The Real Tariff Burden Has Been Our Government

 On April 2, 2025, President Donald Trump introduced sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs, imposing a baseline 10% tariff on all imports, with higher rates—up to 54% for countries like China—targeting major trade partners. This move was part of a broader strategy to address what Mr. Trump deemed a national emergency due to a $1.2 trillion trade deficit in 2024. President Trump in viewing the deficit as a major economic and security problem has correctly decided under this Act to invoke his tariff plan. His plan is to try to bring back manufacturing and other types of factors of production to be made in the United States. This plan would in theory create more jobs, more economic stimulation, and more tax revenues for our economy. Additionally, the tariffs are intended as negotiation leverage to open export markets, reflecting Trump's strategy from his first administration.

The issue as President Trump sees it, is the fiscal weakness of America and the sickening dependency on hostile foreign nations that for years have extorted the USA on a whim. The issue and the fiscal wreckage over time has been exacerbated by Democrat and Republican-Globalist debt- driven spending policies that have made the chasm even bigger. Faced with the collapse of the financial system, President Trump stated that the USA needed a painful “operation” to right the ship after years of wreckage, stating that the cure would take some time.

However, what really changes locally as critics and the economic idiocy of the left, abounds. On April 2, Connecticut’s brave Governor, King Ned Lamont the Unaccountable, international economist extraordinaire and the man who with his sycophant legislature has driven Connecticut into the economic gutter, started a new career as a trade war strategist. Declaring "Tariff Day is Tax Day" from a script handed to him, started crying the blues in quadraphonic stereo. But as is always said, consider the source. The Unaccountable, having no economic abilities of his own and heavily tied to his wife’s Annie’s investors and his addiction to the narcotic of free government money, saw his feeble kingdom eroding. So what could you really expect from the "businessman" governor?

Unfortunately, the way things have proceeded is brutal. The United States Trade deficit in 2024 was over $918 billion dollars. A trade deficit occurs when a country's imports exceed its exports. This creates a negative balance of trade for a country. In our economy, we have been running a constant trade deficit since 1976. A tariff is a tax imposed by a government on foreign made goods. Tariffs can be used to protect industries from foreign competition and/or as a source of tax revenue.

Therefore, the official pronouncement came as follows: "President Trump is invoking his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (“IEEPA”) to address the national emergency posed by the large and persistent trade deficit that is driven by the absence of reciprocity in our trade relationships and other harmful policies like currency manipulation and exorbitant value-added taxes (VAT) perpetuated by other countries." (https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-declares-national-emergency-to-increase-our-competitive-edge-protect-our-sovereignty-and-strengthen-our-national-and-economic-security/). For those who remember this Act was enacted by Congress to modify the “Trading with the Enemy Act” that was passed during WWI in 1917. As further stated, this act "grants the President extensive power to regulate a variety of economic transactions during a state of national emergency. Congress enacted IEEPA in 1977 to limit the emergency economic powers that it had delegated to the President under the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA)"(https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R45618).

 So, let’s look at the mess that politicians of all stripes have left us in. The biggest trade deficit we have currently is with China. For 2024 the trade deficit was over $295 billion dollars (https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/china-mongolia-taiwan/peoples-republic-china). China is led by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. China is not a free country economically, politically, or socially and is the “Gold Standard for governance” for rotting Blue States like Connecticut in the U.S. China is a totalitarian regime ruthless in the elimination of freedom and human rights. Economic mobility is only allowed for Communist Party leaders and their connected individuals. Their economy uses massive governmental subsidies to prop up businesses and industries. For example, China dumped on the United States years ago low-cost ball bearings which created massive issues in the economy. China provides our country many inexpensive, poor-quality items that consumers purchase since they are so cheap. Why do we support an oppressive regime such as China economically by the purchasing of their goods? Those workers producing these goods are not advancing economically nor with advancements of their personal freedoms. Isn't China a military enemy of the United States and of other free countries? It is not logical as to why we are supporting this Communist Party regime to the tune of almost $300 billion dollars a year? And China's tariffs on United States goods have increased over the years. Now, President Trump has forced China's hand as far as the increased tariffs he placed on China imports to our country.

Not much has changed in other places. Vietnam is another country we trade with and is a Communist state ruled by a single party, the Communist Party of Vietnam (“CPV”) led by General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and President Truong Tan Sang, are all dictators in their own right. Vietnam is also not free and commits massive human rights violations. The United States fought a war against Vietnam until 1975 and lost. The United States imports from Vietnam for 2024 were over $142 billion dollars while our exports to Vietnam were just $13 billion dollars. Why are we supporting an oppressive regime such as Vietnam, who we also fought a long war against by the purchasing of their goods? Those workers producing these goods are not advancing economically nor with advancements of their personal freedoms. And why are we are helping a Communist repressive regime at the same time?

The stock market reactions to the Trump tariff plan, has been expected from an economics viewpoint. Many economists look at global trade as a win-win for both countries who are exchanged with the trade. It could certainly be a win-win if tariffs are not used. In some situations, one country "dumps" a product at an extremely low cost onto another country that creates harm to that country by undercutting those domestic companies’ ability to produce the product at a profit to remain in business.  China did this to the United States with ball bearings and several other products. But how have we have benefited from the past 50 years of trade deficits in our country? After all isn't the United States National Debt over $36 trillion dollars? How do we benefit as a freedom loving country in supporting economically ruthless Communist regimes such as China and Vietnam through supposed "free trade"? But money will be made on the great Tariff sell off 2025 especially by large financial/hedge/short funds. The retiree who depends on his or her 401K/IRA/457K for retirement income has again been shaken but markets are indeed always cyclical. But while The Unaccountable and his ilk are decrying the “death” to the economy, they are busy picking up “good stuff, cheap” and will sit to the sidelines to become even richer. Because that is the real motivation as to why The Unaccountable remains in office.

