Category: Melina Vissat
CT Delegation Works Together To Combat Comanche Job Loss
WASHINGTON – In an effort to stem the loss of jobs following the Army’s cancellation of the Comanche helicopter program, Connecticut ‘s Congress members said Thursday they would push the government to build its new fleet of presidential helicopters at the Sikorsky Aircraft plant in Stratford .
The lawmakers met behind closed doors with George David, chief executive officer of United Technologies Corp., which owns Sikorsky, to discuss the fallout from the loss of the $39 billion Comanche program.
“UTC remains the largest private-sector employer in the state of Connecticut , and we want to protect those jobs and see them grow,” said Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Democratic member of the Armed Services Committee. “The termination of the Comanche program is a crisis for us now. We have to answer some very critical questions.”
David said 700 workers, mostly salaried employees in Bridgeport and Stratford , face layoffs as a direct result of the Army’s decision to halt production of Comanches. The Comanche program was considered key to Sikorsky’s military future.
“This was a heartbreaking thing,” said Rep. Chris Shays, R-4 th dist. Sikorsky has “been working on this for so long, and saw 10 years of really wonderful employment.”
The lawmakers said they hope Sikorsky could save at least some of the jobs by winning the $1.6 billion initial contract to build the next fleet of presidential helicopters, called Marine One.
But Sikorsky faces intense competition from the European helicopter consortium Agusta Westland and its American partner, Lockheed Martin Corp.
“By fighting as hard as we can alongside the company for the presidential helicopter, we hope to see as many of those 700 employees on the presidential helicopter program as possible,” Lieberman said.
“We’ve been very strong as a delegation on that matter,” agreed Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3 rd Dist.. “We are asking Sikorsky not to lay off workers until we know what is happening with the Marine One contract. We are fighting very hard for the residual of the Comanche money.”
Six of Connecticut ‘s seven Congress members attended the meeting with David. Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd was unable to attend because he was giving a speech on the floor of the Senate prior to a vote on an amendment he sponsored on exporting jobs overseas.
Lawmakers also hope the Army will increase its order from Sikorsky for Black Hawk helicopters.
“We all agree that we have a goal here, with regard to the Comanche,” Lieberman said. “The goal is that when it’s all over, that there’s not a single job lost at Sikorsky. And how do we do that? Marine One, increase the Black Hawk and the transition that we work out for Comanche.
“That’s our goal,” he said. “Not a single job lost.”
Senate Shoots Down Gun Immunity Bill; Lieberman Disappointed
WASHINGTON - Politicians and advocates for gun safety in Connecticut had mixed feelings Tuesday after the Senate rejected a firearms legal immunity bill by a landslide 90-8 after its advocates decided that the measure had become overweighted with gun control provisions.
Before voting down the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, the Senate approved a series of amendments that would have imposed tighter gun controls, including one to extend the assault weapons ban that is set to expire in September and another to close a so-called gun show loophole.
Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) who sponsored the amendment to mandate background checks on people who buy guns at gun shows and voted in support of the overall bill, was upset with the end result.
"In the end, I concluded that the harm done by the immunity bill was outweighed by the good done by several amendments successfully added to it," he said. "I am disappointed that the Senate's final action today in defeating the bill will prevent important, life-protecting amendments from moving forward at this time. But I am hopeful that we will see them move forward through other means in the future."
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) expressed relief that the bill, which would have given gun manufacturers immunity from lawsuits for damages, was rejected. "This was a bad bill," he said. "Its aim wasn't to protect a single person in Connecticut or across the nation from gun violence. Its aim was to shield the gun industry from lawsuits. That's wrong."
The chief author of the immunity bill, Sen. Larry E. Craig, (R-Idaho), said the gun control amendments added earlier in the day made the bill so offensive its sponsors could no longer support it.
"I now believe it is so dramatically wounded that it should not pass," he said in urging defeat of his own legislation. The National Rifle Association (NRA), which supported the bill, began pressuring senators to shoot it down after the provisions were added earlier in the day.
Ron Pinciaro, a spokesman for Connecticut Against Gun Violence, said the Southport-based organization was "very much opposed to the immunity bill" and "not in favor" of extending the Federal Assault Weapons Act of 1994, calling it outdated.
"That an industry that has such a dangerous product has immunity granted from all damage it causes is almost unheard of," Pinciaro said. "No other industry has that."
