Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Orangeman2 (talk | contribs) at 12:29, 21 January 2009 (Removing vandalism). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Dan Debicella is a Republican politician and businessman currently representing the 21st district in the Connecticut State Senate.

Personal life and background

Debicella was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Shelton, where he currently resides. He graduated from Shelton High School in 1992. He holds a degree in finance from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Debicella has worked as Directory of Strategy for PepsiCo. Previously, he was an online business owner and management consultant. He currently serves on the board of various local community organizations, including Junior Achievement and the Boys and Girls Club.

Prior to being elected State Senator, Debicella served on Shelton’s Board of Apportionment and Taxation for seven years, four as its chairman. Debicella acted as the Fairfield County regional chair for Rudy Giuliani's unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign.

State Senator

Debicella was first elected in 2006 and subsequently re-elected in 2008. He succeeded his mentor, George "Doc" Gunther, the longest-serving state legislator in Connecticut history.

In the State Senate, Debicella holds the position of Deputy Minority Leader and sits on the Appropriations (ranking member), Higher Education and Employment Advancement (ranking member), Public Health (ranking member), and Regulations Review.

Accomplishments

In 2007, Debicella co-authored a bill that provides tax credits for businesses that create at least 10 new jobs in a year. The bill was passed unanimously and signed into law by Governor Jodi Rell. In committee, Debicella filibustered a controversial bill that would have allowed children of illegal immigrants who graduated from a Connecticut high school to apply for in-state tuition. The bill eventually passed through the General Assembly but was ultimately vetoed by Rell.

In 2008, Debicella co-sponsored a bill that prohibited individuals and government agencies from depositing more than 1,000 cubic yards of asbestos-laden soil near residential areas without approval from two-thirds of the municipality's legislative body. The bill curtailed plans the Environmental Protection Agency had for waste deposit in Stratford. He also proposed legislation that would have allowed individuals and families who receive a physical exam and all age-appropriate preventive tests to deduct out-of-pocket medical expenses from their state income tax, which did not pass through committee. Debicella also worked with Governor Rell and State Representative Jason Perillo to secure $2 million in state bond funds for additional infrastructure improvements in the Shelton's downtown area. Debicella co-sponsored a bill that expanded Operation Fuel, a program that provides a $500 for Connecticut seniors 65 or older whose income is at or below the state median, to assist with their home heating costs.

Debicella has been a consistent conservative on fiscal issues, but is a moderate on social issues.

Election controversies

At a debate during the 2008 campaign, Debicella’s opponent attacked Debicella's position and subsequent comments on forcing Catholic Hospitals to distribute emergency contraception as "insensitive to rape victims". Debicella defended his vote on the emergency contraception bill, saying, "I fully support access to emergency contraception for all women, and especially for rape victims. However, I do not believe that the Catholic Church should be forced to give out emergency contraception in violation of their beliefs. I oppose any effort for the state to dictate to any religion what they must do, but I will continue to support full access for over-the-counter emergency contraception."

Electoral history

External links

• Official Website
• Campaign website
• Issue positions and votes at Project Vote Smart

References

1. http://www.newhavenadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=4943
2. http://www.senaterepublicans.ct.gov/sen_info/debicella.aspx
3. http://www.senaterepublicans.ct.gov/press/debicella/2007/061507.html
4. http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/06/26/rell_vetoes_in_state_tuition_rates_for_illegal_immigrant_kids/
5. http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19677567&BRD=1637&PAG=461&dept_id=9180&rfi=8
6. http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19393688&BRD=1637&PAG=461&dept_id=9180&rfi=8
7. Musante, Fred (March 20, 2008). "Rell delivers $2 million for downtown revival". The Huntington Herald. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
8. http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20204740&BRD=1637&PAG=461&dept_id=9166&rfi=6
9. Kovach, John (2008-10-31). "Andersen calls Debicella 'insensitive to rape victims'". Stratford Star. Retrieved 2008-11-19. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

• Living people
• People from Bridgeport, Connecticut
• People from Fairfield County, Connecticut
• University of Pennsylvania alumni
• Wharton School alumni
• Harvard Business School alumni
• Connecticut State Senators
• Connecticut Republicans