Connecticut's Newest Gasoline Tax:Coming Soon

Connecticut's Liberal Democrat Party are hoping for yet more destruction of the state economy by imposing a new regional gasoline tax to combat supposed climate change in the state.  The Yankee Institute reported this week that a regional cap and trade system for gasoline distribution initiated by the little known Transportation and Climate Initiative would force gasoline distributors to purchase carbon allowances in an auction type format and that money (less expenses?) would be used to invest more into failed mass transit systems, failed electric vehicles, etc.  All in the name of supposed climate change.  This proposal was developed through the Georgetown Climate Center in conjunction with the Transportation and Climate Initiative who is funded by some of the following groups:the Barr Foundation, Energy Foundation, Hewlett Foundation,  John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, John Merck Fund, New York Community Trust, Town Creek Foundation, and its core funder, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. 
I did not realize that as a Connecticut Taxpayer and legal citizen that I am now subjected to forced mandates by this group and do not have a say whatsoever in this new policy.  I personally thought that Connecticut still had legally elected State Representatives and Senators that voted on bills that were legally signed into law by the Governor as per our state constitution.  I do not remember when we ceded our energy taxes and policies to the Georgetown Climate Center in conjunction with the Transportation and Climate Initiative?  However in 2010 then Governor Dan Malloy agreed in principal to these plans.  Governor Lamont apparently has the ability to decree this as law without a vote. 
And how will this new founded windfall of cash be distributed?  Who gets what?  Who decides the Georgetown Climate Center in conjunction with the Transportation and Climate Initiative? 
I personally have never seen a more ridiculous plan trying to be implemented in Connecticut.  And what is the actual tax?  Reports are estimating 12 to 14 cents a gallon currently.  Is there a limit to this tax?  How does the tax get collected?  Can the tax be diverted in Connecticut like all other gasoline and diesel taxes and lumped into the state's general fund? 
If we look at the state's failure with its "Green Bank" which taxes Connecticut consumers electric bills helping the state have the highest electric rates in the country through a similar carbon tax-why do we now need this new carbon tax?  And this fund has been raided by the Connecticut Democrat Party to pay for budget deficits and not "clean air".
Once again legal Connecticut Taxpayers and consumers are being led down the road to economic oblivion with this new gasoline tax.  By the way Republican New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has rejected the Transportation and Climate Initiative four days ago for his state and will participate in it. 
It is too bad the free markets are not allowed to come up with their own solutions for this supposed liberal problem.  It is too bad the Connecticut Democrat Party continues to ruin Connecticut economically.

Governor Lamont-Connecticut's Can't Governor

Ned Lamont supposedly won the Connecticut Governor's race back in 2018.  He helped the Connecticut Democrat Party by spending a huge amount of his money to help buy his way into office thus preserving the Connecticut Democrat Party's monies to help them buy their way into other state offices and races.
Although Ned Lamont had some political experience being a former Greenwich selectman and losing several races on both a state and federal level, he seems lost as Governor.  He can't really do anything for the betterment of the state and its taxpayers.  He apparently has surrounded himself with ineffective aides and commissioners along with flipping his positions numerous times on issues especially tolls.  A grassroots organization called No Tolls Connecticut has taken down the Governor on the tolls issue showing the public that one can fight and win over Connecticut state government economic stupidity and nepotism.  Lamont has catered to his liberal base while energizing moderate and conservative taxpayers to fight his ridiculous policies and ideas.
The can't Governor also does not realize the folly that Connecticut has become as far its catering to its superior political elite and ruling class.  The recent reports that the state has $125 billion dollars in unfunded pension and pension benefits liabilities earned a collective yawn from the Connecticut Democrat Party and Lamont.  The state now has depending on how one researches it (since it is very secretive information) roughly $160 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities including pensions.  The can't Governor and the Connecticut Democrat Party have not offered one bit of information as to where they are developing the $500 million dollars in budget savings that was included in this past partisan budget for the state.  One could argue clearly that both revenue and savings estimates are no where near where they should be thus the state will once again have a massive budget deficit in January.  Oh well the can't Governor and the Connecticut Democrat Party will once again shrug it off and demand more taxes, tolls, etc. to balance the always unbalanced state budget.
I personally believe Connecticut voters and taxpayers are having the great awakening to the can't Governor and the Connecticut Democrat Party.  They are seeing the folly of their inability to lead and govern.  They are seeing what a grassroots organization like No Tolls Connecticut is having on our elected officials.  They are seeing the daily lies being force fed to them by a biased state media.  And they are seeing people flee the state on a daily basis moving to lower taxed along with more personal freedom states such as Florida and Tennessee.
The can't Governor and the Connecticut Democrat Party is starting to lose their ruthless grip on the state.  The tide has turned.  Years of economic inefficiencies along with a failed state command economy coupled with political corruption and nepotism has brought the state to its knees.
The Connecticut Taxpayer can't really take any more of our can't Governor and the Connecticut Democrat Party.

