Tom Critzer, Author at

Home > Articles by: Tom Critzer

Biden Administration Deploys American Rescue Plan Funds to Protect Americans from Rising Home Heating Costs; Calls on Utility Companies to Prevent Shut Offs This Winter

November 23, 2021 The Biden administration called on states, localities and tribes to plan early and coordinate across programs to effectively use historic American Rescue Plan resources to address home energy costs this winter. The White House also called on utility companies that receive public dollars to prevent devastating utility shut-offs this winter and help […]

Governors Enact FY2022 Budgets

July 1, 2021 The Northeast governors have submitted their proposed FY2022 state budgets. Connecticut, Maine and New Hampshire each have biennial budgets (FY22-FY23) also proposed this year. New York’s fiscal year began on April 1 and the other Northeast states all begin their fiscal year on July 1. To date, New York, Vermont, Connecticut and […]

New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Meet Virtually to Build on Cross Border Relationship

After a two-year hiatus, the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) met virtually on May 17 to build on their relationship, and they discussed COVID-19 and economic recovery, climate change, and U.S. Canada relations. A major topic of discussion among Governors and Premiers was coordination on vaccine supply in the region. They agreed […]

Governor Baker Signs Comprehensive Climate Change Legislation

After months long negotiations between the governor and the state legislature, Governor Charlie Baker has signed a sweeping climate change bill into law with a goal of creating net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and furthers the Commonwealth’s commitment to combat climate change and protect its vulnerable communities. “Climate change is an urgent challenge that […]

Governors Deliver State of the States

February 3, 2021 The CONEG Governors have delivered their 2021 State of the State addresses. Highlights of the speeches are provided below including a word cloud illustrating the commonalities among the states. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont delivered his third state of the state on January 6, 2021. Due to the ongoing pandemic, Lamont delivered his […]

Governors Condemn Violence at US Capitol

CONEG Governors responded to the extraordinary act of violence that unfolded on Capitol Hill yesterday as lawmakers met in a joint session of Congress to certify the electoral votes from November’s presidential election. Domestic terrorists and rioters, inspired by President Trump’s continued claims of election fraud in a futile attempt to overturn the results, breached security and […]

Budget Crisis Impacting States Amid COVID-19

September marks the sixth month since coronavirus took hold in the Northeast region. In early March when we first reported on this, there were six reported positive cases of COVID-19 in the Northeast states (one each in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and two each in New York and Rhode Island). Cases began to rise rapidly […]

States Face Fiscal Crisis

As the pandemic’s economic crisis takes a toll across the country and while additional federal support remains unknown at this time, states are contending with major tax and revenue implications affecting their budgets. State officials are all pushing for Congress and the Administration to approve additional aid for state and local governments. Governor Cuomo and Governor […]

Northeast Response to COVID-19

June 30, 2020 The Northeast US has flattened the curve of COVID-19 cases and a phased reopening of the region’s economy is underway. With most states beginning to operate under “phase 3” guidelines, measures are being taken to prevent backsliding. As importantly, states are dedicating support for those industries and workforces where this pandemic has […]

Governors Create Advisory Boards and Begin to Outline Plans for Phased Reopening

As the region enters the third month of shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Northeast governors have begun to announce their plans for a phased reopening of their state economies. Several governors have formed Advisory Boards, comprised of health officials, business leaders, and state and local government officials, to study how and when states […]