President Trump also might offer the following trade agreement to both Canada and Mexico: Drop your tariffs on all the products we ship to you and we will drop all our tariffs on your products. This would create an economic boom in North America and strengthen relationships with both countries. He also might offer a similar agreement with China and Vietnam on the basis that the Communist Party end their rule and allow freedom to their country. These proposals would show perspective, vision, and boldness. Such thinking and qualities are completely bereft upon Ned Lamont and his cadre of Democrat governors and fellow elected officials.

In closing, given the sad facts of what was left to him, President Trump was correct in addressing the economic problems we have with massive trade deficits. He was correct in investigating the massive amount of fraud and wasteful governmental spending that has been going on years in our Federal Government, which is supported by United States Taxpayers, being these same United States Taxpayers supporting the trade deficit directly and indirectly. Also Democrat Party solutions to the Trade Deficit and the National Debt from the Ned Lamonts of the world will continue to drive the USA in the economic gutter if these solutions are given a chance to bear fruit. God Help us all, should that be the case.

Economic Freedom, Economic Sovereignty and self-sufficiency should be priorities in our country. Sadly, they have been bypassed for many years now by Democrats and globalist Republicans. It was bypassed by many Presidents since President Carter. The buck stopped in 2025. America cannot keep this reckless spectacle of incessant spending and debt. We elect individuals to represent us not appointed unelected judges to make economic decisions for our country. It is time for leadership as far as Trade Deficits and the National Debt is concerned. It is time for action and results do not lie. We do not need any more rhetoric.

And, the day of economic reality has dawned. America needs to get in priorities in order quickly, the economic charade of poor policies has indeed ended.

 

 

Connecticut: The Power Failure Looking For A Place For a Blackout

 Taxes. Energy. These are important aspects of our economy. They are the lifeblood of any business or municipality And if you live, work or own a business in Connecticut you must wonder why taxes and energy costs are so screwed up in the state. 

Sadly, it has never been any different. As just one example, the primary electric utility for the state (now Eversource) has featured the “convertible legislator” for years and years. This is the legislator or legislative family member who is employed in a prima-facie/incestuous/conflicted status by both a utility and the legislature. This is a criminally punishable offense in many right-thinking states, but not here. Ostensibly there has never been an outcry about this sordid practice as both political parties have had members financially benefiting from this lucrative arrangement. So why should any of them complain?

But you will complain in silence. For years Connecticut's Democrat Party has helped to hammer socialistic taxes and energy policies that have damaged Connecticut's economy. For the record, there was an 28% increase in commercial bankruptcies for 2024, the highest in ten years (https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/business-bankruptcies-spike-in-ct-as-uncertainty-hovers-over-economy). Why did this happen? It is a good guess that excessive state taxes and state regulations have forced companies to the point of no return to cease doing business in the state. It is a further good guess that a weak and non-urgent attitude on the part of the sitting state GOP by not demanding both the establishment of the President’s Pennsylvania Gas pipeline along with the removal of the illogical and nonsensical DEEP Commissioner, Katie Dykes, reinforces an acquiescence to continued failed energy policy. And as sprinkling on this sundae of failure, how many Republicans are calling for the extension of the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts, which if not passed will be the death knell for any Connecticut business anywhere. In addition, how many Republicans are advocating for the 100% expensing of capital goods that President Trump is now doing? Seeing this muddled and conflicted posture concerning tax, economic and business energy policy, the only businesses that would dare to come to Connecticut would be those enticed by a juicy Connecticut Department of Economic Development taxpayer-funded secret bribe. And how much more will the remaining Connecticut Taxpayers spend to continue to prop up a failing state economy through various state agencies devoted to "improving" the economy?

Why does Connecticut have such high taxes? Connecticut ranks as one of the top five highest taxed states in the country. "Connecticut‘s tax system ranks 47th overall on the 2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index. Connecticut’s tax code includes all major tax types, and the state has historically ranked among the bottom ten on the Index. Connecticut has one of the most complex and least neutral individual income tax systems in the nation, featuring seven tax brackets with a top marginal rate of 6.99 percent and a recapture provision that eliminates the benefit of lower brackets, effectively taxing all income at the taxpayer’s highest marginal rate. Additionally, tax brackets and the personal exemption are not adjusted for inflation." (https://taxfoundation.org/statetaxindex/states/connecticut/)  And what does Connecticut have to show for these high taxes and where does this money go? To add insult to injury, why can’t such a small state have one, simple flat percentage rate for all types of taxes? This concept is poison to sitting legislators who are addicted to all types of spending and crony-feeding, plus added tax complications create projects for a lot of their contributors and buddies.

While we travel up and down the harbor of failure, Connecticut has a massive state employee system that seems to have no worry for accountability. State employee wages continue to increase and the ability to measure productivity is nonexistent. A type of a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for Connecticut would be helpful in both finding waste in Connecticut's massive state budget and in turn lowering taxes for all. However, we may wait decades for any one legislator to call for the trimming of the state workforce and administration budgets with the serial funding of redundant and unaccountable nonprofits, for after all, favors must be returned.

