Connecticut: The State of Legislative Criminal Forgiveness

 Connecticut's State Legislature has been a sad mess for years. 

The Connecticut State Legislature has seen multiple legislators, including (but not limited to) Robin Comey, Aundré Baumgartner, Geoff Luxenberg, Kevin Ryan, and Dennis Bradley face criminal charges ranging from driving under the influence (DUI) to campaign finance fraud.

Below is just a partial list of those that have offended the public trust in committing criminal acts.

Robin Comey: Arrested for DUI in March 2023 after a car crash near the Capitol, with blood alcohol levels nearly twice the legal limit, and removed from committee assignments. 

An earlier incident showed Ms. Comey making laws…while drunk.

Aundré Baumgartner: Arrested for DUI in March 2025 with blood alcohol levels over twice the legal limit, suspended from leadership roles, and entered a program for first-time offenders.

Geoff Luxenberg: Arrested for DUI in November 2023, removed from committees, and sought personal counseling.

Kevin Ryan: Had multiple DUI arrests, including a notable third in 2001 leading to 120 days in prison, yet retained office and won subsequent elections.

Dennis Bradley: Indicted in May 2021 on federal charges for defrauding the campaign finance system, with the case ongoing as of June 2024.

Every one of these people has returned to legislative service with the usual cries of “I am sorry” and “Let’s Move On.” However, in this past week we had another young lawmaker continuing in the great tradition giving yet another example of its disregard for laws of the land. The example is this week's debacle of Legislative Miscreantness is Democrat State Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan, a four-term lawmaker from Connecticut. 

Raghib was arrested Monday June 22, 2025 for allegedly failing to scan two items at a Target store in Bethel. He was arrested after police reviewed security video showing him attempting to leave the store with $26.69 in unpaid merchandise.

In reading Raghib’s biography one may be impressed in his qualifications as a young Democrat. For example, "Since 2018, Raghib has been at the forefront of shaping energy policy, pushing for renewable investments, stronger oversight of utilities, and greater protections for consumers."  

Connecticut Taxpayers may wonder if those greater protections for consumers include being able to freely shoplift goods for stores in Crime Free Democrat Connecticut. 

It adds; "Currently, he serves on the Energy and Technology, General Law, and Insurance and Real Estate Committees. A proud member of the legislature’s Moderate Caucus, Raghib has championed protections for domestic violence survivors, pushed back on overdevelopment, and advocated for Connecticut’s small businesses." 

Connecticut Taxpayers may wonder if he advocates to shoplifting at the few remaining Connecticut small businesses? 

Or how he feels about the obscene HB 5002 as far as over-development is concerned? 

In his standard statement of repentance after being caught shoplifting by hand carrying items out of the store, he stated that he remained committed to serving his community with “transparency and integrity". 

Connecticut Taxpayers may wonder if such transparency includes availing oneself of five-fingered discounts by using one’s fingers instead of shopping bags. 

Lastly in his bio is the inevitable virtuous statement of sexual preference;” An openly gay legislator, Raghib is a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and representation. He continues to reside in Bethel, where he remains deeply connected to the community he serves." 

Connecticut Taxpayers may wonder what does this have to do with anything with respect to governance or policy?

The story of his shoplifting is interesting as the New York Post reported more information on his alleged theft. In their article (https://nypost.com/2025/06/25/us-news/democrat-ct-lawmaker-busted-for-shoplifting-at-target-self-checkout-line-then-uses-ailing-granny-as-an-excuse/), we find out that; "A Democratic state representative from Connecticut busted for shoplifting after failing to scan items at a Target self-checkout offered a litany of excuses, including that he was “in a rush to bring items to my grandmother in the hospital.” State Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan was arrested Monday night at a Target store in Bethel, about 60 miles southwest of Hartford, after authorities reviewed security footage allegedly showing he neglected to scan two of his items, totaling $26.69 in value. He was detained by loss prevention personnel, who later told cops they recognized the four-term lawmaker from “previous unreported larcenies,”  

Connecticut Taxpayers may wonder how many times has the Democrat State Representative stolen from Target and other stores in the area?

Raghib posted the following statement on his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/raghibct/) that “During a recent visit to the Bethel Target, two items in my armload of others were not scanned. I was in a rush to bring items to my grandmother in the hospital, the store didn’t have bags, and I was juggling multiple purchases”  It is interesting to note that Democrat State Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan voted for House Bill #7424 which outlaws evil plastic bags as noted from the bill; “On and after July 1, 2021, no owner or operator of a store shall provide or sell a single-use checkout bag to a customer.” What an irony for Raghib! No bags to use in the store! Democrat Socialism continually reaches its finest moments in Crime-Free Democrat Connecticut.

Based upon well-established past precedent, we know that the esteemed Democrat State Representative will blame everyone but himself, get a slap on the wrist and be able to keep his position, benefits and pension as a State Representative as long as he wants. His colleagues will view this and say to themselves “if I screw up, the same soft-landing will be waiting for me as I am entitled.”  There is no deterrent for being a criminal if you are a Democrat Connecticut state legislator. If you or I did this we would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Can you imagine if a Republican State Representative did this? Or the Governor? (No, scratch that. Why would one bother with guppies when one can bag whales?)   

But this is Crime Free Democrat Connecticut. But a better term would be “The Legislative Criminal Forgiveness State.” But alas, that type of forgiveness applies only to a very small subset of the population. 

It's "No Kings Day" in Democrat Connecticut. (But Who Is The King?)