"We are going to have to come back with new legislation to fix these things," he said. "But I think we are better organized to do that and are optimistic that the future will bring better outcomes for us."
"It's a huge, huge victory, a gigantic victory," said Matt Bennett, spokesman for the Washington-based Americans for Gun Safety. "The assumption is that the NRA runs this town, and they took a huge loss. This is a substantial victory. We are celebrating."
The nation's top gun manufacturer, Norwich-based Smith & Wesson, referred all inquiries to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The organization lent its support to the immunity bill.
"The act relieves our industry from the court system," spokesman Gary Mehalik said. "What criminals do with the guns is way beyond the control of the law-abiding and licensed industries."
Although President Bush said he favored renewing the assault weapons ban, he wanted to keep the legislation providing legal protection to the gun industry clear of any amendments that might hinder its passage through Congress.
"The President is a strong supporter of stopping frivolous lawsuits and litigation," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. "With these amendments the legislation will not pass the Congress."
Lieberman Bashes Bush’s Handling of Homeland Security
WASHINGTON - As the Department of Homeland Security nears its first anniversary amid hype of its accomplishments, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman said the new agency has fallen well short of its goals. "So much of the hard work still lies ahead," he said.
Lieberman, who spearheaded the effort to create the department, blamed lack of foresight and guidance for the agency's inefficiencies.
"While we have gained a new Cabinet member and a new governmental entity, we do not yet have what the department was truly meant to provide-forceful administration, vision and leadership on homeland security," Lieberman said in a statement.
In a speech Monday at George Washington University , DHS Secretary Tom Ridge praised the work the department has done since it began operations last March.
"In the space of one year, the men and women of this new department have achieved a great deal to secure this country," Ridge said. "It has been quite an undertaking ... and resulted in a country more secure and better prepared than it has ever been before."
Lieberman disagrees. "The administration's failings on homeland security betray a dangerous mix of overstatement and inattention," he said.
President Bush, he said "appears oblivious to the many, critical vulnerabilities that remain and the lack of discernable progress in key areas. And he has steadfastly refused to provide sufficient resources in his budget to get the job done."
Critics agree the department's work is only beginning.
"This agency is a disaster waiting to happen, it's so vulnerable," said Gordon Adams, policy director at George Washington University 's Homeland Security Policy Institute, which works with the department to provide research.
"Their trouble is they need to focus on everything," he said. "They have to create a department and run one at the same time."
Dr. Tee Guidotti, chairman of the university's Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, said a major problem has been integrating 180,000 federal employees from 22 agencies into a single department.
"The [reorganization] they have had to do has been overwhelming," Guidotti said. "Things have gone slowly, with an exceptional amount of confusion [because] they have had to integrate so many different cultures with contradictory ways of working. They have had a very hard time."
Brian Ruehrkasse, a spokesman for the department, acknowledged that getting a new department to run smoothly will take time. But, he said, "This isn't a sprint; it's a marathon."
"It has been an important accomplishment in the department's first year to bring together all of the 22 component agencies and to provide the men and women of Homeland Security with new tools and resources to better do their jobs," Ruehrkasse said.
"We understand there still is a long way to go."
Frank Cilluffo, George Washington University 's associate vice president for homeland security and a member of the federal department's Homeland Security Advisory Council, said time and experience will allay concerns about the department. "I think you are starting to see some of those [components] coming together," he said. "All things said and done, it's moving along pretty well."
Dodd Introduces New Job Protection Legislation to Conn. Workers
WASHINGTON - Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., asked leaders of 25 grassroots, labor and business organizations Tuesday to support a bill that he said would keep American tax dollars invested in the nation's workforce.
"Workers in Connecticut and across the nation are first-rate," Dodd said at a press conference attended by members of the advocacy groups. "It simply doesn't make sense to ship their jobs and opportunities half way around the world to save a buck.
"This legislation is a step towards stopping the needless export of good American jobs."
The U.S. Workers Protection Act of 2004, which Dodd introduced earlier this month, would deny federal contracts to companies using overseas labor to do work previously done in the United States . It would also bar state governments from using federal money for services performed outside the United States .
Dodd's office said that 40 percent of Fortune 1000 companies use foreign labor and as many as 3.3. million jobs may be sent overseas in the next 15 years, causing American workers to lose up to $136 billion in wages.