The failure game in the state is exacerbated with an at all costs "green energy" program that has increased electricity costs to one of the highest in the country, thus placing an enormous burden on both customers and businesses. Even with many homeowners installing the cure-all solar panels on their homes, electric rates continue to rise to economically punishing levels. What is the solution to higher electric rates? You got it! More Legislation! One of the many economically incoherent Connecticut Democrat Party solutions to this problem can be found in Senate Bill 1531 "AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC UTILITY TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY."  This bill if passed would eliminate any utility company from wanting to do business in the state. Found in the bill: "(5) prohibit certain mergers of utility companies, (6) prohibit a utility company from owning both gas and electric utilities" (https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=1531). Thus, by eliminating competition completely and any incentive to do business in the state somehow energy costs will go down. The state only has two utilities currently, does the state want just one run by the state itself? Who will control said utility? The Democrats? Would the Democrats turn off the power on their political enemies? Of course, the bill itself makes no sense. But then again what the Connecticut State Legislature does each session makes less and less sense for the past 35 years.

There are many free markets solutions that Connecticut could embrace to lower the costs of living in the state. But they would involve dismantling the current political bureaucracy and hierarchy driven by the omnipotent one-party rulers in the state. The state's Republican Party has been non-existent and impact-less with its solutions to these problems and/or have not expressed clearly enough with their own alternatives even with many marketable ideas handed to them. Connecticut's state government still picks its winners and losers daily through their failed economic programs and agencies with little to no result and or accountability to Connecticut Taxpayers.

As the Connecticut Democrat Party continues to rape and pillage the Connecticut Taxpayer incessantly with its failed policies, taxes and energy policies need to be revamped and changed. Rather than the daily bashing of President Trump, legislators could look at his administrations energy policies to see something different that might actually work in reducing costs and creating economic stimulation for the state. But again, if that were to happen the political elite of Connecticut would be toppled and we know that is not acceptable to such elite.

As we discussed last week there are two classes of people in Connecticut playing in a huge macabre game. Them vs. you. And as far as you are concerned, what a mess they have created for you in this rigged macabre game, with no way out.

The Connecticut Democrat Party Gasoline Powered Leaf Blower Crisis- The Mother Of All Crises

 My friend and colleague Tony De Angelo often uses a Rod Serling “Twilight Zone” visionary style analogy which I feel is quite apropos to describing the “State” of Connecticut.

So let us start our hypothetical episode of the Twilight Zone- (Nutmeg Version) with this opening.

Picture if you will: Connecticut, once a jewel of New England, now a smoldering economic dumpster fire fueled by the arrogance of a one-party Democrat driven machine that wouldn’t know fiscal responsibility if it slapped them in the face! The horrors pile up like unpaid bills—skyrocketing energy prices from King Governor Ned Lamont’s The Unaccountable’s green delusions and a corrupted and conflicted electric provider, a housing market choked by regulation and the most destructive zoning plans known to mankind, and $100 million of our hard-earned tax dollars shoveled into the gaping maw of "economic development" schemes that only develop the bank accounts of political insiders. Meanwhile, the streets teem with despair: crime festers, food rots on shelves too expensive to buy, and the taxpayer is left to bleed out under the weight of it all with few elected officials willing to fight where necessary to make effective change. 

Humor aside, the greatest mission of Connecticut government is as to how many ways that the Connecticut Democrat Party can make legal Connecticut Taxpayers lives harder and more expensive and miserable. Connecticut has one of the highest tax rates in the country, one of the worst economic environments for businesses, a massive illegal (if not, encouraged) drug problem, rampant crime, a legal system that favors criminals over victims and fraud in its election process. In addition, there are also many other economic and social problems including $100 to $150 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded and unascertainable  liabilities, but just as vultures pick at defenseless prey, the Connecticut Democrat Party picks at nonsensical and incoherent "feel good" failed "green energy" issues that can do the most possible damage to their working and small business constituents.  This latest hit will be targeted upon those businesses and homeowners who use the deadly, noisy, polluting, cancer driven, inefficient, and horrific gasoline powered blowers that are typically used to blow grass clippings and leaves off yards, driveways, and roads.

 How we have lived with these dastardly kill machines for so many years with no issues is beyond comprehension. With this in mind, our great legislative leaders have constructed innovative legislation to set the masses free:

HB6263 AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE AND PURCHASE OF GAS-
POWERED HAND-HELD OR BACKPACK LEAF BLOWERS BY STATE
AGENCIES.

"On and after January 1, 2029, no person shall use, sell, offer for
sale or distribute in this state any gas-powered leaf blower, whether
hand-held or backpack style. The Commissioner of Consumer
Protection may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 54 of the general statutes, for the enforcement of the provisions
of this subsection. Each municipality may provide, by ordinance, for the
enforcement of the provisions of his section concerning the use of such machinery. "

(https://legiscan.com/CT/text/HB06263/id/3155062)

 
HB 6263 will ban all gas-powered blowers by 2029. It was sponsored by ten Democrat legislators who have ostensibly sworn off all uses of fossil fuels in their lives inclusive of tossing away their pens, coffee mugs, desk blotters, heaters, computers, and internet devices You, however, must be rendered inoperative. YOU must be forced to use electric blowers. But remember, as there are two major races in Connecticut (them, and YOU), YOU must be stopped. Of course, your electric blowers would still use fossil fuels as in electricity and would increase the costs of the remaining landscape and lawn businesses that would be able to afford to purchase them and find enough chargers to keep them running throughout their workday but more operatively killing small businesses is a Connecticut science. I wonder what the penalties would be for using an "illegal" gas blower? $10,000 fine? 1 to 3 years in prison? A criminal conviction so you would never be employable? Liens on real property? Ankle monitors? The damage this bill can do to the state has to make the Connecticut Democrat Party drool in delight as to its consequences it can force upon the Connecticut Taxpayer.

