Rigby was a loud voice for his district during bipartisan discussions that had Republicans and Democrats restore that vital funding in a $1.2 billion mitigation plan Gov. M. Jodi Rell eventually approved.

What’s more, that final plan carried a bit of good news for seniors struggling in this sour economy. A prescription drug coverage change is expected to save 30,000 seniors an average of $1,200 a year in medication costs. These seniors will be eligible for enhanced prescription coverage through the federal Medicare Part D program.

But there’s more work to be done. Analysts have said Connecticut over the next few years faces multi-billion dollar deficits. Bipartisanship, Rigby said, is paramount to finding shortfall solutions.

“The teamwork approach behind this mitigation plan was a good start in dealing with bigger financial problems on the horizon,” said Rigby, referring to a forecasted $8 billion deficit over the next budget cycle.

“We’ve got to tackle this problem now, together, if we’re going to pull the state out of this mess,” he said.