The senator did not say how many contracts or how much federal money his legislation would affect. The senator did acknowledge the bill had little chance of passing in a Republican-controlled Congress.
Frank Johnston, president of the Manufacturing Alliance of Connecticut, said his organization would back the bill.
"It's an outrage how many jobs we are losing in this country," said Johnston , whose organization represents workers. "So having somebody like Sen. Dodd come forward and raise awareness on the issue and get it out in the public debate can only be helpful."
Seven representatives of labor unions and manufacturing companies across Connecticut , including the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce and The Organization for the Rights of American Workers, attended Dodd's press conference.
Johnston said the community, labor and business leaders turned out of concern for the 28,000 manufacturing jobs the state has lost in the past 36 months.
" Connecticut has always been the cradle of innovation," he said. "We have a real strong, passionate group in Connecticut that is very concerned about the whole array of jobs we are losing. We believe that if something is going to get done, we have to do it."
Officials from the Connecticut Department of Labor agreed that Dodd's legislation deals with an issue important to the state.
"Its initial purpose is that we don't start shipping jobs over, regardless," said department economist John Tirinzonie. "But manufacturing is an important issue, and of all areas the manufacturing sector is where we have to protect our workers here in Connecticut ."
Tirinzonie added that "it's just to ensure that every bit of outsourcing stays here in the state. . It certainly would be a help."
But economist Peter Gioia of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association warned that the act might not be the answer to the state's job woes and could, in fact, make a grave situation worse.
"When we propose legislation like this, foreign countries could retaliate," he said. "What if they introduced legislation that mirrored this U.S. legislation?"
Such action could seriously harm the hundreds of thousands of jobs provided by the 1,200 foreign-owned companies based in Connecticut , Gioia said.
"The legislation, where it may be well-meaning, could be very detrimental in practice to American business overall and could have unforeseen negative impacts."
State Democrats Rise to Challenge Incumbent Simmons
WASHINGTON -Democrats in Connecticut 's second congressional district need to have a new favorite color this year - green.
Dollar-green.
To have a fighting chance against Republican incumbent Rob Simmons, the two men competing for the Democratic nomination need to have a lot of it.
According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Simmons, now in his second term, started the year with $518,392 in his war chest -- almost five times as much as Democratic challengers James Sullivan and Shaun McNally had between them.
Simmons raised $208,218 during the last three months of 2003, bringing his total receipts so far to $816,241, the FEC reported. That included contributions of $415,705 from individuals and $363,169 from political action committees, or PACs.
So far Sullivan has raised $70,948, all of it in the final three months of last year. Individual contributors gave him $52,570 and PACs donated $14,378. As of Dec. 31, he had $75,097 in cash on hand.
"I've been working since the day I entered the race . to get into a credible position," the former Norwich alderman said. "I just want to raise enough money to be competitive."
McNally raised $50,212 last year, with $46,863 of it coming from individuals. He had $34,732 cash on hand as the year began.
McNally said his big fundraising push didn't start until January. "I spend three to four hours a day on the phone asking people for money, and it will increase to four or five hours a day," he said.
The former state representative from Norwich said that because of his "strong ideological beliefs," he will refuse funds from business PACs, labor PACs and what he called "special-interest PACs."
As a result, he will have to raise all his money from individuals, who are limited to contributions of $2,000 for the primary and another $2,000 for the general election, or from the Democratic Party. PACs can contribute $5,000 for each election under a new campaign-finance law.
Simmons has raised 87 percent more than the average $436,177 collected by House members seeking reelection, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, an independent group that monitors campaign finances. His spokesman said that's simply the result of preparing to campaign for a third term.
"When you run every two years you have to work on fundraising on a regular basis," spokesman Eric Janney explained. But all 435 House members are up for reelection every two years.
Simmons does have to run in a district that, two years ago, hosted one of the 30 most expensive House races in the country, according to the FEC. Simmons and his Democratic challenger, Joseph Courtney, collectively spent nearly $3 million, with Simmons spending 50 percent more than Courtney, the Center for Responsive Politics reported.
Simmons performed the unusual feat of defeating a 20-year incumbent -- Democrat Sam Gejdenson -- in 2000, by a narrow margin of 51-49 percent.
Although he was targeted for defeat by House Democrats, Simmons easily won reelection in 2002, beating Courtney 54-46 percent after redistricting removed a number of Democrats from the voting rolls. State Democratic Party officials assert that Simmons won because of cold, hard cash.