Connecticut The State That Can't

Connecticut to me does not seem to be the Constitution State any more with years of omnipotent one party rule.
Connecticut has turned into the Can't state.
It can't seem to cut state spending it can only only increase state spending.
It can't seem to cut state taxes it can only increase and create new taxes.
It can't seem to understand and utilize a lock box for transportation projects only lobby for tolls.
It can't seem to understand that the majority of those people who drive in Connecticut do not want tolls.  No tolls must be constantly communicated to the Connecticut Democrat Party on a daily basis.
It can't seem to understand that withholding municipal aid to towns for snow removal because there are no toils in the state is both illegal and violates its own statutory budget it signed into law.
It can't seem to understand that Connecticut has still not recovered from the recession of 2007-08. 
It can't seem to understand that Connecticut continues to lose high paying jobs since our taxes are so high.
It can't seem to understand that Connecticut continues to lose business and industry since our taxes are so high. 
It can't seem to understand that constitutional amendment to have a balanced budget it what that means not chronic budget deficits. 
It can't seem to understand that Connecticut has in excess of $160 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities and pension liabilities.  There is no plan whatsoever to address this.
It can't seem to understand that Connecticut government has no transparency.
It can't seem to understand that Connecticut's State Treasurer is violating his office and breaking the law by divesting state investments from gun companies to make a political stand.
It can't seem to understand that Connecticut's legal system has no transparency any more.  Legal Connecticut citizens have little protection when their rights have been violated and or have been stolen from.
It can't seem to understand that Connecticut government works only for a ruling political elite with pay for play in full display from the amount of corporate welfare that is given to certain businesses with ties to the Connecticut Democrat Party. 
It can't seem to understand that Connecticut is last in most economic categories in the country.
It can't seem to understand that Connecticut is in poor economic and fiscal shape. 
It can't seem to understand that Connecticut's supposed leaders have failed miserably in providing any leadership whatsoever in dealing with the massive economic problems the state has.
Connecticut has turned into the Can't state.  It Can't really do anything except protect its political ruling class and nurture the constant failure of its command state economy. 
When will this economic madness end in Connecticut?

Connecticut's Constant Pension Crisis

Connecticut has had a constant crisis when it comes to trying fund its overly generous pensions to state and local management and union workers along with teachers and judges.  A recent report by Pro Bono Public Pensions and written about by the Yankee Institute (https://yankeeinstitute.org/2019/11/21/connecticut-state-and-local-unfunded-retirement-obligations-top-124-billion/ ) that was issued this week stated that Connecticut has a $99.5 billion dollar unfunded pension liability and other post-employment benefits along with $22 billion dollars that is owned by Connecticut's municipalities for the same areas. These pension obligations are for 99,594 active and retired state employees and 87,952 active and retired teachers according to the state while also by law the state  has to maintain pension funds for approximately 17,000 municipal employees and 493 judges, family support magistrates and compensation commissioners.
If you do the math 205,039 past and present state and municipal employees will cost Connecticut Taxpayers approximately $125,000,000,000 in present and future tax dollars since the individuals getting the pensions and retirement benefits contribute very little to their plans.  Thus the massive under funding of the plans.  Connecticut has a total population of roughly 3,573,000 as of 2018.  Thus almost 20% of the state budget now goes for salaries, benefits and pensions for roughly a half of per cent of the population.  This unfunded liability represents almost seven complete state budgets or in other words if the state just spent every dollar from its budget on nothing else but these liabilities it would take roughly 14 years for this obligation to paid off (this also does not take into economic account all of the other state debt and bonds it has which is roughly another $40 billion dollars).
Putting it is even more simpler terms each citizen of the state would owe about $55,000 to the state for their share of this debt plus the other debts and liabilities the state owes.  The Connecticut Democrat Party could easily pass a new unfunded liability tax on each Connecticut Taxpayer based on income while exempting their own political ruling class to help pay for this short fall. 
Connecticut's pension crisis is a real economic crisis.  It has been pushed aside for years.
As a Connecticut Taxpayer I wonder along with many others what is the justification for these high state management, union, judges and teachers salaries, benefits and pensions?  I see many political appointments to these jobs when a Democrat candidate loses an election and or "retires" from public office (think of Ben Barnes).  Are they bettering the state?  I really can't see it since Connecticut is now roughly $140 billion dollars in debt and last or nearly last in the country in most economic and business categories while in the top five states for highest taxes in the country.  I will assume that this is what these 205,039 past and present state and municipal employees have helped to develop and nurture over the years-what amounts to being a toxic economy.
What is the solution?  Obviously the Connecticut Democrat Party along their media cheerleaders believe higher taxes in any and all forms will resolve this problem.  But it hasn't and will not in the future.  The current situation is economically unsustainable while Connecticut still has yet to recover completely from the 2008 recession. 
Something is radically wrong with this system of salaries, benefits and pensions.  It is unfair to the remaining legal Connecticut Taxpayers who are serfs in this Connecticut Democrat Party serfdom. 
We should not have to live and work in these economic conditions.  Fix the system seems always to fall on deaf ears.  How about solving it today? 

