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Martin Looney

American politician

Martin Looney
President pro tempore of the Connecticut Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office January 7, 2015 Serving with Len Fasano (2017–2019)
Preceded by	Donald E. Williams Jr.
Majority Leader of the Connecticut State Senate
In office January 2003 – January 7, 2015
Preceded by	George Jepsen
Succeeded by	Bob Duff
Member of the Connecticut State Senate from the 11th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 6, 1993
Preceded by	Anthony Avallone
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 96th 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 75) 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 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.

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]

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]

• Martin Looneyofficial website
• Connecticut General Assembly - Martin M. Looney bills introduced
• Project Vote Smart - Representative Martin Looney (CT) profile
• Follow the Money - Martin M Looney
  • 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 1996 campaign contributions