Christopher G. Donovan (born October 22, 1953) is a former American Democratic politician who was elected to be the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives. He was sworn in as Speaker on January 7, 2009, and left his post in 2013, having not sought reelection to the House. He is the first grassroots organizer to become speaker of the Connecticut House. Donovan was a candidate for US Congress in 2012, losing in the primary to Elizabeth Esty. Education Donovan graduated from Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, in 1971. He earned his bachelor's degree in Biology at Villanova University in 1975 and his master's degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. He is a teacher on the faculty of the University of Hartford. Family life Donovan is married to Elaine Gallen Donovan. They live in Meriden. They have a daughter, Sarah, a student at American University, Washington College of Law and a son, Aaron, who resides in Vancouver. Career Donovan has been a SEIU community leader since the 1970s. He was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in 1992 representing the 84th Assembly District of Meriden, Connecticut. He later served as House Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee from 1997 to 2003 and was elected Majority Leader, serving from November 2004 to 2008. Donovan was first elected to serve as Speaker of the House in 2009. Healthcare During his legislative career, Donovan has championed many successful healthcare initiatives which include expanding prescription drug assistance for seniors and disabled adults (ConnPACE); health insurance for low-income children (HUSKY) (HB7065) ; adding supplemental Medicare coverage, and; establishing school-based health clinics. Other notable healthcare initiatives include: SustiNet SustiNet (PA 09-148) lays out a framework for leveraging the bargaining power of state health care purchasing to create a large pool open to individuals and groups and a structure for a state-wide healthcare delivery system that contains costs and promotes preventive care. The 2009 legislation authorized the SustiNet Board of Directors and its task forces and committees to make recommendations on the implementation of SustiNet to the 2011 General Assembly. The final report is expected prior to the start of session. The Public Health Committee anticipates that it will raise a bill outlining the next phase of the SustiNet proposal based on these recommendations. Implementing federal health care reform In addition to insurance reforms, the