Connecticut's Constant Tax Crisis-No Tolls

The Connecticut Democrat Party seems to be besides themselves in always trying to raise taxes and to protect their ruling elite in Hartford.
Their new toll tax manufactured crisis is yet another example of a crisis to help create new toll taxes and yet more prevailing wage and excessive cost construction jobs for the state unions.
Some Democrat Senators are truly concerned now for their campaigns and seats next November since a majority of legal Connecticut Taxpayers are against tolls and will vote them out of office.  In my opinion they should be voted out of office anyways since they have done nothing for our state other than create an economic nightmare and constant recession.
We do not need a toll tax.  The monies will not go to repairing bridges and roads.  There will be constant cost overruns to these tolls.  The costs of administering tolls to the state will be enormous.
We do not need tolls.  We need a functional unbiased financial analysis of what roads and bridges need to be repaired and how much will it cost.  We need a competitive bid process for these same projects not a group of Connecticut Democrat Party donors and or lobbyists getting the work.  We need a definitive time table as to when it will be completed.  We need the original transportation funds and gas taxes that were earmarked for these repairs to go back into the DOT budget and be used as such.  We need a full forensic audit of the DOT and its spending.  We need answers as to why our roads and bridges are in such a state of disrepair.
We can compare these possible new tolls taxes with the complete failures of the ten cent a bag plastic bag tax, the $12 per homeowners insurance tax for crumbling foundations, the dry cleaners surcharge tax and the upcoming sales tax on dry cleaning effective 1/1/2020, the $2 tax per tire for tire disposal when buying new tires, the secret roughly 25 cents per gallon gross earnings tax on each gallon of gasoline you buy, the $250 tax on all LLC's in the state to file a three line form with the Secretary of State's office, etc., etc.  The list of these taxes is really endless.  Toll taxes will be no different.  And I am confident they will do little to improve our road and bridge system.  And I am confident Connecticut's $100 billion dollars in long and short term debt along with unfunded liabilities will only grow even more in the near future.
It is time for Connecticut's ruling political elite to come up with a much different plan to provide Connecticut drivers a efficient, functional and safe road system with the monies they already have.  The Connecticut Republican Party's new plan is a start.  Connecticut Taxpayers need to be respected by Connecticut Democrat Party and its cronies.
No Tolls.  No they will not work.  Our ruling elite need to figure out a new plan that does not include new taxes or tolls.  They need to do it today.
No Tolls

Tolls Are Taxes

I wonder what part of No Tolls doesn't Ned Lamont or the Connecticut Democrat Party understand?
I wonder what part of new tolls does not mean new taxes for Connecticut drivers, taxpayers and businesses?
I wonder what part of new tolls does not mean new higher transportation costs that will be passed on to all in our state economy thus increasing the cost of living?
I wonder what part of new tolls does not mean more Connecticut bureaucracy and high costs to run the already failed program?
I wonder why there is going to be a toll on a part of Interstate 684 that is not even in Connecticut?
I wonder how many drivers will use non toll roads in order to avoid these tolls?
I wonder how fast will toll revenues decline from their projections?
I wonder how many out-of-state drivers will ignore the toll notifications they will get from the State of Connecticut and not pay the toll?
I wonder how quickly the temporary tolls will increase in costs and become permanent?
I wonder also how quickly the toll money gets diverted to the State's General Fund to pay for state union and management salaries, benefits and pensions?
I wonder how long will it take to actually repair the major road and bridge projects that are being proposed to be fixed by the Governor? 
I wonder how many cost overruns will occur when these projects are being worked on?
I wonder how much more money has to be spent because these repairs can only be done by unions with no competitive bidding and with a forced prevailing wage rate being paid?
I wonder what Democrat political appointee will run this already failing toll program?
I wonder how much he or she will be paid also and why such an excessive amount of salary?
I wonder why Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Democrat Party have such a dislike and disrespect for the Connecticut Taxpayer especially since there is such a great opposition to tolls?
The Connecticut Democrat Party will once again damage the state economy with their new toll tax.
And for those members of the Connecticut Democrat Party who vote for tolls, they will lose at the polls in November.
NO TOLLS.  