"Rob Simmons himself had over $2 million," said state Democrat Party executive director Leslie O'Brien. "And as the incumbent, he had huge amounts of special-interest money coming into the district. It gave him a leg up in the race, and made it so that Joe Courtney had a significant challenge to overcome."
Courtney, she said, "had millions of dollars literally working against him."
But money might not entirely explain Simmons' popularity. He beat Gejdenson in an expensive race in 2000, but not only did the Democrat spend more, the district voted overwhelmingly for Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore.
Still, O'Brien said, this year's Democratic hopefuls need to focus on fundraising as a top priority.
Sullivan agreed. "In this sort of environment, it is very difficult to outpace any Republican incumbent, certainly from the amount of money that they are able to raise," he said. "It's a million-dollar ticket, that's clear."
The Simmons campaign says it is "getting geared up for another election."
"We're keeping our head down and working hard," Janney said. "Our fundraising is not dramatically different from what it was in the past. Obviously we can't speak for our opponents, but we think that we're on track hopefully to raise a similar amount [as in 2002].
"We are pleased with our progress, but when you are in a targeted race you have to work hard to raise funds."
Sullivan registered with the FEC as a candidate for the 2002 congressional race, but withdrew after raising $112,850. McNally also registered and raised just $400 in individual contributions before he, too, left the race.
Bush Bid to Cut Arts Spending Draws Criticism
WASHINGTON - President Bush's proposal to abolish federal Arts in Education grants has prompted Connecticut school administrators and arts educators to question the administration's commitment to education.
"It's hard to imagine that an administration promoting the No Child Left Behind Act would cut arts education," said Ken Kahn, executive director of the Greater Hartford Arts Council.
"Studies overwhelmingly show that the arts help kids with learning - with literacy and other skills," he said. "It looks to be cutting education in general when you cut $35 million from the Arts in Education budget."
Bush's proposed budget for the year that begins Oct. 1 would cut the government's entire $35 million contribution to Arts in Education, a program that gives states money to distribute to local school districts based on need.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, administration officials decided to do away with Arts in Education-just one of 38 education programs it wants to wipe out-because they didn't think the grants were effective enough.
"Arts in Education is proposed for elimination consistent with the administration's policy to do away with small-term categorical programs with limited impact in order to fund higher priorities," spokesman Jim Bradshaw said.
"There are only so many ways to cut the budget pie," Bradshaw said. "This program certainly provides benefits, but there are higher priorities that we are proposing to fund."
Bradshaw said, for instance, that the administration had proposed to increase funding for special education by $1 billion and adding another $1 billion for schools in low-income neighborhoods as part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. That law, the hallmark of Bush's education policy, mandates that schools routinely test students, starting in the third grade. It funnels extra money to schools deemed to be "failing," but then penalizes them if they don't improve.
Bush has proposed eliminating the Arts in Education program before. Congress disagreed, and for this year, in fact, increased funds for the program by $1.3 billion.
The No Child Left Behind Act carries its own controversy, notably because it calls for $7.2 billion more for fiscal 2005 than Bush is proposing. A study last month by the Center on Education Policy, which monitors national programs, also reported that the majority of states have found the act's requirements to be overly stringent, with its demands straining their already limited funds.
"When dollars become tight, school districts have to make decisions around what to cut, and non-mandated programs are the first to go," said spokesman Tom Murphy, of the Connecticut Department of Education. "A nd those include art and music and extracurricular activities, and talented and gifted programs."
The Bush administration contends the proposed budget cut will not have a discernible impact on arts programs, since the amount of money that actually ends up in classrooms is small.
"The federal government only provides 10 to 15 percent of all the education funding around the country," with the rest coming from state and local sources, Bradshaw said.
Local arts councils, faced with their own monetary constraints, say they aren't up to the task of replacing the loss of federal funds.
" If schools want more arts in the education, it will have to come from the taxpayers," the Greater Hartford Arts Council's Kahn said. "Passing on the burden of localities seems to be a favorite ploy of local government at the moment, and has been for a while."
The council "can't just compensate for that out of our budget at the moment," Kahn said. "It will be much more stressful for the local levels. It's a big problem."
Lori Robishaw, spokeswoman for the national organization Americans for the Arts, said, "If these particular funds aren't there, it makes it that much more challenging for arts organizations concerned with arts education, and sets us further back."
