Martin Looney

Martin M. Looney (born July 23, 1948) is an American politician. Looney, a Democrat, has been a state senator from Connecticut since 1993. From 2003 to 2014, Looney served as Majority Leader of the Senate; in 2015 he became President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

Martin Looney
President pro tempore of the Connecticut Senate
Assumed office
January 7, 2015
Serving with Len Fasano (2017–2019)
Preceded byDonald E. Williams Jr.
Majority Leader of the Connecticut State Senate
In office
January 2003 – January 7, 2015
Preceded byGeorge Jepsen
Succeeded byBob Duff
Member of the Connecticut State Senate
from the 11th district
Assumed office
January 6, 1993
Preceded byAnthony Avallone
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
from the 96th district
In office
January 7, 1981 – January 6, 1993
Preceded byJoseph Carbone
Succeeded byCameron Staples
Personal details
Born (1948-07-23) July 23, 1948
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseEllen Ritchie
EducationFairfield University (BA)
University of Connecticut, Storrs (MA)
University of Connecticut, Hartford (JD)

Looney, a resident of New Haven, represents the eastern half of the city as well as parts of Hamden in the Connecticut Senate. He is also a part-time professor at Quinnipiac University and the University of New Haven in Hamden, CT and West Haven, CT, respectively, where he teaches classes such as State and Local Governments.

Looney was born in New Haven and graduated from Fairfield University and later received his M.A. in English from University of Connecticut followed by his J.D. from University of Connecticut School of Law Prior to being elected to the Connecticut Senate, Looney served as a Connecticut state representative. In 2001, Looney lost to incumbent John DeStefano Jr. in the Democratic primary for mayor of New Haven.[1]

In July 2016, Looney said he would "certainly" consider running for Governor of Connecticut if incumbent Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman decided not to run in the 2018 election.[2]

Political positions

Looney is a supporter of legislation strengthening gun safety measures. In 2013, weeks after the Sandy Hook mass shooting, Looney introduced 17 bills that would change firearm control and rights in Connecticut.[3] He was instrumental in the eventual passage of legislation considered some of the strongest in the country.[4]

Looney led the creation of Connecticut’s Earned Income Tax Credit in 2011 and has been influential in ensuring it remains a part of the state’s budget. The Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, is a state income tax credit supporting low-income working individuals and families.[5]

Looney led passage of legislation to cap the out-of-pocket cost of prescription drugs like insulin[6] and has introduced legislation to reduce the cost of pharmaceutical drugs in Connecticut through use of generic drug manufacturers.[7] He led the Senate during the passage of the legalization of marijuana[8] and was Senate Majority Leader during the abolition of the state’s death penalty.[9]

References
  1. "DeStefano prevails under pall of terror". 12 September 2001.
  2. "Call Him "Gov" for Now ... & Later? | New Haven Independent". 28 July 2016.
  3. O'Leary, Mary (January 27, 2013). "Connecticut Sen. Martin Looney readies 17 bills on guns". New Haven Register.
  4. Brady, Lateef Mungin,Brittany (2013-04-04). "Connecticut governor signs sweeping gun measure". CNN. Retrieved 2023-08-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. "Governor Lamont Announces 2023 Legislative Proposal: Provide Tax Relief for Low-Income Workers". CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  6. Coughlin, Kevin (2020-07-28). "Senator Looney Leads Passage of Bill to Cap Cost of Insulin and Diabetes Supplies". Connecticut Senate Democrats. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  7. Coughlin, Kevin (2021-01-28). "Looney Introduces Two Consumer Protection Bills on Prescription Drugs". Connecticut Senate Democrats. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  8. "Connecticut Gov. Lamont Poised To Sign Bill Legalizing Recreational Marijuana - CBS New York". www.cbsnews.com. 2021-06-17. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  9. "Backstory on Connecticut Death Penalty Repeal". www.publicnewsservice.org. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
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