Connecticut's New Temporary Tolls Are Just New Taxes

What is a temporary toll?  Here in Connecticut with a majority of drivers and businesses in  opposition to tolls, 14 "temporary" tolls are now being introduced by our leaderless Governor Ned Lamont.  The tolls are supposedly "temporary" in nature if one can understand the new complex program for approximately 20 years or until the time the state can pay back the Federal Transportation Administration for money borrowed to fix our failed highway, road and bridge system while making Metro North 15 minutes faster on some routes for their commuters. The state is going to borrow against future revenue streams claiming that there is no money as usual to pay for road repair.
That is what a "temporary" toll is going to look like in Connecticut.  The tolls will be placed on most bridges making it close to impossible to avoid.  Thus the Connecticut Democrat Party will have the best of all worlds with these new "temporary" tolls.  The Connecticut Democrat Party gets a new tax in the form of a toll, gets to continue to divert road and highway funds to pay for state union and management salaries, benefits and pensions, and again like the state income make a "temporary" tax into a permanent one.  The Connecticut Democrat Party economic reasoning defies any type of economic logic as these new toll taxes will only further the economic decline of the state.
New toll taxes will increase the cost of living in Connecticut as drivers must find this money from their personal budgets in order to drive to work daily.
New toll taxes will increase the cost of living in Connecticut as all deliveries will cost more and those increased costs of delivery for food, fuel and all essential goods and services get passed on to consumers in higher prices.
New toll taxes will increase the cost of living in Connecticut while not guaranteeing any roads or highways get repaired in the long run since there will not be enough money in the future since toll revenues will not meet estimates.  Thus tolls will have to go up as usual to meet these inflated estimates.  I am also confident that most of the repair work will have no bids involved and thus the costs to repair will be astronomical.
Governor Lamont took the easy way out and has offered an unrealistic solution to fix our state's road and highway problems.  New toll taxes will increase the cost of living in Connecticut.  The Connecticut Democrat Party gets what they want in new taxes so they can continue to tax and spend Connecticut into economic oblivion.
And once again legal Connecticut Taxpayers are ignored and shunned by our inept one party rule state government.
No Tolls.

Wallingford's Vote On Tuesday November 5th

Wallingford is a well run and strong town and community.  It has low taxes, low electric rates, AAA bond ratings, a superior school system, a safe community to live and prosper in, an ethical and 
non-egotistical Mayor, a dynamic Town Council and Board of Education that govern effectively, and an incredible variety of businesses and companies that call Wallingford home.
It is an exceptionally well-run town being led by Republicans.  Republicans who want to see the town grow and prosper.  Republicans who are concerned about families, taxes and their physical community.  There is no play to pay in our community nor lack of services. To many others and me it shows by how dynamic and strong Wallingford is in 2019.   It continues to be a model community in our poorly run Democrat led state.
The Republican ticket led by Mayor Dickinson deserve your vote on Tuesday November 5th.   Your vote will keep Wallingford moving forward and growing for the future.

Wallingford's Strong Republican Leadership-Mayor William Dickinson

As we all know Election Day is almost upon us.  On Tuesday, November 5th, legal registered voters are allowed to cast their ballots for the people of their choice to represent them for the next two years in Connecticut's municipal elections.  It a vital part of our democracy that many choose to follow and make their voices heard and a path where many could not be bothered to spend 10 minutes of their lives in actually doing.  In my opinion many of those who choose not to vote are the loudest complainers of what is going on in our society and community.  Do not complain if you do not vote. The time of election here in Wallingford we again hear a tale of two cities, one that is horribly run with massive taxes, high costs,  a lack of technology and a path to economic oblivion.  And then the economic reality of a prosperous, dynamic, efficiently run, low tax, low electric cost community run by a Republican led Town Council and a Mayor who has been office for many years placing Wallingford's needs above his own and his own political gain.  I see a familiar pattern each election here in town.  The Democrat contender paints the town as a backwards and illiterate community with pay to play schemes, etc., with only his new tax and spend policies bring the town into the 21st century.  I do not know what town he lives in but it can not be Wallingford.

We have strong Republican leaders who place Wallingford's interest over their political ego on the Board of Education, Town Council, and in the Mayor's office.  Wallingford's strong Republican leadership has been able to keep a AAA bond rating for many years now, has been able to keep taxes low, has been able to have the lowest electric rates in the state and provide effective local services, and a strong educational system for our youth.  Wallingford's Republican leadership has been a dynamic force in keeping Wallingford moving forward economically and growing.

Wallingford's Republican leadership should become a model for our state.  It is not however the template that our state government uses. It is far from it.

Mayor William Dickinson has led Wallingford and continues to lead Wallingford as an elected official should.  He is economically conservative and understands that taxpayers monies is not unlimited.  He is also legally bound by the countless unfunded mandates that Connecticut government places on its cities and towns that increases our spending.  Mayor Dickinson has led by example never to be brought up on any ethics charge in all of the years he has been in office. 

On November 5th Wallingford voters have the opportunity to extend forceful, economically rational and ethical government in Wallingford by voting for Mayor Dickinson for reelection along with the entire Republican slates for Board of Education and Town Council.  We see a well-run town due to Wallingford's Republican leadership.  They deserve to continue to run Wallingford for the next two years.  Vote Republican on November 5th.

