Martin Looney | |
|---|---|
| President pro tempore of the Connecticut Senate | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2015 Serving with Len Fasano(2017–2019) | |
| Preceded by | Donald E. Williams Jr. |
| Majority Leader of theConnecticut State Senate | |
| In office January 2003 – January 7, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | George Jepsen |
| Succeeded by | Bob Duff |
| Member of theConnecticut State Senate from the11th district | |
| Assumed office January 6, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Anthony Avallone |
| Member of theConnecticut House of Representatives from the96th district | |
| In office January 7, 1981 – January 6, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Carbone |
| Succeeded by | Cameron Staples |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1948-07-23)July 23, 1948 (age 77) New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Ellen Ritchie |
| Education | Fairfield University (BA) University of Connecticut, Storrs (MA) University of Connecticut, Hartford (JD) |
Martin M. Looney (born July 23, 1948) is anAmerican politician. Looney, aDemocrat, has been astate senator fromConnecticut since 1993. From 2003 to 2014, Looney served as Majority Leader of the Senate; in 2015 he became President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
Looney, a resident ofNew Haven, represents the eastern half of the city as well as parts ofHamden 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 fromFairfield University and later received hisM.A. in English fromUniversity of Connecticut followed by hisJ.D. fromUniversity of Connecticut School of Law Prior to being elected to the Connecticut Senate, Looney served as aConnecticut state representative. In 2001, Looney lost to incumbentJohn DeStefano Jr. in theDemocratic primary for mayor ofNew Haven.[1]
In July 2016, Looney said he would "certainly" consider running forGovernor of Connecticut if incumbent Lieutenant GovernorNancy Wyman decided not to run in the2018 election.[2]
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]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| Connecticut House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of theConnecticut House of Representatives from the96th district 1981–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Connecticut State Senate | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theConnecticut State Senate from the11th district 1993–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Majority Leader of theConnecticut State Senate 2003–2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President pro tempore of the Connecticut Senate 2015–present Served alongside:Len Fasano (2017–2019) | Incumbent |
Members of theConnecticut State Senate | ||
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Statewide elected officials and legislative leaders ofConnecticut | ||
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| U.S. senators |  | |
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