"It's definitely going to affect the schools," agreed Robert Carroll, assistant executive director of the Connecticut Association of Schools.
That is especially true for schools in the Hartford and Bridgeport districts, said Scott Shuler, an arts education specialist for the Connecticut Department of Education.
" Hartford , for several years, has [had] a grant to support professional development for its music teachers," Shuler said. "There is a significant financial impact on the state of Connecticut if that budget line were to be eliminated. It's particularly critical because there is a shortage nationwide, particularly in Connecticut , in music teachers. This funding has helped bring young teachers along and keep them in their school districts.
"It would have a very negative impact on Connecticut if that money were eliminated from the budget."
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Connecticut Supports Lieberman’s Decision to Return Home
WASHINGTON -A day after he quit the presidential race, Sen. Joseph Lieberman served up his "cup of Joe" in his native Connecticut Wednesday.
"Running for president was a great journey," Lieberman, a Connecticut Democrat, told supporters. "But it is very good to be home."
Lieberman, 61, dropped out of the race Tuesday night after finishing poorly in most of that day's seven primaries and caucuses.
The three-term Connecticut senator placed fifth in the New Hampshire primary last week but refused to withdraw before Tuesday in the hope that he could win Delaware . Instead, he came in a distant second, behind frontrunner John Kerry, with only 11 percent of the vote.
Lieberman spoke to his supporters in a "Farewell Rally" Wednesday afternoon in Hartford . He personally addressed his fellow Connecticut lawmakers, Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-3 rd District, and John Larson, D-1 st District, thanking them for their "selfless dedication to my campaign."
Lieberman also thanked his colleague, Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., calling him his "best friend in the world."
Lieberman was the only one of this year's Democratic presidential candidated to have run on a national ticket -- he was Al Gore's vice presidential running mate in 2000 -which initially gave his campaign a boost. The Gore-Lieberman ticket won the popular vote but lost the election in the Electoral College, making Lieberman a confident candidate when he entered the 2004 race in late 2002.
But what Lieberman prided as his "mainstream voice" never caught on with voters.
Connecticut officials from both parties welcomed Lieberman back from his year-long campaign and praised his public service and his conduct on the stump.
"I want to congratulate Sen. Lieberman for his outstanding conduct during the course of his campaign for the Democratic nomination for president," said Gov. John Rowland, a Republican. "Joe is a gracious and humble public servant. He stood up for his beliefs in the quest for the highest office in the land. He is a true representative of the best of Connecticut and we are all proud of him.
"I wish Joe and his family all the best as he continues to serve our state in the U.S. Senate."
"All of Connecticut is proud of Joe," Dodd said. "He waged a valiant fight on the presidential campaign trail and he helped spotlight issues of importance to our state and nation. I am just pleased that we'll continue to have him ably representing the people of our state in the United States Senate."
Rep. Robert Simmons, R-2 nd District, applauded Lieberman on his decision to bow out and praised what he called a "presidential performance."
"Our fellow citizens in Connecticut will be well served with Sen. Lieberman back from the campaign trail working on local issues," Simmons added. "At the same time I admire and congratulate Sen. Lieberman for his unwavering and courageous stand on many issues during the campaign."
Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-5 th District, said: " Connecticut should be proud of Joe and his campaign for president. He's a good man and he ran a principled campaign that distinguished him as a candidate."
Some Connecticut residents expressed regret that Lieberman would not end up in the White House.
"I think that as a person from Connecticut , I am disappointed," said New London resident Valerie Tamano, an employee of the school district. "But certainly, I know that he gave it his all, and if he sees at this time that it is not going to work out for him, then it's a choice that he made. The fact that he did it so early on is a wise choice."
U.S. Senate Proceedings Grind to Halt Due to Toxin Discovery
WASHINGTON - Senate office buildings were closed and much business ground to a halt Tuesday after a white powder discovered in a mailroom was determined to be the deadly toxin ricin.
The substance was found Monday afternoon in the mailroom that services the office of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., in the Dirksen Senate Office Building .
Rep. Robert Simmons, R-2 nd District, released a statement announcing that mail service to his Washington congressional office and those of his colleagues was suspended.
"Due to the positive tests of ricin contamination in the U.S. Capitol complex, all mail delivery to congressional offices has been suspended until a mail-screening procedure is put into place," Simmons said. "As a result, any correspondence that was recently mailed to my Washington congressional office may not reach me . I regret any inconvenience that this may cause."