Tom Laffin For Wallingford Town Council

Wallingford Town Council Republican Vice Chairman Tom Laffin is running for reelection this November.  Tom is an articulate and soft-spoken individual on the council who is concerned with neither ego nor fan fare as he looks at and decides on the issues of our community.  His knowledge on issues and his ability to communicate his thoughts to the public will impress all sides of a problem or discussion. He has a desire to serve our town. He is dedicated to his public service to our town and has done an excellent job in his efforts. He is an active member in our community.  

From his campaign literature and website: tomlaffin.com
Public safety has always and will always remain a priority for me in town and I am extremely grateful for the dedication and hard work that our safety and emergency authorities provide.
I worked with Councilor Shortell to add additional police officers to the force in 2017. While we were not successful, it was something that CHANGED in the following two budgets.  The mayor and the council requested and approved the addition of 2 officers each budget year since.
I have continuously supported the requests of our of safety services departments, whether it be for special radio and computer upgrades or bid waivers on fire trucks and specifications necessary to get the job done.

Keep the taxes low.  Wallingford’s taxes are the lowest in the area.  Our millrate is lower than any of the area towns.

I will continue to vote only for fiscally responsible budgets.  I’m sorry that sometimes includes a small tax increase, but in order to have the things we as a community need or would like, those are the choices we have to make.  In order to manage our money responsibly, it is necessary. We cannot manage increased costs in staffing, education, and state mandates, while looking to grow areas of our town for recreation and services for nothing.  The town has been incredibly well managed for the past 30+ plus years so we are fortunate to be able to build off a solid foundation. 

To the those looking to score political points with claiming we can have 0% tax increases by spending down our “rainy day fund” (which is political buzz for a savings account that has money allocated for various projects and purposes) - even with our tax increases that account was spent down approximately $3 million dollars over the past two years.  Cleary, as I stated, your plan was not possible without wrecking our strong fiscal standing.

I have been a consistent defender of the Wallingford taxpayer.  I have fought to cut frivolous budget lines, protecting necessary and carefully considered spending priorities and I will continue to do so.

I have been a consistent supporter of environmental priorities in town, including: the procurement and maintenance of open space, and the expansion of the Quinnipiac Linear Trail into Yalesville. These resources help maintain our community's small town feel and charm.

I am proud of Wallingford's partnerships with various venues and programs which enhance the lives of Wallingford residents.  Through both the private and public sectors, including the Oakdale Theatre, SCOW, Wallingford Symphony Orchestra, and the Choate Paul Mellon Arts Center, the community comes together to participate in and enjoy what these organizations have to offer. 

Tom Laffin has a professional approach to being the Vice Chairman of the Wallingford Town Council.  His leadership is critical and essential to the well being of Wallingford in 2019 and beyond.  On November 5th I urge Wallingford Voters to re elect Tom Laffin.

Joe Marrone For Wallingford Town Council

I am using one of my votes on November 5th to reelect Joe Marrone to the Town Council.  Mr. Marrone has done an excellent job in my opinion as a member of the Town Council with logical explanations and analysis of the issues that come before the council.  He shows dynamic leadership qualities in his actions looking at all sides of an issue and not rushing into quick decisions. This allows him in my opinion to make valid and effective votes on all topics.  He is the Chairperson of the Council Merit Review Committee.   
Being a parent with three sons in the school system, Mr. Marrone takes an active role in what is actually going on in our schools with an eye to the future through articulate ideas.  He is very active in the town with his sons and community organizations such as Scouting.  He was born and raised in Wallingford attending public schools graduating from Sheehan High School.  His active role in the town and with his children gives him an exceptional view of the issues and events that impact Wallingford residents lives.  He understands the problems residents face and works to find answers and solutions to keep Wallingford a well run and economically efficient town.
His website is joemarrone.com
I urge my fellow Wallingford Voters to reelect Joe to the Town Council.  Vote for him on Tuesday November 5th.

Wallingford Republicans For Board of Education

Wallingford is a great town and community.  It has a strong sense of fiscal responsibility and of self government.  It has an excellent school system that has been helped over the past with a Republican majority on its Board of Education.  The election in 2019 is no different with six strong Republican candidates running for the Board.  They include: incumbents  Erin Corso, Karen Hlavac, Tammy Raccio and Ray Ross.  This year we also have newcomers Autumn Allison and recent Sheehan High School Graduate Rajan Doering running for seats.  The Republican candidates believe in fiscal responsibility and getting the most out of the Board of Education budget.  Education is crucial for any community and Wallingford's school system is one of the best in the state.  I urge my fellow Wallingford voters to elect a Republican majority for the board by voting for these six excellent candidates on November 5th. 

Vincent Cervoni For Wallingford Town Council

Mr. Cervoni is the Chairman of the Wallingford Town Council. He is now a fifth term councilor serving three terms as Chairman.  In his second term he served as Vice-Chairman.  He in my opinion runs a balanced town council meeting to obtain information on both sides of an issue.  He runs the meetings in an efficient and effective manner.   He again will get my vote for Town Council.  
You can also read about hi and his platform at www.vincentcervoni.com

Through his negotiations for four straight years he has organized enough private donations to fund the Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration in town.

