Mailer is Inaccurate

To the Editor:

Last week my opponent sent out a mailer labeled “Shame on Shaban” plagued with inaccuracies and mischaracterizations about my service on the Environment Committee. While I had hoped that we would avoid such shenanigans — and instead focus on actual issues like rising unemployment, deficits, taxes and poverty in Connecticut — I must instead set the record straight.

Indeed, what’s been missing from his various writings is the fact that NONE of the bills he cites came up for a floor vote – none of them! All of these bills died in committee because Rs and Ds alike felt that the bills, while laudable, were flawed and/or too undeveloped at this point to progress.

As an environmental lawyer, I am able to vet the myriad of environmental bills proposed for effectiveness, affordability and applicability, and to focus attention on important details — something that has been lacking in my opponent’s rhetoric.  Indeed, the “Shame on” mailer misstates and/or omits relevant facts such as (and in order):

• I am on the bipartisan panel to draft a genetic ingredient labeling bill that might actually work;  

• The pesticide bill/effort that I opposed would have increased pesticide usage at schools, stripped away the existing state wide ban, and was opposed by DEEP;

• We already have a pharmaceutical recapture program that is working;  

• Private mattress recyclers are solving this problem without another expensive government program; and

• The CT Environmental Policy Act is alive and well as it has been for 20-plus years.  I voted with the Democratic Chairs on the Judiciary Committee to make a technical change to CEPA needed to screen out nuisance lawsuits. 

Bottom line, my environmental record and credentials are beyond reproach, and bad policy will do nothing to protect the environment.  I am happy to be able to bring my expertise with me to Hartford, and thank my friends and neighbors for their continued trust and support.

State Rep. John Shaban (R-135th)