We all have heard the incessant, unabated, unceasing and perpetual rhetoric of green energy at all costs with the public be damned spewed by the Connecticut Democrat Party. Look at the sick, corrupt, and wasteful farce of the New London wind turbine project. Look at the "green" bus explosion of a Connecticut transit bus. Look at the many failures of governmental intervention on forcing green energy projects that have failed miserably while eating up precious Taxpayers dollars. What is the net result? More union building of prisons to house these horrible petroleum using felons that were just trying to work hard to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads?

The Connecticut Democrat Party will shrug this bill off along with the countless other bills that have damaged our state’s economy and social welfare with their total disrespect and disregard for the Connecticut Taxpayer. Remember, there is they, and there is you. HB6263 is just more of the insane dysfunctional-ism that is the norm for Connecticut's Omnipotent One-Party rule of a non-transparent and corrupt state government that rules the state without mercy. Citizen once again, be damned.

 

The Community Investment Fund: Continuing Investments In Failure, Courtesy of Your Elected Officials

Since the beginning of the second Donald J. Trump Administration, we have lived in an era I like to call “The Age of Doge.” Announced in late 2024, this advisory body has been torching waste, fraud, and abuse and the streamlining of government operations, reflecting a cultural shift in how citizens view government. 

The interest in Doge increases every day, especially as more people realize how badly government at all levels has been ripping them off over a protracted period of years. Given the economic horrors of the last four years, no citizen in his or her right mind wants to see more of their scarce dollars going for impractical and superfluous governmental endeavors.

But alas, we have Connecticut.

For many years. Connecticut Taxpayers are taxed for many failed programs in the State of Connecticut. Connecticut continues to rank last or near last in many economic and business friendly categories while ranking as one of the highest taxed states in the country. Connecticut is a state where the governor and the legislature could not develop sound economic, energy and tax policy if their collective lives depended on it. But Connecticut can fund shaky non-profits, “quasi-publics” (whatever “quasi-public” means) and “Funds” with regularity and by using your tax dollars. The Community Investment Fund Board is just one of a series of interesting agencies that gets to spend $875 million tax dollars and has shown little to no result in helping Connecticut out of its 35-year economic quagmire to date.

The Community Investment Fund Board (“CIF”) states the following according to its website: "The CIF will award up to $175 million each fiscal year. It will be awarded over two or more application periods per year. If this catches your attention and you would like to send your local representatives a thank-you note, the fund is a statewide program authorized in Section 32-285a of the Connecticut General Statutes.

Of course, failure in Connecticut is often a team effort.
Several state entities work together to award CIF grants: The Department of Economic and Community Development ("DECD") administers the program by overseeing the application process, vetting applications, sending application summaries to the CIF Board, and managing awards and reporting. As my friend and colleague Tony De Angelo often says, the DECD should be abolished for non-performance, (but I digress). In addition, the CIF Board and Office of the Governor review applications and the summaries prepared by DECD and make recommendations to the State Bond Commission. The State Bond Commission drives Connecticut further into debt and ruin as it approves projects for grants. (https://portal.ct.gov/communityinvestmentfund/about-the-fund?language=en_US). 

Below is a description of the applicable projects for funding:

Eligible Projects: Promote economic or community development in the municipality where the project is located and Consistently and systematically advance fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved and marginalized communities such as Black, Latino and indigenous and native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; persons comprising the LGBTQ+ community; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. (https://portal.ct.gov/communityinvestmentfund/about-the-fund?language=en_US). Query if those working and taxpaying citizens burdened with fuel costs, food costs and electricity costs are “otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality” and are therefore, qualifying. However, my sentiment is they do not.

If you would like to add some cherries and sprinkles to this sundae of failure, the CIF Board is led by "economic expert" co-chairs Matthew Ritter, Speaker of the House and Martin R. Looney, Senate President Pro Tempore. Being Connecticut politicians that could not start an economic fire with a book of matches and a gallon of gas, they did the only thing they knew how to do. Give cash.

On March 11, the Board gave away a lot of cash.

Included in the giveaways were $2 million to help Planned Parenthood of Southern New England renovate a property into a new home for its New London health center. As I stated in a recent blog Planned Parenthood of Southern New England's President and CEO Amanda Skinner earned $434,095 and $18,574 in "other" compensation in fiscal year 2023. This organization also has $57,330,020 in "net assets" in fiscal year 2023. (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/60263565) while also receiving an "emergency" funding of $800,000 from HB 7066 "An Act Concerning Interactions Between School Personnel And Immigration Authorities, The Purchase And Operation Of Certain Drones, Grants To Certain Nonprofit Organizations, And Student Athlete Compensation Through Endorsement Contracts And Revenue Sharing Agreements."  Obviously the $57,330,020 in "net assets" they have is not enough to repair this building in New London, they, being a poor charity and all.

$6.12 million was given to the Greater Dwight Development Corp. in New Haven to help build eleven units of affordable housing and community space. Linda Townsend Maier is the Executive Director of this organization and receives $120,113 along with $3,023 in "other" compensation in fiscal year 2023. This organization also has $2,809,764 in "net assets" in fiscal year 2023. (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/61414605). New Haven keeps rebuilding and has little to show for it except for high taxes and a high crime rate. But it is in the top 10 in the country in defying Federal law in trying to protect illegal aliens from deportation.