He has worked to help maintain low taxes and maintain good services in exchange for the taxpayer's dollar, while achieving and maintaining an Aaa bond rating. This gives the Town the ability bond at the lowest available interest rates and to refinance bonds as interest rates decrease. 

Wallingford has maintained a bonded debt per capita ratio of less than $1000 per resident.  This also contributes to our Aaa bond rating. 

Our schools are continuously improving.  Our talented Board of Education, combined with the school system's professional leader, Superintendent Dr. Sal Menzo, have improved our school system while maintaining efficiency.  Cervoni has supported the Board of Education and their leaders in their work as Councilor.

The Wallingford Electric Division is an excellent enterprise, keeping energy rates low for residents while attracting businesses to Town for the same reason.  More businesses in Town reduce the residential tax burden.  A great incentive for a business or family to move to Wallingford is our low electric rates.

Our Electric Division also creates rate incentives for new businesses moving to the downtown district.  It is important that we keep moving toward a revitalized downtown.  

Low taxes, economic growth, forward thinking are all parts of Mr. Cervoni's platform and again he puts the needs of our community above personal political gain.  

Mr. Cervoni  is articulate and offers a great deal of insight on many issues that come forward to the Council.   He is dedicated to Wallingford and making it even better than it is today.  He deserves to be reelected this November.  I urge you to vote for him in November.

Christina Tatta for Wallingford Town Council

Another one of my votes for Wallingford Town Council will be going to Republican Christina Tatta in November.  This is the first time she is running for Town Council however she has been very active in Wallingford.  I had the pleasure of serving with Christina on the Wallingford Charter Revision Commission in 2016-17.  She served as Vice Chairperson for that commission and I found her very articulate and prepared in those two years that we served.  She also was an Alternate and then became a Full Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.  The ZBA can sometimes be a difficult commission to serve on due to the nature of the appeals.  In seeing Christina serve on this commission I found her to handle all issues with a great depth of research and without bias.  She has done an excellent job on each.
These commissions does give her great insight and vision in order to serve on our Town Council.  I can envision her being a well qualified and planned member looking at both sides of an issue as they come up onto the Council.
Some of her stances from her website: www.christinatatta.com
"As a steward of your money, I will work to maintain a low mill rate and to continue and improve upon town services."
"Wallingford has a strong school system. I am supportive of the school-business-government relationship that gives students "real world" experiences. I will work to keep our BOE budget affordable."
"I work at my family's business, so I understand local business' needs. I will work with our Economic Development Commission, and I will be an advocate of business."
I feel Christina Tatta would be an excellent addition to the Wallingford Town Council. We need more individuals who understand the struggles of those taxpayers who work in the real economic world as she does to represent them.  I urge my fellow Wallingford voters to cast one of their votes for her on Election Day.  

Chris Shortell For Wallingford Town Council

One of my votes for Wallingford Town Council will be going to Republican candidate Chris Shortell. He is a dynamic and well established candidate who offers a variety of useful ideas.  He has done  superb work in my opinion as a member of the Wallingford Town Council  He is a family man with two wonderful children.  

I recently got a chance to discuss some issues and ideas with Chris.
The first area we discussed were some of his accomplishments with the Town Council. He led the effort to get Community Pool open longer this season working with the Mayor and Councilor Cervoni and the rest of the Council to find the dollars to keep the pool open to Labor Day.  He was able to do it without raising taxes; repurpose some other funding, including the proposed TC raise.
In the area of Public safety we discussed two issues here:  His concern about the staffing of our police force for several years.  In 2017, Chief Wright admitted during the budget sessions that he wanted more officers, but was afraid to ask given the state’s economic climate.  That budget cycle, Shortell motioned (and Councilor Laffin seconded) to give him two more officers.  They couldn’t get the votes, but they are both convinced it helped him pave the way to get more the last two budget cycles. We’ve now added 4 officers and the Chief feels we are in a much better place.  The increased staff gives him flexibility with patrols, especially at night with the car break-ins.  The added cost to taxpayers is around $16 a month vs. two years ago.   We were both in agreement that it is worth it—public safety is our primary job.  Shortell also feels that Councilor Laffin deserves credit on this issue also.

The other public safety issue is the online transactions safe zone.  People use social media to buy/sell stuff…but then you may end up meeting complete strangers in parking lots or other obscure places.  He approached Chief Wright a few years ago and suggested that we use the Police station parking lot as a designated “safe zone” for online transactions.  West Hartford and other towns had done this, and he agreed. 

A big issue that I have been impressed with has been the modernizing of the town and BOE insurance plans. He has been a vocal advocate of the Town and Board shifting to H.S.A. plans.  He has been the most vocal on this one.  We are making progress—he believes all of the collective bargaining units now offer the HSA, at least as an option.  The bad news is that on the BOE side, the HSA plan is very, very rich and still needs some work.  And on the town side, while their version of the plan is more cost effective to tax payers, they don’t structure the payroll contribution to motivate people to choose it.  He has been beating the drum on this for four years (six, actually, counting the BOE), and will continue to do so in the future.