On June 14, 2025, "No Kings Day" was a nationwide series of protests across the United States, organized by the 50501 Movement and a coalition of over two hundred progressive groups, including Indivisible, MoveOn, and the ACLU. The demonstrations, held in nearly 2,000 cities and towns, aimed to reject what organizers described as authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of democracy under President Donald Trump’s second administration. The protests coincided with a military parade in Washington, D.C., marking the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, which organizers criticized as an arrogant and self-aggrandizing show. An estimated 4 to 6 million people participated, making it one of the largest single-day protests in U.S. history, with a flagship march in Philadelphia. Protests focused on issues like immigration raids, civil rights erosion, and executive overreach, with events ranging from urban rallies to small-town gatherings, all unified under the slogan “No thrones, no crowns, no kings.”

In lock step with the others, Connecticut joined the nationwide No Kings Day protests, with over thirty demonstrations held across the state. From Hartford’s State Capitol, where people gathered on the north lawn, to smaller rallies in towns like Norwich, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stamford, protestors voiced opposition to the Trump administration’s policies. Events featured speeches from activists, veterans, and lawmakers like U.S. Rep. John Larson, addressing issues like women’s rights, immigration detentions, and cuts to public institutions.

Query: Did it ever dawn on any the protestors attending the protests in Connecticut that those preaching to them about “No Kings” are really a part of a perverted Royal Priesthood and an unholy nation serving for personal power and gain and the exploitation of the citizen? Did it ever dawn on these same folks that in supporting this royal family, their own personal situation has not taken a turn for the better in decades? Moreover, in the mire of their own lives, did it ever dawn on these people lecturing them get richer and more exploitative by the day at their expense?

Many find great irony in the paid day of protest that is the improved talking point of liberalism. It is the new anti-Trump mantra that he is now a "King" and needs to be stopped, even though he was elected President. But I can see several "Kings" in Connecticut that should be stopped (but we know they never will).

Sitting in the Royal Court is King Governor Ned Lamont, the Unaccountable, being the first King that holds an emperor like existence as the ruling King of the state. “King Ned” has used the state as the Oak HC/FT hedge funds personal piggy bank with the profitability of the draconian Convid-19 measures he declared and proclaimed with Sema-4. No one at the political ballgame is allowed to question any financial interests with Sema-4, Digital Currency Group and its affiliates, ADVANCECT, 4-CT, Boston Consulting Group, UNITE US, Mt. Sinai Genomics, “The Horsebarn Hill Investment Fund”, Tidal River Fund, McKinsey, GeneDX, and the Lamont-based Cayman Islands shell companies. King Ned has never published a tax return. No one knows King Ned's net worth although his wife Annie is worth $650 million according to Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/profile/annie-lamont/).  Thus the Lamont's are closing in on nearly a $1 billion in wealth but King Ned somehow sympathizes with the common Connecticut Taxpayer as they toil daily to pay the astounding taxes of the state King Ned is the overlord for.  But King Ned cares. He kept you “safe from Covid.” He wants childcare for your children so the state can indoctrinate them in their design. He blinks at porn in children’s libraries. He cares nothing about the middle-class homeowner as their zoning laws may rot in Hell. You are not supposed to question any of his hidden dealings. He really does reflect the true characteristics of royalty.

As First Lord, King Dick Blumenthal, an established Vietnam Veteran, and Connecticut's Democrat/Socialist United States Senator for life, maintains a handsome net wealth from his 2023 financial disclosure form estimates a figure between $81.37 million and $132 million (https://finbold.com/guide/richard-blumenthal-net-worth/). King Dick is another Democrat politician whose wealth was obtained to a large extent by his wife. King Dick is a dangerous man, as the most dangerous place to be in Connecticut is between him, and a camera. King Dick insists to be in front of the press daily with his false promises and bellows about his is going after this group, individual, industry and or country for their misdeeds. King Dick did a great deal of damage to the state as Attorney General but he was repaid by becoming Senator for life after he burned too many bridges as Attorney General. Blumenthal enjoys also enjoys diatribes against President Trump. He too really reflects the true arrogance and characteristics of royalty.

The next Lord Chancellor King is the well-known Democrat/Socialist/Progressive/peripatetic idiot Junior United States Senator for life Chris Murphy. King Chris is basically broke since he apparently has a lot of mortgages and is going through a divorce. King Chris has a deep and psychotic hatred for all things President Trump. The Israel/Iran conflict brought these words of wisdom from King Chris; "Trump created the problem. The single reason Iran was so close to obtaining a nuclear weapon is that Trump destroyed the diplomatic agreement that put major, verifiable constraints on their nuclear program." (https://x.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1935463595363680454?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet). King Chris in the opinion of many helped to nurture Iran meeting secretly with Iranian Mullahs and promoting former autopen, analyst driven, President Biden's supposed nuclear deal with Iran.  Murphy loves talking the Socialist's game plan and loves being in front of the camera moaning about how bad things are when there is a Republican President and how great things are when there is a Democrat President. As far as royalty, Chris resembles the model of an out-of-control scion of an established royal family, where he given respect only because of who “his people” are. Even though his status is attributed being a man of no accomplishments, he too, is royalty.

Bringing up the rear is Attorney General Democrat/Socialist King William Tong. Tong is a champion of illegal immigration, anti-business, and any type of lawsuit against President Trump. He makes former Attorney General King Dick Blumenthal, look like a pansy in his tirades against all things conservative and or normal. From boys in girls’ sports to constitutional rights for illegal immigrants and the surgical mutilation of vulnerable and confused children, the Activist King William will spew his way or the highway at all comers especially Connecticut Taxpayers (who pay his $206,062 salary). King William likes to refer to himself as a "firewall" to President Trump and consistently condemns all things Trump. In my estimation, this man has the aggressive characteristics of William Shakespeare’s Brutus in “Julius Caesar”, and the other Kings should watch him closely.