We also find that $1.6 million was given to Hartford to acquire and redevelop three properties in its Homestead Redevelopment Corridor. According to its website, this corridor is described as follows "The Homestead Avenue Redevelopment Plan aims to employ a mix of land use strategies to transform this key thoroughfare in the Upper Albany neighborhood. A shared community vision will be developed through community and stakeholder collaboration. This vision will guide actions to accelerate brownfield cleanup, revive vacant properties, facilitate new housing opportunities, and implement placemaking strategies that showcase Homestead Avenue and Upper Albany's distinctive character."  (https://www.activatehomesteadave.com/about). I was unable to find any financials with regards to this project on their website. Meanwhile, it is sad and fair to say that the only thing Hartford has excelled at in the last four decades are crime and economic desertion and decay, so throwing more money at a sinking ship will solve nothing. There are many great game-changing economic ideas such as making Hartford a Qualified Opportunity Zone or a tax-free zone with added police and public safety support. How about funding real merit-based schools with real teachers teaching real skills? (But since all those ideas are from the “Book of Trump,” the Legislature avoids them like the plague regardless of the value they bring to a city desperately needing value).

Unfortunately, the economic redundancy and paralyzed thinking is not just limited to legislative Democrats. As quoted in the March 12, 2025 Hartford Business Journal “A roughly $250 million plan to transform Enfield’s dying mall into a mix of apartments, hotels, retail and restaurant space is in line for a $10 million state grant after a state panel included the project among 35 grants tentatively approved for $77.14 million in state bonding. 

“…that could really be transformative for all of our communities as we are seeing malls in general needing to be repurposed,” said House Minority Leader Vincent J. Candelora (R-North Branford), a member of the Community Investment Fund 2030 board. “A lot of them are dying around the state, and Enfield is sort of leading the way potentially as to what that project should look like. I think we have other malls down the road that might need the same sort of redevelopment.” (https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/community-investment-fund-board-oks-7714m-in-grants-for-enfield-mall-redevelopment-other-ct?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Green%20Hub%20becomes%20major%20player%20in%20Waterbury%20%7C%20Tax%20pros%3A%20Don%20t%20wait%20to%20create%20business%20succession%20plan&utm_campaign=HBJ%20Today%20031225. )Funny how other than borrowing money the question is never asked as to what “repurposing” will mean in the final analysis, if it even gets that far? Stores? People are either afraid to shop and/or shop at home. Housing? Who will live in overpriced apartments in an anti-business state where businesses are leaving left and right? Nonprofits? Great. Let us build more non-taxpaying properties in the State of Connecticut. Funding for building the projects? If you are a banker, would you lend to such a questionable project? I guess is not a worry with the CIF, which can crank up taxpayer money in a heartbeat, can just borrow more, taxpayer again, be damned.

Of course, there were many other organizations receiving funding from the Community Investment Fund. They included the typical non-profit organizations to help feed people, help to community activities, house people, street scapes, etc. What should amaze Connecticut taxpayers is that in a $26.2 billion dollar state budget one should examine how much money is already spent on social welfare services and programs. What is the net result? More funding for the same types of programs with Community Investment Fund spending along with the same results, which are lacking in results. Has there ever been any critical thinking as to whether fewer organizations and personnel could be reorganized to deliver a greater impact on services? The private sector does it all the time. But this of course, is the Connecticut government. (So, perish that thought).

But the beat goes on. Connecticut still has $100 to $150 billion dollars in short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities that just never get addressed with the superficial all-purpose solution of reinstating the  "fiscal guardrails" and repetitive rhetoric on solving Connecticut's massive social and economic problems.  We really should have none of these social and economic problems with the money Connecticut Taxpayers have spent over the years. Yet we do. Connecticut has state agency after state agency with catchy, feel good “SomethingCT” type names and political nepotism continues as the norm with little results since the advent of the 1991 "cure-all" state income tax slammed on Connecticut Taxpayers, and such tax was the narcotic starting the state on the road to fiscal ruin.

For now. 34 years and counting Connecticut's decline is on view for all to see both economically and socially. The old/new funding by the Community Investment Fund Board is just more of the same. Throw good money after bad, drink to excess in the Legislative garage, and cheer about it all the way to bankruptcy.

 

Connecticut! A Train Wreck In The Making

 Connecticut! It is home to an estimated 3.6 million souls. This same Connecticut has spent the last 35 years playing demographic musical chairs in its continual mission to destroy itself from within.

Connecticut! Let us start with illegal immigration. For the last few years, Connecticut’s Fearless Leader King Governor Ned Lamont The Unaccountable told us via his state-run mouthpieces that Connecticut did not have an illegal immigration problem, while anyone with any knowledge of facts rather than fiction found that statement to be laughable. Today, we see Illegal immigrants continually pouring in, while the state’s higher-educated, higher-income, and downright wealthier citizens tired of carrying the costs of this destructive foolishness, transition to saner, safer, and lower-taxed jurisdictions. Who can blame them? Connecticut boasts some of the nation’s most punishing property, state, and business taxes, not to mention sky-high housing, insurance, transportation, and electricity costs. Living in this liberal paradise does not come cheap. Just ask your wallet, or your neighbor.

 

Connecticut! If you want to be insulated from the plight of being a battered taxpaying legitimate citizen in Connecticut, there is another way! Join the government, or better still, the Connecticut State Legislature and become a member of the patrician class! Because if you are a member of the Legislature, you can go through life being a part of the most impractical, nonsensical and citizen crushing legislation ever known to mankind. But you need not care. Reality, and the burdens of the citizens you purport to represent are simply not your problem. You barrel forward in this current session, hell-bent on spending taxpayer cash with the restraint of a drunk at bar closing time and equivalent respect for the rule of law. After all, you are entitled.

