This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Republican from the 36th District which covers Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan, center, speaks during the League of Women Voters of Greenwich's "Legislative Wrap" event to discuss the end of the recent legislative session at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., on Wednesday July 20, 2022. In attendance at right is State Rep. Stephen Meskers, a Democrat from the 150th District.

State Rep. Stephen Meskers, a Democrat from the 150th District, speaks during the League of Women Voters of Greenwich's "Legislative Wrap" event to discuss the end of the recent legislative session at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., on Wednesday July 20, 2022. Also in attendance, at left, is State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Republican from the 36th District which covers Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan.

State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Republican from the 36th District which covers Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan, speaks during the League of Women Voters of Greenwich's "Legislative Wrap" event to discuss the end of the recent legislative session at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., on Wednesday July 20, 2022. Also in attendance was State Rep. Stephen Meskers, a Democrat from the 150th District.

State Rep. Stephen Meskers, a Democrat from the 150th District, speaks during the League of Women Voters of Greenwich's "Legislative Wrap" event to discuss the end of the recent lesitlative session at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., on Wednesday July 20, 2022. Also in attendance was State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Republican from the 36th District which covers Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan.

The League of Women Voters of Greenwich holds a "Legislative Wrap" event to discuss the end of the recent lesitlative session at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., on Wednesday July 20, 2022. State Rep. Stephen Meskers, a Democrat from the 150th District, and State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Republican from the 36th District which covers Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan were in attendance.

State Rep. Stephen Meskers, a Democrat from the 150th District, speaks during the League of Women Voters of Greenwich's "Legislative Wrap" event to discuss the end of the recent lesitlative session at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., on Wednesday July 20, 2022. Also in attendance is State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Republican from the 36th District which covers Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan.

The League of Women Voters of Greenwich holds a "Legislative Wrap" event to discuss the end of the recent legislative session at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., on Wednesday July 20, 2022. State Rep. Stephen Meskers, a Democrat from the 150th District, and State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Republican from the 36th District which covers Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan were in attendance.

The League of Women Voters of Greenwich holds a "Legislative Wrap" event to discuss the end of the recent legislative session at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., on Wednesday July 20, 2022. State Rep. Stephen Meskers, a Democrat from the 150th District, and State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Republican from the 36th District which covers Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan, were in attendance.

State Rep. Stephen Meskers, a Democrat from the 150th District, attends the League of Women Voters of Greenwich's "Legislative Wrap" event to discuss the end of the recent legislative session at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., on Wednesday July 20, 2022. Also in attendance was State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Republican from the 36th District which covers Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan.

State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Republican from the 36th District which covers Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan, attends the League of Women Voters of Greenwich's "Legislative Wrap" event to discuss the end of the recent legislative session at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., on Wednesday July 20, 2022. Also in attendance was State Rep. Stephen Meskers, a Democrat from the 150th District.

Candidate Rachel Khanna attends the League of Women Voters of Greenwich's "Legislative Wrap" event to discuss the end of the recent legislative session at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., on Wednesday July 20, 2022. State Rep. Stephen Meskers, a Democrat from the 150th District, and State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Republican from the 36th District which covers Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan were in attendance.

Candidate Hector Arzeno attends the League of Women Voters of Greenwich's "Legislative Wrap" event to discuss the end of the recent legislative session at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., on Wednesday July 20, 2022. State Rep. Stephen Meskers, a Democrat from the 150th District, and State Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Republican from the 36th District which covers Greenwich and portions of Stamford and New Canaan were in attendance.

GREENWICH — Reproductive rights, gun laws and access to early voting highlighted a League of Women Voters event Wednesday night with two members of Greenwich’s legislative delegation.

State Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-36, and State Rep. Stephen Meskers, D-150, offered a bipartisan view at the event, the League’s annual summer picnic held at the end of the legislative session.

Here is what the legislators had to say about the recently concluded session.

Both Fazio and Meskers have supported reforms to the state’s 8-30g laws that mandate at least 10 percent of a municipality’s housing stock be deed restricted as affordable.

Meskers called 8-30g a “hot and heavy issue in Greenwich” because of concerns that state mandates will take away local zoning authority. Greenwich has seen a number of new large-scale proposed developments come through the Planning and Zoning Commission in the past year that have met local resistance but could be approved under 8-30g.

“It’s up to us to work with the state and try to amend the 8-30g statute and come up with our own plans to achieve more affordable housing,” Meskers said, particularly focusing on housing for police officers, firefighter and other town employees. “We have to figure out how to grow the town but in a reasonable ... way so it’s not by fiat or mandate.”

Fazio said 8-30g has not been an effective law, especially in Greenwich, where there is “naturally occurring affordable housing in town” that is below the market rate but not being counted in the state’s calculation.

“It means towns that are creating affordable housing in a discrete manner that is not deed restricted or government sponsored are not getting credit for the housing that exists that is affordable,” Fazio said.

Before the Supreme Court overruled precedent set in the Roe v. Wade case that established federal rights to an abortion, the legislature approved a bill that established Connecticut as a “safe haven” for people from other states seeking an abortion and expanded who could perform surgical abortions to include. Meskers voted in favor of the bill; Fazio voted against it.

“This bill lowered the standard so nurses and midwives and physicians assistants could also perform surgical abortions in the state,” Fazio said. “I voted against it because I was concerned about the lowering of safety standards in what I felt was not a full-considered way.”

Fazio’s remarks were challenged by audience member Christine Massaro, a retired midwife who said she delivered more than 2,000 babies. She asked him if he had ever seen a certified midwife in a hospital setting and why he was questioning her abilities.

Fazio said he based his view on the recommendations of “medical experts.”

Meskers touted his support for women to make their own choices on reproductive care, saying that neither he nor legislation should interfere in what happens between a woman and her doctor.

“I think the fundamental right on health care and reproductive rights should remain with the woman,” Meskers said. “The idea that other states could prosecute (Connecticut) doctors or prosecute their residents who come to my state for reproductive care that doesn’t exist any more in their state strikes me as — and you don’t want to be dramatic — as “The Handmaid’s Tale.” It’s not acceptable.”

Early voting will be on the ballot this November with a statewide referendum to amend the state constitution to allow it. The League of Women Voters of Connecticut has said it is in favor of the change.

Any revision to the state constitution would also require a vote by the legislature. Fazio said he would vote against the change if it passes as a referendum this fall, reminding people a similar referendum failed last decade.

“I think we need narrow and precise reforms that make it easy to vote but shouldn’t make it too open ended and too broad,” Fazio said. “Unless you can’t get to the ballot box with extenuating circumstances, I like the idea of people voting on Election Day ... rather than a month ahead of time.”

Meskers said he supported early voting while noting the role the media plays in late election coverage.

“We are going to be manipulated by the media in the last week or two weeks of an election with a lot of money spent to try and change your vote on an emotional appeal,” Meskers said. “A rational and secure early voting process should be supported and I am happy to see it supported.”

Ken Borsuk has been a reporter for Greenwich Time since 2015 but has been covering Greenwich news since 2000. He has extensively covered local government including the Board of Selectmen, Board of Estimate Taxation and Representative Town Meeting.