 There are other lesser Kings in Connecticut presiding over their domain with similar vim and vigor. The following Democrats are Kings with their autocratic and lack of comprise rule; Democrat/Socialist State Senator Leader Martin Looney and Democrat/Socialist State Senator Bob Duff. These Kings rule with an iron hand with little to no oversight in their disregard for the rules and laws of the state and their continual scorn and disdain for the citizens of Connecticut. But why should they care? They are Kings. (You and I are mere subjects and vassals).

So, who really are the “Kings?”  These individual Kings that I have mentioned are an insult to the state and its citizens. Yet they continue to win re-election over and over again and buffalo poor and confused citizens that they are “for the people”  And many wonder why the protest on June 14th was against a President who actually wants to better the country and upend the elitist "King" Democrat status quo that is the true cancer to the state and country. 

It is also interesting to note that June 19 was the Holiday of Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery. Social media is replete with the comments of many normal and decent citizens being enslaved by the Connecticut Royal Family of oppression and shame and feeling trapped as they are unable to leave. One asks if slaves could be freed, why not the good people of Connecticut? But alas, this Royal Family has other designs.

So, who really are the Kings? I submit unto you, the paid protestors and "concerned" liberals should really focus on where the royalty really lies in the failed Kingdom of Connecticut.

 

House Bill 5002: Connecticut’s Horrific Housing Hell of Horrors

Ever since the dawn of the Republic, it has been the desire of about every happy and productive American to either buy or build their own home and go about living by their own chosen design. America is the land of free people, and many people developed their skills and talents to start on the trek to living life in the manner they wished in a place they could call their own home. All being well, the home was the economic driver for many trades and professions, and in the vast majority of cases the home became the single largest asset owned by many families, an asset that could be sold or passed on to the next generation.

Entire communities and economies were built around residential homes. Connecticut was a great leader in this effort with no state income tax until 1991 and a great commitment to community and value in its cities and towns. In the residential sections of our once great cities, skilled tradespeople and machinists of color left the racism and oppression of the south and came to work in the burgeoning Connecticut firearms industry. Their employment and hard work granted them fine homes and cars in the northern parts of Connecticut’s major cities. There was no welfare. None was needed. There were no cries of systemic racism. If the Black guy worked more hours that the White guy, he made more money and had a newer car and a bigger home. Life was not perfect, but it was simple, and it worked. And it worked up until the time of the enactment of the dastardly and economy-killing income tax 35 years ago and the shutdown of the firearms and manufacturing industries throwing many working class and Black people onto the welfare system.

But in Connecticut, citizens know nothing, and politicians know everything. This great politically based masterminding has disenfranchised people of color and the working class and thrown Connecticut into a perpetual, debt laden and welfare-burdened economic stupor. And the horror movies worsen every day. Regardless, (and undeterred), the Democrat-Socialist majority-driven political system is now doggedly proceeding to destroy the last vestige of economic freedom and security for legitimate and taxpaying citizens in this state, being their home. Therefore, enter House Bill 5002: Connecticut’s Horrific Housing Hell of Horrors.

As is standard procedure in Connecticut, journeys to economic and social destruction are preceded by the pontificators of the impending plague: "Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) issued the following statement today on House Bill 5002: "...“No matter how loud the anger, lies, and irrational voices get, we must remain steadfast in our mission to build more housing, lower costs, and grow the economy.” (https://www.senatedems.ct.gov/senators-looney-and-duff-release-statement-on-house-bill-5002-2). After systematically destroying the Connecticut economy over time, I, and many others did not realize that elitist/socialist State Senators Looney and Duff were experts in housing construction, experts in free market housing economics, Connecticut Taxpayer funded "affordable" housing and removing local control of land from Connecticut's 169 villages, towns and cities.  All in one big, beautiful, communistic/socialistic, power grab of a bill, the same HB5002.

 

Needless to say, the bill itself is the usual Connecticut Democrat Party mumbo-jumbo of incoherent gibberish that offers payouts to the politically connected in the state. The politically connected who know they can profit from it with its over one hundred amendments and supplements that have been added. Trying to read it all and actually understand the bill defies logic. (https://legiscan.com/CT/bill/HB05002/2025). It is inarguable that the bill is a true and classic rip off of the independence of local zoning laws, local land use laws and ultimately, the Connecticut Taxpayer. It promises a Utopian creation of all sorts of housing/transportation/affordability and a dream society that would be well beyond the reach of the collective mental candlepower of those comprising the Connecticut political and administrative system. Furthermore, this hellacious monstrosity proceeds as the state continues its economic decline to socialism and ruin with state government being the largest employer in the state, high taxes, a declining business environment and $100 to $150 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities in excess of any of the “fiscal guardrails” you may have heard of.  

But we know none of that does not bother the Connecticut Democrat Party in the least. Why should it? They know you are there to write the check.

Needless to say, the underlying grand design of this bill would be the Soviet-style veneration of a limited elite while working class areas will look like communist block homes of all the same sizes, color being gray, drab and uniform. Herein, the failed concept of the perpetual slum and the encouragement of vagrancy is once again resurrected, a concept that was reduced to a hail of gunfire, drugs, and gang violence in places like Father Panik Village in Bridgeport and Southfield Village in Stamford.

For example:

(https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/ACT/PA/PDF/2025PA-00049-R00HB-05002-PA.PDF)

House Bill No. 5002
Public Act No. 25-49
AN ACT CONCERNING HOUSING AND THE NEEDS OF HOMELESS
PERSONS.