 

Connecticut and governance? I really wonder as to how many legislators of any political stripe even understand this most critical concept in the least. As just one example, nonprofit governance in Connecticut is an overflowing out of control fiscal sewer. As you may recall, I recently shone a spotlight on the state’s nonprofit glut—24,195 active tax-exempt outfits as of 2025, according to ProPublica (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/states/CT)—a tangled web of political cronies and taxpayer-funded freeloaders, toadies, lackeys and hangers-on. Between 2019 and 2023, my analysis indicates that roughly 1,500 to 2,500 unique nonprofits consumed state funds, with annual recipient counts swinging from 600 to a bloated 1,200 in 2022, courtesy of budget dumps of your taxpayer money. Being in the Legislature, you may have heard about the Federal DOGE effort to root out fiscal waste, fraud, and abuse where a dilution in federal funding can severely impact the funding of your inept, illogical, and redundant pet causes, but you really do not care. Because, you see an inexhaustible resource in continually reaching into the pockets of state taxpayers. But in your mind that is fine, as who the hell cares about the average citizen, anyway?

 

Connecticut! Where the mind of most Democrat legislators treats their “causes” to be more important than life and reality. Take the Scholars Strategy Network (SSN), a Boston-based outfit with suspiciously cozy ties to the Connecticut Democratic Party and the University of Connecticut (UConn). Its Executive Director, Paola Maynard Moll, rakes in $158,403 plus a tidy $30,532 in "other" compensation—nice work if you can get it, right? (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/270480740). House Democrats gush over its "Collaborative Effort" with such groups, conveniently forgetting to invite the minority party to the party. They wax poetic: "Using objectivity and scientific methods, they analyze the effects of policies or interventions. Their training allows them to synthesize knowledge across studies, determine policy effects, interpret nuance, and understand implementation challenges" (https://www.housedems.ct.gov/legislation-collaborative-effort). SSN even runs a sanctimonious "Help Others To Vote" gig at UConn (https://voting.socialwork.uconn.edu/help-others-to-vote/), which sounds noble until you recall Connecticut’s voter fraud debacles and the state’s nonprofit messes. Does any legislator ever question the propriety, redundancy, and usefulness of these myriad nonprofit cash cows? Why would they? Because governance may mean that the well will run dry at the time of your next glad-hand and photo op and your time to throw taxpayer cash around.

 

Connecticut! Where if this seems bad, unbelievably, things even get worse. We saw the taxpayer-gouging masterpiece Senate Bill 1453, "An Act Concerning Emergency Nonprofit Assistance," rammed through the House on Wednesday March 5, with the sole purpose of bankrolling Democratic pet causes. In typical Connecticut fashion, the language is so vague you would think it was intentionally designed to dodge questions.  

The delusional and self-interested haul is divided up as follows:

 (1) 45.3 percent to nonprofits coddling the LGBTQ+ community.

(2) 26.7 percent to reproductive health care squads like Planned Parenthood.

(3) 22.1 percent to refugee and immigration assistance—because Connecticut is a sanctuary state.

(4) 2.1 percent to community and youth empowerment (whatever that means); and

(5) 3.8 percent skimmed by the Judicial Department for “administration, whatever “administration” may mean:

 

(https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/ct/2025/bills/CTB00032774/).

 

Connecticut! Where in the face of DOGE and citizens pleading for spending restraint and fiscal governance, Connecticut Democrats laugh in their faces, plowing ahead with an agenda that spits on citizens while showering special interests with cash. The League of Women Voters of Connecticut snagged $200,000 in 2019 from the Democracy Fund—part of a $650,000 handout to 25 groups—because nothing screams "democracy" like state-subsidized voter drives in a fraud-riddled state. Meanwhile, Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS) pocketed $150,000 that year via the Immigrant Integration Pilot Program, one slice of a $300,000 pie for immigrant “resettlement”. Add in the NAACP of Connecticut ($100,000) and Lutheran Refugee Services ($100,000), and you have gotten a cool $700,000 to $950,000 annually from 2019 to 2023 for these niche crusades—totaling $3.5 million to $4.75 million over five years. That is miniscule next to the $1.4 billion in annual state contracts propping up 500-700 nonprofits yearly, a gravy train so lavish it would make Frank Nitti and John Gotti blush. But this of course is Connecticut, where self-dealing, fraud, drunk driving (and drunk law making) legislators, hidden business in state nonprofits and gargantuan un-ascertainable deficits are just normal operating procedure in the land of all things Nutmeg. 

 

Meanwhile, Connecticut government continues its duplicitous and carpetbagging ways, ostensibly undeterred by a nation and a large part of the state that finds this conduct reprehensible. This will lead to a collision course. Either the continued crushing taxation and spending will drive the last of productive capacities out of state, or the impending cuts in Federal funding will cause a different type of destruction from within. Neither scenario bodes well for the once proud and now teetering governance-less State of Connecticut.

