David Baram

HARTFORD – Rep. David Baram (D-Bloomfield, Windsor) has been chosen by House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) to serve as vice chairman of the General Law Committee.
“The General Law Committee provides vital oversight to protect consumers from fraud, misrepresentation and unethical conduct,” said Baram, who was chosen for a committee leadership position after serving less than one full term in the House. “We will continue to make sure that state laws give consumers the legal tools to address improper conduct and to provide people with the assurance that services are performed by licensed professionals.”
The committee raised a variety of bills in the last session that addressed issues of: background checks for employees of homemaker-companion services, safe children’s products, issues regarding liquor control, retail theft, licensing swimming pool installers, requiring contracts for residential heating oil and propane, banning cadmium in children’s jewelry, prohibiting gifts from pharmaceutical companies to health care providers, and enhancing home improvement contracts, Baram said. The committee has oversight of all matters relating to fair trade and sales practices, consumer protection, occupational licensing and mobile homes, and all matters dealing with alcoholic beverages.
“The committee will be looking at many important issues over the next two years, which may include matters such as: Sunday liquor sales, condominium regulations, licensing issues, children’s safety, and protections for elderly consumers,” Rep. Baram said.
Baram was elected in a special election in March 2009 to fill the remaining term of Rep. Faith McMahon, who had died unexpectedly. He was elected in November to his first full two-year term.
Long active in Jewish communal affairs, Baram has served on Connix (Connecticut-Israel Commission). In addition, he is a past president of Beth Hillel Synagogue in Bloomfield, the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut (JFACT) and Federation Homes in Bloomfield; and past chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford’s Community Relations Council (JCRC). Currently, he serves as membership chair of the Mandell Jewish Community Center in West Hartford.
Baram is an attorney in the Bloomfield law firm of Clayman, Tapper & Baram LLC.  He was mayor of Bloomfield for seven years and was past chairman of the Capital Region Council of Governments (CRCOG).