Page 9:Sec. 4. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Social Services
shall, within available appropriations, develop and administer a pilot
program to provide portable showers and laundry facilities to persons
experiencing homelessness. Such program shall be implemented in not
fewer than three municipalities and shall provide not less than three
portable shower trailers and not less than three traveling laundry trucks.
The commissioner may contract with one or more nonprofit
organizations to administer the program. Not later than January 1, 2027,
the commissioner shall submit a report on the success of the pilot
program, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the
general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to housing. The pilot
program shall terminate on January 1, 2027. 

Page 10:(1) "Affordable housing plan" means a plan for the development of
affordable housing units in a municipality pursuant to subsection (b) of
this section;
(2) "Affordable housing unit" means a dwelling unit conveyed by an
instrument containing a covenant or restriction that requires such
dwelling unit, for at least forty years after the initial occupation of the
unit, to be sold or rented at, or below, a price that will preserve the units
as housing for which persons and families pay thirty per cent or less of
their annual income where such person or family is considered a low-
income household, very low-income household or extremely low-
income household;
(3) "Compliance implementation mechanisms" means (A) changes to
a municipality's policies and procedures, and (B) proactive steps a
municipality may take in order to allow for the development of
affordable housing units, including, but not limited to, (i)
redevelopment of a site, (ii) seeking funding for the development of
affordable housing units or sewer infrastructure, (iii) donating
municipal land for development, and (iv) entering into agreements with
developers for a development that includes affordable housing units;

What does this mean? There are many examples from this bill that should alarm all property owners and taxpayers. The bureaucracy that this bill creates should be an impetus and impulsion to move out of Connecticut ASAP. It is a land grab pure and simple. Unions and the politically connected will cash in building the slums of the future, which slums with no state economy to speak of will then become the taxpayer-supported welfare projects of the future. Bad and out of control residents will eventually receive the protection of an eviction-free world where regardless of what they do, they will be guaranteed a roof over their head and ruin the residential experience for good residents. Drugs, (then-legal), crime, and gang violence will return. But do not talk to me. Talk to the esteemed Senators Duff and Looney, who claim this is “economic development.”

Home ownership is a constant debate in our economy. Affordable housing has been a debate in our economy for well over 50 years. How is "affordable" housing defined in our economy after billions of dollars has spent by all levels of government to make it more "affordable"? The definition of "affordable" housing seems to change constantly according to political needs and wants not from a prospective of economic needs and wants. It should be logical that the less governmental interference there is with the housing markets, the quicker free market solutions can take place to make housing "affordable". It worked simply fine before Democrat-centric politicians systematically began destroying the system and the Black working-class almost four decades ago. Connecticut through this hellacious HB 5002 wants to control the entire process of housing to protect the wealthy mansions of Greenwich where King Governor Ned Lamont The Unaccountable and his cronies reside while destroying the working middle class communities throughout the state, the places where families saved money and bought their own homes without governmental intervention and ridiculous zoning laws.  

HB 5002 goes against any type of common sense when it comes to this concept of "affordable" housing. The costs of this bill for both the town and state are astronomical. My question to Martin Looney, Bob Duff and the Connecticut Democrat Party is how many homeless people do you have living in your spacious homes? Any? And what gives you the right to control housing in the state? Just more madness and controlled destruction, compliments of a political regime out of touch with any reality, and not caring the least bit about any of that.
 

 

The World Is a Volatile Place. (But Connecticut Is Always The Place With The Steadiest Of Habits)

 It was the week that it was. The Middle East. Russia vs. Ukraine. Musk and Trump. Tariffs. Harvard. The revocation of student visas. President Joe Biden was non compos mentis while in office. Volatility. Unpredictability. Danger! It is all a reminder that the only constant in the 21st Century world, is change, and tomorrow is always another day.

 However, year after year things never seem to show any positive change in Connecticut. You know, Connecticut! The Land of Steady Habits. And ask any decent law-abiding taxpaying citizen in Connecticut as to what these steady habits are and they will pick from the following list. Fraud. Concealment. Incompetence. Crime. Redundancy. Reading pornographic texts for children into the General Assembly record while Democrat elected officials make videos dancing and gagging like fools. Elitists using a “budget emergency” to launder investment cash to the UCONN Foundation via a specious tax credit. (June 5, 2025 THIRTY WITH TONY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8wCu_v35EQ (THE SHOW! DOES ANYONE HERE HAVE A HEART? THIRTY WITH TONY 6 5 2025) Drag Queens in Libraries. Drunken lawmaking. Drunk driving legislators applying for “accelerated rehabilitation.”  Followed by their perfunctory “repentance” and “turning the page”. Assaults on the home via corrupted zoning or gross mismanagement of rampant crime. National embarrassment.

THE SHOW! DOES ANYONE HERE HAVE A HEART? THIRTY WITH TONY 6 5 2025

Like we said: Steady habits. So steady that you can time a metronome to all of it.

But nothing characterizes “steady” in Connecticut like the formulation of the state budget. When the budget is assembled (calling it “crafted” would be an insult to the term) these same legitimate citizens can bank on higher taxes, more unfunded mandates, more non-budgetary bills being codified into disastrous laws therein, more reckless spending in the crumbling cities with no accountability, bogus “utility price cuts” and other impending disasters on the way to manifestation.

Per terms of the concept, this budgetary disaster is the steadiest habit of all.