Some future issues include for example Public Safety:  He is concerned about the aging police station.  Nobody is talking about this (yet) but it’s an issue that’s coming.  He is against satellite police offices, as some members of the public and other candidates are advocating for. He does not see the economic value in those and I will agree with him on that issue.

He also favors a new pool and to continue the tradition of the Community Pool that the town has had for 50 years.

A centralized High School has caused great debate this year. Shortell will not support one high school at a cost of $120 million and the proposals are ridiculous.  The goal should be saving money—that’s the only way to make consolidating high schools work.  And unfortunately, that’s not what is being proposed, for the most part.

It was refreshing for me to speak with Chris and discuss his views.  

His website for more information is www.ckshortell.com

I feel Chris Shortell would be an excellent candidate for Town Council.  I urge fellow Wallingford voters to vote for him and re elect him in November.

Why Is Food Taxed At All In Connecticut?

Correct me if I am wrong but do we need food to live and survive?  Are we not supposed to eat protein, fruits and vegetables to provide nutrients to keep our bodies working?  Apparently food is a luxury now in Connecticut as we have seen with the latest tax scheme by the Connecticut Democrat Party in expanding the "food tax" to an enormous amount of items at a 7.35% rate.  Damage control has been in full gear by the Connecticut Democrat Party in its emails and public statements that it was not their intention to tax spinach in a bag along with other food items.  Tax and spend State Representative Mary Mushinsky 85th District (Wallingford) sent an email out on 9/19/19 stating "Grocery tax? That wasn’t the intent of our state budget!"  These reassuring words by her represent to me how incompetent the Connecticut Democrat Party is in governing.  Didn't the Connecticut Democrat Party vote on their new budget with all of their new taxes not knowing what was going to be taxed?  Are they that stupid?  And in damage control Governor Lamont by decree got the Department of Revenue Services to rescind some of the taxes on the newly taxed foods they deemed taxable.  The process of modifying this new food tax has to come from the state legislature through a vote to modify the tax bill not by the Governor stating to change it.  I suggest that the Connecticut Democrat Party along with its Governor read the State Constitution to see what the actual process is.  
While they are at it the Connecticut Democrat Party needs to explain to the remaining legal Connecticut Taxpayers why food is taxed at all if it is essential to our survival?  Or is food now a luxury according to the Connecticut Democrat Party and therefore must be taxed at one of the highest rates in the country at 7.35%?  State Representative Mary Mushinsky's email did little to clarify to me why food should be taxed at all in Connecticut.  
This new food tax and all of the other taxes Connecticut has on all aspects of our lives and doing business in the state have helped to create the economic downfall and chronic recession our state has been engulfed in for many years now.  It shows the impact and economic damage of years of Democrat Party rule that sadly Connecticut has had to endure.  
And I still do not have an answer to why is food taxed at all in Connecticut?  When will it be answered?  I am waiting and waiting and waiting.

Connecticut's New Secret Food Taxes

The Connecticut Democrat Party loves to tax its remaining legal citizens and businesses.  Striving to have the highest taxes in the country, the Connecticut Democrat Party was able to sneak into legislation a new 1% restaurant tax that increases the taxes you pay in the restaurant from 6.35% to 7.35%.  But this new "1% restaurant tax" is much more than that.
Beginning October 1 most items in the grocery store when you go shopping will be taxed at 7.35%.  Some of the items include the following: 5 or less donuts, muffins, pastries and rolls, ready cooked chicken or turkey, hot dogs in a bun, salad in a salad bar, bagels when individually prepared, warm popcorn or kettle corn and pizza whole or sliced just to name a few items.  In other words all prepared foods and most smaller quantities of food will be charged a sales tax.  Thus for example a senior citizen who may have difficulty in cooking will now be forced to pay a 7.35% sales tax on any ready to eat food they buy from their local grocery store.  Their cost of living will go up dramatically since they will be paying  an average of $30 to $40 a month more in food costs due to now having to pay a sales tax on the food they eat.  Being on a fixed income this will become a major issue for many senior citizens who will now be forced to cut back on food since it has just gone up 7.35% in cost.
The purpose of this new secret food tax is to raise revenue for our never ending Connecticut Democrat Party budget deficits and to increase state spending for political corruption and nepotism (as was seen this past week with the hiring of Ned Lamont's cousins son for a $52000 a year job).
The Connecticut Democrat Party apparently besides despising legal Connecticut citizens and legal taxpayers also want to make Connecticut's senior citizens suffer even more with taxing the food they eat.
This new food tax can only be viewed as a Socialist's dream tax that can cause economic pain on anyone who has to eat in our state.
The Connecticut Democrat Party continues its quest to rid the state of its remaining legal citizens and taxpayers along with now its senior citizens who will suffer the most with these new food taxes.
The solution to the Connecticut Democrat Party omnipotent and ruthless rule in our state is to either move out and or stop paying state taxes to have our state government go broke and then bankrupt.  But wait a minute isn't Connecticut bankrupt already with $100 billion dollars of short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities?
Not really since the lies the Connecticut Democrat Party has been force feeding its legal citizens is really the truth of the ruling political elite who have no shame, no morals and no ability to govern in our once great state.

