HARTFORD – The Senate Republican Caucus voted unanimously today to select State Senator John McKinney (R-Fairfield) as the new Senate Minority Leader.  Senator McKinney will hold press availability at 2:45PM today in the 2nd Floor break-out area of the LOB (time subject to change pending budget negotiations).

Senator McKinney, 43, is serving his fifth term in the State Senate, representing the towns of Easton, Fairfield, Newtown and Weston.  He has served three years as Minority Leader Pro Tempore and is a ranking member on the General Assembly’s Environment, Transportation and Housing Committees.  He also serves on the Appropriations and Executive Nominations Committees.

“I am truly grateful to have the full support of my Senate Republican colleagues as we move forward together,” said Senator McKinney.  “Initially, our focus as a caucus, and my focus as Minority Leader, will continue to be on passing a responsible budget that meets the critical needs of the people of Connecticut, yet lives within our means and does not raise taxes.

“Fiscal responsibility will continue to define this caucus.  Environmental stewardship, job creation and improving public health will also be priorities for us.  We will continue to fight to preserve Connecticut's open spaces and we will work to encourage economic growth and job creation by relieving businesses of high taxes and counterproductive regulations.  I also look forward to working with Governor Rell, House Minority Leader Cafero and the Democratic leaders to enact long-term bipartisan solutions to address the challenges we face in health care, energy, transportation and public education.”

In the Senate, McKinney is regarded as a budget hawk who has fought to lower taxes and eliminate wasteful government spending.  He has been recognized as an Environmental Hero by the League of Conservation Voters for his efforts to pass legislation aimed at protecting our environment, preserving Connecticut’s open spaces and cleaning up Long Island Sound.  Senator McKinney is an outspoken advocate for affordable housing and inner-city economic development.  He was named 2007 Legislator of the Year Wednesday by the Bridgeport Regional Business Council.  A parent of three children who attend Fairfield public schools, Senator McKinney is committed to ensuring a high quality of education for all of Connecticut’s students.

In this legislative session, McKinney helped author Jessica’s Law for Connecticut and led it to passage.  The law establishes mandatory minimum jail sentences for convicted child sex offenders and takes aim at the growing threat posed by online child predators.  McKinney talked about Jessica’s Law and other successes of the 2007 legislative session Thursday:

“Senate Republicans have had a major influence on the 2007 legislative session,” said Senator McKinney.  “We have helped rein in the majority’s ambitious tax and spend proposals; we authored and passed legislation to provide tax credits to businesses that create new jobs; we exposed and thwarted several attempts by the super majority to usurp the Governor’s executive powers; and we passed Jessica’s Law – which I believe is the signature accomplishment of this 2007 General Assembly.”

Senator McKinney was raised in Fairfield and is the youngest of five children of the late Congressman Stewart McKinney and his wife Lucie.  Congressman McKinney, who represented Connecticut’s fourth congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1971 until his death in 1987, served as Minority Leader in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1969 – 1970.

Senator McKinney graduated from Fairfield Prep in 1982, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1986 and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Law, with honors, in 1994.  Prior to being elected to the General Assembly, Senator McKinney practiced law at Cummings and Lockwood and was a law clerk to Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Richard N. Palmer. 

Senator McKinney is actively involved in several nonprofit organizations.  He is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Women and Families in Bridgeport.  He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Westport/Weston Family YMCA, the Advisory Board of the Fairfield Theatre Company, and is a member of the vestry of Trinity Church in Southport.  Senator McKinney and his family help provide housing and care for people with AIDS through the Stewart B. McKinney Foundation. 

Senator McKinney lives in Fairfield with his wife, Megen, and their three children, Matthew, Graysen, and Kate.  

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