Perhaps you like to talk about the budget in greater detail? Not much new to report other than once again we will await as to how the socialist-driven state Democrat party will now save us from ourselves again as they have every year for the past three decades. This year’s whopper of a budget increases state spending to $55.8 billion dollars for the next two years. As is par for the course, the state budget increases yearly while there never is a mention from any politician of any party of the $100 to $150 billion dollars in short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities that the state has on its corrupted books. Who will pay this debt? When collapse comes, will property taxes triple as state aid crumbles? Is that the idea so that more trash new dimension slums of the future could be built in place of houses? Will your child’s school close? Will there be no police and fire services even if you hate police and firefighters and you need them at a point in your life? This is the cold hard reality of the world we now live in, a reality that no legislator has even given lip service to for many years running.

But these issues are not important. Other things are much more critical. With no eye towards consolidation or efficiencies and tax savings, this new budget magically increases redundant spending for the usual social services, domestic violence issues, drug addiction, education, municipal aid, and as usual pork barrel grants, gimmies, and freebies that the Connecticut Democrat Party loves in their never-ending quest to continually be re-elected and buy out the vote.  Also, Connecticut Taxpayers see no tax reductions. The idea is that you will pay more and more taxes . If you question this continuing path to disaster, you will be labeled a right-wing fanatic or a racist along with several other things. (For after all, Connecticut habits must remain steady).

Of course, the budget itself is not written for the common person. For who are you to demand fiscal accountability, anyway? For those sad souls that have read either the entire 279-page version of this monstrosity of fiscal gibberish or parts of it, you are to be commended. For those who do not have time since you are working many hours to pay your Connecticut state and municipal taxes here are some highlights for you to assist you in going insane, as not one dollar of spending was cut:

(https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/opm/budget/2026_2027_biennial_budget/governors_budget_2627_final_webversion.pdf )

Page 54: General Fund Debt outstanding is $1,682,162,437 and Interest on that is $853,058,397 for a total of $2,535,220,834. Looking at that in real terms, almost 8% of the budget is just General Fund Debt and interest alone. 

Page 68: Department of Economic and Community Development (“DECD”) budget for two years is over $560 million dollars in order to continue its inept and malfeasant “economic development” legacy of the “First Five”, Sema4, ADVANCE CT, Digital Currency Group and the (happily derailed) “Artificial Intelligence Bill” embraced 30-4 by the state senate this past May. Due to intentionally garbled records and disclosure, it is entirely unascertainable as to how much this department has wasted in your taxpayer dollars in no interest loans/bad loans/non repayable loans, “Ned Deals,” “Ned Deals We Have Not Found Out About Yet” and other crony-driven disasters.  Even with all this spending, Connecticut is last and or near last in most economic categories. Why does this sieve and debacle of an economic development agency continue year after year? To suffice political nepotism? Now move to Page 85: Same failed agency has a budgeted estimated cost of fringe benefits is over $7.7 million dollars. Why? It is inarguable that over a half billion dollars of taxpayers’ monies is wasted here, as Connecticut would still be dead last in all economic categories had not one dollar been spent by the DECD. Also keep in mind that the state would have had all of the funds not so wasted in the treasury in this case.

But wait! There’s More!! Help is supposedly now on the way for you, Mr. and Mrs Vassal, with "cuts in your electric bill" as somehow SB-4 "AN ACT CONCERNING ENERGY AFFORDABILITY, ACCESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY. To improve service and reduce costs for electricity ratepayers in the state.", does this trick. In reading and rereading this bill from an economic point of view, I really cannot see how it will save more than a few dollars of one's electric bill nor do I understand why the Republican minority voted in favor of it. The gist of this bill is to use state bonds to pay down some of the public benefits portion of your electric bill. Could any elected official tell me from where does state bond money come from other than the Connecticut Taxpayer or any foolish investor purchasing a Connecticut bond that is in danger of default? Thus, the burden of these "public benefits" changes paid by the Connecticut Taxpayer and ratepayer is the continuing due tribute for the massive amount of bonding the state embarks upon year in and year out. How does address the shortages of electricity in the state due to the incredible amount of "green" energy mandates that the state requires from its remaining two electric companies? The bill vaguely addresses bringing more natural gas into the state to produce electricity and allowing the evil nuclear energy segment of energy to have some new and limited capabilities. That said, who will be the great minds, leaders, and fiscal engineers who will marshal these bold new sources right to your wall switch in your home? Hint: You will not see these players sitting on the state bench, even if you look all of the way down (and even into the stands).

The new overspending by this $55.8 billion dollars budget is an incredible power grab by the Connecticut Democrat Party with little opposition by the Republicans. Since the outcome was a foregone conclusion, a great stand for principle and sanity for the woe-begotten taxpayer could have been made if every Republican had walked out of the chamber refusing to consent to this budgetary and faux legislative farce in the least way.  But principles, courage, clarity, and boldness in Connecticut always take a back seat every year to “collegiality and bipartisanship.” And as the steadiest habit of all, the collegial and bipartisan results are always worse than those of the last budget.

Once again, the Connecticut Taxpayer is damned by elitist power brokers and state-serving bureaucrats who care not one iota for those who actually work for a living in the state. And these days, they no longer even bother to hide this grievous fact.

News Flash: Connecticut Has A Bad And Incompetent Government

 Something is very obvious in Connecticut. Connecticut has a bad and incompetent government. Bad in the sense that it no longer represents its constituents. It no longer represents right versus wrong, truth versus lie, and fact versus fiction. It has produced many different incoherent, blabbering pieces of rhetoric to keep up a fictional lie of how well Connecticut is governed by the Connecticut Democrat Party. And the tipping point has been reached for Connecticut Taxpayers who are now seeing through the charade.