Connecticut's Pork of HB 7066-To the Victims: You Will Be Spoiled

 As we discussed last week (and in drawing on the great Mark Twain) Connecticut Taxpayers are never, ever safe with the Democrat State legislature in session. Needless to say, there are no checks and balances to state government since Connecticut is ruled and driven with a hard, liberal fist of Connecticut Democrat Party socialism.  More evidence of this citizen-be-damned rule can be seen in one of the most incoherent bills seen in a long time: HB 7066 "An Act Concerning Interactions Between School Personnel And Immigration Authorities, The Purchase And Operation Of Certain Drones, Grants To Certain Nonprofit Organizations, And Student Athlete Compensation Through Endorsement Contracts And Revenue Sharing Agreements."  This catchy, feel good, political glad-handing and payoff bill is an excellent example of why both the Connecticut State Legislature and Connecticut's State Government is broken beyond repair. (https://legiscan.com/CT/text/HB07066/2025)

This bill (“bill”) spends over $2.88 million dollars of Connecticut Taxpayers monies on a variety of "feel good" and "politically correct" nonprofits and organizations having no benefit to the hardworking and taxpaying legitimate citizen. In a note of hope for the future, the bill's funding was somehow cut/reduced by DOGE or the "evil" Republicans such as Republican President Trump. The bill makes a stew of incoherent issues such as making foreign made drones illegal, procedures to ignore Federal laws regarding illegal immigration, and making sure student athletes especially at the University of Connecticut, (aka “U-Conned”) can get paid ridiculous amounts of money for playing a college sport. The bill itself is a gourmet feast of pork, political art, and incoherence at its worst.

As just one example, $800,000 is included in this bill for “Planned Parenthood of Southern New England”.  Planned Parenthood of Southern New England's President and CEO Amanda Skinner earned $434,095 and $18,574 in "other" compensation in fiscal year 2023. This organization also has $57,330,020 in "net assets" in fiscal year 2023. (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/60263565). Thus, one may assume that without this $800,000 from Connecticut Taxpayers that Planned Parenthood of Southern New England will either go out of business and or President and CEO Amanda Skinner would have to take a pay cut or have her position eliminated. Why is this $800,000 so critical to the operation of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England? Did any of the “talented public servants” in the Connecticut State Legislature bother to perform the simple five-minute analysis that I just did that would reflect this money is simply not needed? Did any of these same people question the salary paid to Amanda Skinner prior to the grant from the bill? Or does anyone there even care as to how they spend your tax money? (Why should we even bother to ask such a nonsensical question)

But wait! There is more!! Adding further insult to the Connecticut Taxpayer are grants to more than twenty nonprofit organizations. These include $62,500 to the “Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants, Inc.” The President and CEO of the “Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants, Inc.,” Susan Schnitzer, made $108,355 in salary and $12,130 in "other" compensation for fiscal year 2023.  This organization also has $1,684,033 in "net assets" in fiscal year 2023. (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/60669118). Thus, one may assume that without this $62,500 from Connecticut Taxpayers that they either will go out of business and or President and CEO Susan Schnitzer would have to take a pay cut. Why is this $62,500 so critical to their operation? Is any part of this funding to be expended in support of illegal immigration? Are you curious about this? (If you are, do not bother asking a legislator, as we can be absolutely sure none of them asked this question when the grant was contemplated or thereafter).

Also included for free cash is the “Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc.” which will receive $225,000. Then-Executive Director Chris George of the Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc. made $122,987 in salary and $11,033 in "other" compensation for fiscal year 2023. This organization also has $4,864,659 in "net assets" in fiscal year 2023. (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/60653044). Thus, one may assume that without this $225,000 from Connecticut Taxpayers, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc. will either go out of business and/or the successor of Executive Director Chris George would have to take a pay cut. Why is this $225,000 so critical to their operation? Will any part of this funding be used in the encouragement of illegal alien voting? It is known that in 2023, Chris George wrote on the site about his post-retirement plans being the “strengthening our democracy by working on voter registration and voter turnout.” Does this not provoke your curiosity? Does Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc. have any involvement with illegal voter registration? Are they working on the up-and-up, or to the contrary? Will anyone in the Legislature ever ask the right questions or exercise fiscal governance in the least?

HB 7066 was deemed as an "Emergency Certification” bill. This legislative maneuver (which should deemed illegal) is used to fast-track legislation without vetting by legislative process, such as public hearings. The legislative process is made deliberately difficult to research and to understand by Connecticut Taxpayers to facilitate the repeated financial rape of them. Most certainly it is meant to be that way, and it is made excessively complex to push through junk bills like HB7066 that give the distinct appearance of payoffs and show an arrogant disagreement with Federal policies that Connecticut must now follow. For we know, garbage legislation  suits the political needs of the Connecticut Democrat Party and its sycophants’ supplicants, toadies, flunkies, and lackeys, (and who gives a rip-roaring red apple about you, anyway?)  

Moreover, how does this over $2.88 million dollars in "emergency certification” apply to Connecticut's venerated and celebrated "fiscal guardrails"? This is just another lie circulating in Connecticut's corrupt Legislature. The fiscal horrors of Connecticut are not discussed by either party. Connecticut's short- and long-term debt along with its unfunded liabilities is roughly $100 to $150 billion dollars. There is no plan whatsoever to resolve this fiscal tsunami and nightmare for Connecticut Taxpayers which deficit the "guardrails" do not touch. But holding on to false or incomplete fiscal ideals while blithely handing out money to cronies and twisted idealist and secretive projects is a Connecticut hallmark. And one really must question the amount of money given to "non-profits" especially in Connecticut.  Connecticut taxpayers seem to have no say in their government that they pay for nor are they allowed public comment especially for spending bills such as HB7066. 

And as usual Connecticut Taxpayers keep getting financially raped. The Connecticut of dodgy and questionable nonprofits and pilfering college leaders inter-alia continues unabated with the only hope of curtailing the same will be cutoffs in Federal funding. 

But rest assured, Connecticut will continue to soldier on to fiscal Armageddon with new heights in citizen disregard and crony-feeding. The Connecticut Democrat Party will make sure of that premise, ad infinitum, and forevermore.