Although three Senate office buildings were closed, the House of Representatives kept to its schedule.
"The last I heard they hadn't determined anything on the House side," said Meghan Curran, a staffer in Simmons' office. "The only thing we felt was the lack of mail. The House is pretty much running as usual."
According to Dr. Charles McKay, associate medical director of the Connecticut Poison Control Center , ricin is derived from the castor bean, which is used in the production of castor oil. Although highly toxic when injected into the system, ricin's effects as an inhalant are unknown, he said. The toxin, however, is not considered as deadly as anthrax, which closed down the Capitol when it was discovered in Senate mail in late 2001.
"Anthrax was an infectious biological organism," said McKay, who works with the State Bioterrorism Task Force. "So you inhale small numbers and they multiply and grow. With ricin you have to get a sufficient amount of the compound into your system to cause the effects. It's a slow poison; it prevents the cells from making their proteins, which results in multiple organ failure."
He also said ricin was unlikely to be used in a bioterrorism attack.
"It's not a very effective large-scale weapon," McKay said. "It would take so much that it would be completely impractical."
Federal authorities said they have no reason to believe this was an act of international terrorism.
The discovery of ricin came hours before a letter laced with white powder was found about 1 a.m. Tuesday at a Wallingford postal facility. Officials had not determined Tuesday what the substance was.
According to the Wallingford Police Department, the bulk reply envelope, addressed to Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington , was isolated two hours later by a hazardous material team working with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and Connecticut State Police. The FBI is investigating.
"We are in the process of testing the powder-like substance," said William Gerrish, spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., recalled that in late 2001, an 95-year-old Oxford woman died of anthrax poisoning.
"I'm hopeful that the substance found in Wallingford doesn't turn out to be a threat," he said in a statement. "Sadly our state previously had to deal with tragic consequences from anthrax attacks, and it goes without saying that my thoughts and prayers are with the workers there as they deal with these anxious moments."
Abortion Opponents Take to the Streets
WASHINGTON --Abortion opponents from Connecticut and around the country descended on Washington Thursday for the annual "March for Life," a day of demonstrating against the monumental Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion Jan. 22, 1973 .
Abortion rights supporters marked the 31 st anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling by introducing legislation that would protect abortion rights. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., introduced the "Freedom of Choice Act", which would forbid government interference with women's rights to use birth control, family planning and abortion services.
Church and school groups left Connecticut at midnight Wednesday to get to the capital in time for the event, which began at noon near the Washington Monument .
Thirty-four members of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ridgefield attended, bleary-eyed from a 5:30 a.m. departure.
"We're excited to get this thing going," parishioner John Fogarty said. "We're waiting for the program to begin."
Youth 2000 New England , a Catholic group based in Riverside , R.I. , sent approximately 60 members to the March for Life this year. The organization has constituencies in Connecticut , Massachusetts , New Hampshire , Rhode Island and Vermont .
Paul Gory, 14, said he was "pumped up" for his first abortion protest. "It's an adrenaline rush to get down here," the Windsor Locks native said. "I definitely plan to come next year."
According to parish member Mike Ditoro, St. Joseph 's Catholic Church of Shelton has sent participants to the March for Life for the past 15 years.
"This is my ninth time," said Ditoro, who lives in Shelton . "With all the people pressed against me, it's pretty crowded, but I think attendance is a little lighter this year."
The group of eight took a midnight train from Fairfield .
"We weren't quite sure about the mode of transportation, so our group is a little smaller than usual," said Sean McMahon, of Shelton . "But last year we had about 40 from our group."
Forty-five students and their chaperones from Trinity Catholic High School drove all night after leaving Stamford at 12:30 a.m. Thursday.
"We come every year with our pro-life group, called 'Crusaders for Life,'" Father Tom Powers said. "We're excited, because the weather's great; the numbers are considerably more than they were last year."
"I'm so happy that there was such a great turnout this year," said senior Colleen Flynn, 17. "A lot of kids get involved. It's good. We had a waiting list and everything."
It was sophomore Diane Dauplaise's first year at the march.
"I think it's a really good experience, not just because of religious reasons, but more because of it as an activism thing," said the 15-year-old. "But it's also kind of supportive that so many people have the same beliefs that you do."