Connecticut has had bad government for many years, but ever since the devastation and oppression of the Covid-19 regime, the acceleration from bad to abysmal has become much more acute. Finger pointing has been perfected to an art form in the state by the Democrat Party. But have no fear. The Democrat Party takes no responsibility for the issues that are facing Connecticut in 2025, but of course, it never has.

The Horrors of Bad Government in Connecticut include (but are not limited to),

Excessively high local and state taxes inhibiting economic growth and economic and personal freedoms.

Excessively high insurance costs for auto insurance due to the rampant thefts and hijackings of vehicles, especially by repeat offenders along with the horrific mismanagement of residential crimes and the mishandling of natural disasters.

Excessively prohibitive costs of doing business in the state due to a myriad of complex rules, regulations and laws that increase the costs of doing business in the state and eliminate profitability for small businesses. (And as a tutorial of things to come with respect to the impending and disastrous "bipartisan" mismanagement of Artificial Intelligence for state businesses, please watch my friend Tony De Angelo’ THIRTY WITH TONY show of May 22, 2025, dealing with the horrors of “Senate Bill 2”

THE SHOW STUPID POLITICIAN TRICKS PART 2 THIRTY WITH TONY 5 22 2025 )

THE SHOW STUPID POLITICIAN TRICKS PART 2 THIRTY WITH TONY 5 22 2025

 

A constant illegal drug problem further exaggerated by the legalization and taxation of marijuana, while “psychedelic mushrooms” are moving from the on-deck circle to the batter’s box as the next legal drug of choice.

An irrational and sickening excess of the promotion of the harm and exploitation of children through sex changes, boys playing in girls’ sports, pornographic reading materials in libraries in schools, and the condemnation of parents having responsibility of their children. 

This should sicken everyone in the state.

The state's takeover of local zoning laws and regulations. (Communities be damned).

Fiscal guardrails that are shunned and destroyed by the Democrat Party.

No acknowledgement whatsoever of the 100 to 150 Billion Dollars of short- and long-term liabilities and unfunded liabilities weighing on the state. (Hint: The celebrated and oft-repeated Fiscal Guardrails do not even touch this grievous liability).

The state’s complete lack of transparency in how and why it governs and lack of disclosure of whosoever else may be involved.

A state ethics department that one would compliment to call it a joke.

 The continuing saga of the legal and ethical quagmire of Governor Lamont, the self-deals of the Lamont family, and the highly questionable (and non-transparent) dealings of First Lady Ann Lamont in matters of state government.

A bloated state bureaucracy of excessive and overpaid state employees, state commissioners, state assistant to the assistant employees, state departments, state committees and mythical "nonprofits" that are secret from the public view and whose dealings are intentionally exempted from Freedom of Information, (such as ADVANCE CT where state business policy involving Eversource, Yale, and other big players is engineered under shroud of secrecy, citizen be damned).

This is not the way Connecticut should be governed. This is not the way the Grand Duchy of Fenwick should be governed. This is bad government in action. This is worse than "Lord of the Flies". And what can be done about it? Can the Connecticut Taxpayer trust anyone in their government? Why should they? Maybe it is time to start all over in the state.  Connecticut's problems never go away nor does the constant spending of Connecticut Taxpayers monies resolve anything. The passing of greater laws does not resolve anything but create added benefits for the masses to benefit a privileged few. Connecticut has the same problems year in and year out. All of the excessive laws and excessive taxation just further exaggerates the same old problems.  Nothing changes. Why is that difficult to see in plain sight?

Term limits, spending caps, administrative salary reductions, and an overhaul of state laws/regulations and ethical politicians would be a great start in ending Connecticut's bad government. But in a state that has veered this excessively to the socialist left it is not possible. Or is it? Time will tell as the stale incoherent leftists and their incoherent and incompetent rhetoric fall on the deaf ears of the Connecticut Taxpayers and they start to scream loudly about this mockery masquerading as government.

Connecticut. The Crisis-Driven Disaster.

Well-run states and organizations govern objectives and goals. However, Connecticut continually governs by crisis. There just has to be one. There is always a crisis in Connecticut. No matter which party controls Washington, the continual omnipotent Democrat iron-fist one party rule in Hartford always makes sure that there is some self-perpetuated failure, somewhere, where a Democrat can stand on as a soap box to remind us as to how badly we need Democrats. Take any time, place, or date and just change the crisis, and there is always one present. The pathetic state government could have an infinite amount of cash flow and would still need more money and never touch the $100-$150 billion dollars in short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities looming over the state like a tarpaulin. For a crisis must be created. It never ends.

As the 47^th President of the United States Donald J. Trump is causing a whirlwind of national opportunity and enthusiasm in word, action, thought and vision, you can set your watch to Connecticut Democrats manufacturing yet another crisis in response to that . A new and continuing crisis is the supposed lack of "affordable" food in the state. Due to the cratered Connecticut economy and the lack of industry and leadership, many families with school aged children can't afford food, thus the state and town must provide free/low-cost breakfasts/snacks/lunches. The food in theory should be "nutritional" and be healthy. Apparently Connecticut has been receiving federal funds through a Biden-era program; the “Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program” and the “Local Food for Schools Program” which paid schools and food banks to buy "healthier" food options from local farmers (https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/lfs). This program apparently has its roots from Covid-19 funding and is being cut by the Trump Administration since the pandemic is over and the economy should be able to function without it given normal circumstances. This is normal thinking. But when you are a beggarly, welfare-dependent state like Connecticut, you depend on government assistance as a way of life. You know nothing different and you do not care to learn anything different.