 

Constitutional Crisis? The Democrat Party IS The Constitutional Crisis

It is an amazement to listen to the new Democrat Party experts on the United States Constitution as to what constitutes a "Constitutional Crisis". Of course, this is the same incompetent and sordid cast of characters that locked us down in 2020 “following the science” of Covid-19 while at least three Constitutional rights of Americans were violated. But you are supposed to forget about those abuses and losses of lives and livelihoods as The Democrats are the party that is always out to protect you and shield you from all manners of harm and disinformation, as its leaders such as Connecticut's King Governor Ned Lamont the Unaccountable find ways to profit from citizen pain and misfortune.

Lest you think I digress, I find that as I listen to the daily noise echoed by these same Democrat Party elites one would think that America has fallen off the face of the earth and or was taken over by foreign enemies or fascists. And it is shocking as to how little Democrat elected officials understand our sacred document known as the United States Constitution. Read the Preamble: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

This grand-scale mental and emotional meltdown is due to the beginnings of the dismantling of a bureaucracy via the new Department of Government Efficiency known as DOGE. I personally do not see any references to DOGE in the Constitution. Looking at some of DOGE's findings which I discussed in my blog last week, the storm continues in intensity. Listening to Connecticut's Socialist/Democrat/Unhinged Lunatic United States Senator Chris Murphy raging against DOGE was comical. He stated: "that President Donald Trump and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk's actions constitute "illegal seizures of power," sparking a "constitutional crisis.". He further stated: "Democrats should not support "a single nominee" appointed by Trump and "should not grant expedited process to any nominees until this crisis passes."     As for USAID, the senator said Trump "has gone as far to essentially shutter the entire agency, laying off 60% of the people in many bureaus, telling employees yesterday that none of them should show up for work." "That is unconstitutional" the senator said, speculating that Trump "may be making a guess" that the U.S. Supreme Court will give him the power to shutter agencies. (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dem-senator-says-trump-seizures-power-have-sparked-constitutional-crisis-calls-block-all-nominees). So much for this Democrat Secretary of State wannabe working with his peers for the betterment of our country.  A $36 Trillion-dollar National Debt can be damned according to Socialist/Democrat/Unhinged Lunatic United States Senator Murphy, as the man baby continually cries out to do it his way or visit the highway so you can be run over. Murphy might consider becoming an actor as he is suited for that rather than governing.

Why haven't all of the Country's problems been solved yet? But we have spent trillions so far with little result? Murphy and his Democrat Political Elite avoid this question. This past Tuesday, I was interviewed by my good friend Tony De Angelo who was the guest Host for Lee Elci on his show 94.9FM. To paraphrase part of what I stated on the show that it is simplistic yet complex for our government to understand. Let us just think about the trillions of dollars we have spent over 60 years reaching all of the way back to “The Great Society” of President Lyndon B. Johnson. But we still have wars, we still have homeless, we still have people starving, we still have crime, we still have a drug crisis, we still have human trafficking, we still have dead people collecting social security, we still have pathetic rotting cities, and we still have fraud/waste and theft going on in our government.  There are never any solutions offered by the Democrat Party on these issues except to throw more money at these same agencies, studies, reports, committees, and programs and get the same failed results, only with greater failure. We really should have none of these problems with the money American Taxpayers have spent over the years.

It is funny that America’s forerunners knew more about 2025 America than today’s politicians. Mark Twain was an American writer, humorist, and lecturer, widely regarded as one of the greatest literary figures in U.S. history. He blended sharp social commentary with humor and vivid storytelling. Twain was a master of satire, often critiquing human nature, politics, and institutions with a biting wit. At one point, Mr. Twain famously stated that “No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session” Unfortunately for the poor taxpaying citizen of Connecticut, this must be the most accurate description of the Connecticut State Legislature ever made. For rather than take heed of the will of citizens to tax less, increase government transparency and accountability, reduce utility costs, and strip out bureaucracy, the fervor of what has driven Connecticut to the gutter driven by the imperious and arrogant Democrat-driven representative body continues at a frantic pace. Be it an electricity cost that will increase with no critical action when solutions are easy and obvious, more reckless spending in education-just because, the veneration and protection of illegal aliens over citizens and veterans, increased spending on climate change, and uncontrolled grants to non-profits, money is never an object to the delusional and inept legislator. In these cases, the legitimate taxpaying citizen prays for federal funding to be discontinued to the state so that further damage will be starved out at the source.

Speaking of great men of history, there is a quote that has been attributed to President Abraham Lincoln that was paraphrased from the historical Lincoln Douglas Debates. This quote is appropriate for 2025 and what we are now seeing with the Democrat Party and their cries of a Constitutional Crisis, stating that “You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.” President Lincoln also stated: “It is the eternal struggle between these two principles — right and wrong — throughout the world. They are the two principles that have stood face to face from the beginning of time; and will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity, and the other the divine right of kings. It is the same principle in whatever shape it develops itself. It is the same spirit that says, "You toil and work and earn bread, and I'll eat it." No matter in what shape it comes, whether from the mouth of a king who seeks to bestride the people of his own nation and live by the fruit of their labor, or from one race of men as an apology for enslaving another race, it is the same tyrannical principle.” (https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/403565-the-lincoln-douglas-debates)

The American and Connecticut Taxpayer is tired of being fooled by an out-of-control government who shows no respect for them. They are tied of the whining of the political elitists who know so much more than they, but actually, know nothing.  The Democrat Party has created their own crisis of destruction, incompetence, and lies into a macabre and horrific art form. They own it. President Trump is leading our country. The Democrat Party is leading in their own slum of deceit, incompetency, and corruption.

Society will be much better off if the Democrat Party goes the way of the Whig Party. This would be a fitting tribute for sixty years of failure reaching back all the way to Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society.