Connecticut is typically the lead participant of free money programs and its never-ending giving/redistribution of Taxpayers monies. Connecticut's Covid-19 crisis was intentionally prolonged in order to receive more "free" money to get and spend. But what happens when that money gets cut off as in this case? It is the usual rhetoric and disgust as far as the cuts are concerned. Senator Chris Murphy stated: "most people who depend on food assistance in Connecticut work, adding that stagnant wages are not high enough to help them pay the bills...By ending these two programs, all you’re doing is hurting farmers and jeopardizing the food security of our families,” Murphy said. “These programs don’t save big amounts of money for the federal government; they don’t balance the budget.”  (https://ctmirror.org/2025/03/17/ct-schools-food-banks-local-farms/) It is inarguable that any savings would help balance the budget and lower the country’s $36 Trillion-dollar National Debt. Not to be outdone in crying the poor mouth, Senator Richard Blumenthal chimed in: "And while the pandemic exacerbated food insecurity across the U.S., (multi-millionaire Vietnam Combat Veteran) Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., argued that the White House is “taking the food off the table from working families so that the ultra-wealthy can have tax cuts.” (https://ctmirror.org/2025/03/17/ct-schools-food-banks-local-farms/) Can Senator Blumenthal directly trace the cuts in this program's funding with "Wealthy...tax cuts"? I find it hard to draw this correlation between the two, especially with a $36 Trillion-dollar National Debt. And wouldn’t job creation be the result of lowered taxes providing more free cash for spending? But again, these two fiscally incoherent Senators have been huffing and puffing for years and offer no solutions to our $36 Trillion-dollar National Debt and or the massive problems of the people they supposedly represent with affording food in Connecticut, other than to continually begging Washington.

Perhaps we can find some hope and perspective from the nonprofit and agency heads across the state! Like Jason Jakubowski, President and CEO of Connecticut Foodshare, whose last known salary was $291,114, other compensation of $54,529 and total compensation is $345,643 (https://givefreely.com/charity-directory/nonprofit/ein-061063025/)."Connecticut Foodshare was one of the largest participants in the program that had received about $3 million over the past few years. The group was set to receive another $1 million before the (pandemic) initiative was terminated." (https://ctmirror.org/2025/03/17/ct-schools-food-banks-local-farms/). One may wonder why Jakubowski is paid so much to "run" this nonprofit? Comparable private-sector executives with much greater responsibility and managerial accountability can look forward to half of his salary. His salary and those of his administrative staff if decreased, could be used to help feed people. But why do so many people in Connecticut need food assistance? Is it the excessively inflated cost of living due to high state and local taxes, high housing costs, high transportation costs, high insurance costs due to high crime rates and high electric costs? Does the bloated and politically connected state-run government contribute to the nanny state that distorts and destroys Connecticut's free market economy along with the state's affordability to live? Wasn't the above equilibrium minimum wage and state paid health/family leave insurance passed by Democrat legislative geniuses going to solve most of the state's affordability issues? And wasn’t taxing/taxing more the "rich" through the Utopian state income tax going to resolve once and for all the state's affordability issues so people could buy food on their own?  Why is this not happening? And why has the economic gap between the Connecticut state government, its state employees, and its programs fail year-in and year-out to resolve these pressing economic and social problems over the past 35 years? Just look at the costs of Connecticut's state government for salaries, benefits and pensions compared to the rest of the population that is not connected to government.

But to be fair, Connecticut does have a vision for economic growth and job development! There is a Connecticut Department of Economic Development! (“DECD”). The DECD serves officially as the state's primary agency for fostering economic growth and community development and is supposedly tasked with a broad mandate that includes economic development, housing, community development, transportation, education, and arts and culture. Its mission is supposedly to strengthen Connecticut’s economy by supporting businesses, promoting tourism, and fostering vibrant communities. The DECD employs approximately 100 full-time staff members. Daniel H. O'Keefe has been the commissioner of DECD since November 2023, earns more than his predecessor's $215,000 annual salary. However regardless of the bulbous spending of the DECD, Connecticut continually ranks last or near last in any reputable state poll comparing economic viability between states. A real economic development agency would be creating a business-favorable and job creating environment as opposed to consuming and wasting taxpayer dollars with little to no aggregate results. In fact, it is certainly a safe statement to say that the economic ranking of Connecticut would not be changed by one percentage point should the entire failed DECD model be dissolved and the funding expended be used to feed the hungry. This of course would not be the right answer. But neither is the continued wasting of tax dollars by crisis-driven leaders for little reason along with no vision or plan for real economic incentive and job growth.

Connecticut Taxpayers are now seeing through the stale, lost rhetoric of Connecticut's ruling political class. Connecticut Taxpayers should not have to forage to survive in a state that has no leadership, no ethics, no vision, and no results. Elected officials bellow at all times, and rant and rave against all of the injustices that they have helped to create in all of their never ending years of elected power and conquest.  The cut of the food aid program is just another example in the extensive line of economic failures pointing to the sad fact of there is never enough to be able to live a normal life in this once "Constitution" state that helped to found our country back in 1776. 

The Democrat-driven political cabal has never been the solution but is part of the fabric of the problem. Enough, is indeed, enough.

Who to believe in Connecticut?

 Who to believe in Connecticut? This is a question without an answer. Take the Connecticut Health System. We found out this past Thursday night that Dr. Deidre Gifford retired from her leadership role at Connecticut’s Office of Health Strategy. Mind us all this is not some quiet fade into the sunset, but rather it is a blaring siren of scandal, drenched in fraud allegations tied to a canceled Medicaid audit. That audit, abruptly shelved, is linked to a bribery case involving Konstantinos Diamantis, a former state official now infamous for questions on his dealings. Emails uncovered in the investigation show Gifford was in on discussions about contracts and payments that reeked of kickbacks. And if that is not enough, her legacy and professionalism reaches all the way back to the debacle of her Covid-19 management and her incessant push for vaccines harming many innocent citizens and children. And her career reaches back even farther to her leadership of the Department of Social Services (DSS), and it was a masterclass in screwing things up. Under her watch, administrative costs ballooned—state audits pegged DSS spending at $50 million over budget in 2018 alone, with no explanation beyond “operational needs.” Access to care cratered too: rural clinics closed at triple the national rate, leaving swaths of eastern Connecticut without Medicaid providers. Deidre is an exemplar for a leader in King Governor Ned Lamont the Unaccountable’s Connecticut; screw up, get involved in multiple failures and swindles, become unaccountable, hide, and when the wolf starts for your door, quit, skip out, and cash in on taxpayer money. It is the Connecticut Gold Standard.

Who to believe in Connecticut? That is easy! Believe Ned Lamont! The Unaccountable was crowing on Thursday about U.S. News and World Report ranking Connecticut #8 in its 2025 economy category, which sounds great until you dig into how they got there. For the economy part, the report focuses on business environment, employment, and growth. Connecticut scores decently here because of the statistical and income distortion of Fairfield County millionaires and Yale graduates. But here is the catch: it tanked at #48 for fiscal stability and #43 for opportunity. So, we see that U.S. News is cherry-picking features to a privileged few and downplaying the ugly characteristics we are all too familiar with. There is no mention of the 2025 "Rich States, Poor States" report ranking Connecticut 44th for economic outlook and 48th for performance. There is no mention of the state’s crushing pension debt, high taxes, serial and blatant corruption, and business-hostile regulations. So, in the final analysis, you can’t believe The Unaccountable either, (but you already knew that).

Who to believe when it comes to the Connecticut Legislature? This is another unanswerable question. We do not know, especially when it comes to state budgets that normally are voted on at all times of the day and night with no transparency. There are no negotiations on state budget with the minority Republican party, even though this year Republicans presented a tepid alternative budget that somewhat lowers taxes and cuts spending.  “This budget is a step toward what residents deserve—affordability, accountability, and flexibility in the face of federal funding uncertainty,” stated Finance Committee ranking member Rep. Joe Polletta (R-Watertown). But the Democrats immediately condemned the Republican plan as “House Speaker Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) said the plan is “not the most serious document I’ve ever seen, so we’ll probably have to write this one off.” (https://www.cbia.com/news/issues-policies/house-gop-state-budget-plan). Certainty the last ten years of Democrat fiscal horse-manure rammed down Connecticut Taxpayers throats are not the most serious documents I have ever seen and should have been written off for their excessive taxation, spending and loss of personal freedoms slammed into them. But again, Connecticut's Democrat party does not believe in either opposing voices, co-operation with elected officials from the opposition party nor any type of compromise or citizen input. They rule with an iron hand.

Trying to understand this new Democrat budget that again raises spending and taxes offers nothing different than in past budgets. Spending will go up over $1 billion dollars, since the first year of the budget increases spending over $395 million dollars, and the second year follows suit with over $770 million dollars according to initial estimates. Estimates of new and higher taxes for the first year of the budget are over $935 million dollars and over $1.2 billion dollars for the second year, although these figures are both secret and uncertain at the time of this writing. But who cares? As a reminder, Connecticut has $100 to $150 billion dollars in short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities. Connecticut is unattractive to new citizens and businesses with its excessively high taxes along with a non-transparent and corrupted government. Why move to Connecticut? Why move your business to Connecticut? Given this economic situation of high taxes and high state debt it really would be an economically incoherent move.

Who to believe in Connecticut regarding solutions to the messes? Solutions are nonexistent to Connecticut's fiscal problems in the realm of the political class. I have written about this for many years now and all is getting worse. Connecticut badly needs a citizen driven "DOGE" type commission as has been recommended by my good friend Tony De Angelo on his weekly segment on the Lee Elci show 94.9 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBxTuCSLdCw) A no holds barred approach of dismantling the current bureaucracy is critically necessary and would be truly helpful to Connecticut Taxpayers to see where their hard earned tax monies actually go to.  Is Connecticut efficiently run? Is there waste and fraud occurring in the state budget? Are all monies accounted for going to the correct accounts and programs? Does state government have excessive management positions and or excessive "do nothing" types of jobs? Why are public hearings on state spending issues limited in nature? What is the plan to pay off the state's massive debt? Could you really trust anyone connected to a state paycheck or income stream to give you an answer on any of those questions? (And it is almost a certainty that the next Republican candidate for Governor will turn against such a necessary analysis and will state his or her belief that the state can fix itself fiscally with a little help and guidance).

But citizens now know that their government is untrustworthy. The list is endless on what a Connecticut type DOGE could investigate and find. Just think at how much money could be save for Connecticut Taxpayers? Just think of the economic boom the state could have with more money freely being used by private citizens and private businesses rather than Connecticut's Democrat Party and its associated bureaucracy deciding who gets what. Connecticut would be much better served with a fully transparent government along with a true system of checks and balances.

In closing, Connecticut Taxpayers are no longer being represented or heard in Connecticut's failing, politically inept and stale one party ruled government. A bizzarro-type government where increasing incompetency and fraud is rewarded while you pay more each year to see things get worse and worse. But who can you believe who tell you the truth? The sad fact is that there is seemingly no one whatsoever connected to government that you can believe in Connecticut for any reason, anymore.