Connecticut's Constant Corruption

Connecticut's experiment with socialism has failed miserably.  Corruption rules Connecticut.
Our state government and in particular the Connecticut Democrat Party enjoy taking our personal freedoms away along with nurturing their political nepotism, unyielding rule and abuse of power and laws. 
Connecticut continues to be last or near last in many economic and business categories.  This weeks failed socialist news items included Connecticut having the highest administrative costs of our road system in the country at a mere $32,508 per mile.  Our highway system is the 44th worse in the country while spending $200,000 per mile it controls according to a new report issued by the Reason Foundation.  It is always amusing when a report like this comes out our media does not report it nor is there any comment by the Connecticut Democrat Party on it.  It is business as usual for Connecticut's socialism.  The Connecticut Democrat Party want tolls now to apparently spend even more money to take care of the political operatives it has and continuing to provide horrific roads and bridges for Connecticut drivers.  Why are our road costs so high?  Where is the money going?  Why isn't there a forensic audit to find out?  
We also are viewing a massive scandal and misuse of Connecticut Taxpayers monies at the Connecticut Port Authority. Former Board Chairman Deputy Secretary of the State Scott Bates apparently used it as his own bank account hiring a friend for a no show $6500 a month job, hiring other friends and buying a board members daughter artwork for its offices.  Connecticut Taxpayers question must be is why is Bates still the Deputy Secretary of the State in Connecticut?  How is he not abusing that office?  Why should there be any trust now in the Secretary of State's office with a person like this being the Deputy Secretary of the State with no reprimand whatsoever?  It is again amusing when a report like this comes out our media does not report it nor is there any comment by the Connecticut Democrat Party on it.  It is business as usual for Connecticut's socialism. 
Ned Lamont claims transparency in his Administration.  Where is the transparency in these two issues?  Where is the justice?  Why is Connecticut Taxpayers monies wasted in this manner?
Connecticut has $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  It has some of the highest taxes in the country.  And we continue to see issues of corruption literally on a daily basis.
The money that has been wasted on these two issues could go to lowering taxes on Connecticut businesses and residents.  Instead we are force fed the same stale rhetoric.  The lies of the Connecticut Democrat Party are tiring.  We should not be a state with two sets of laws, one for the ruling political elite and one for the Connecticut Taxpayer who must foot this bill for constant corruption.

The Corruption of DECD

Connecticut's Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) needs to go.  In the realm of trying to create new businesses and attract new businesses it has done little to help Connecticut's chronic recession and debacle of an economy.  It has wasted a great deal of Connecticut's Taxpayers money over the years. 
Some of the new scandals and wastes of money include a Suffield firm that received $3.5 million dollars in loans and still went bankrupt and the new allegations this week that were reported by the Yankee Institute's Marc Fitch (https://yankeeinstitute.org/2019/08/13/the-fitch-files-whistleblower-complaint-alleges-decd-gave-second-loans-modifications-to-delinquent-borrowers/) about a DECD employees complaint about companies that were delinquent with loans kept getting new loans.  For example Connecticut Casket Company received over $850,000 in three loans even though they were delinquent on the first and second loans.  They also received an initial $100,000 grant in 2012.
Other examples are found in Fitch's article highlight the other illegal loans that were made since the businesses were delinquent in their initial loans and or did not meet the job creation requirements that the grant or loan stated.  Also a 2017 State audit found issues with excessively high fees paid to third-party lenders for loans. 
To me what is going on at the DECD is fraud.  You can't make these types of loans in our banking system.  I have tried to read and reread the DECD Annual Report and in some areas it defies economic logic as to what Connecticut is spending on supposed new job creation.  If Connecticut was not so anti business and a high tax state it would not have to bribe companies to stay and or relocate to Connecticut.  And what business in their right mind would want to relocate to Connecticut with all of its economic problems and high taxes it has?  The DECD has done little to improve the state's economy and the results are found in Connecticut's chronic last and or bottom ranking in most economic and business categories.
The Connecticut Democrat Party's constant pay-to-play rules of doing business in the state including a total lack of oversight at the DECD have been a constant factor in the ruining of our economy.  While the nation prospers Connecticut continues its constant march into economic oblivion. 
Supposedly business savvy Governor Ned Lamont should actually show some leadership by dismantling the DECD and lowering taxes to achieve economic stimulation and growth in Connecticut.  The DECD does not make economic sense for the state as it just wastes Connecticut Taxpayer's monies on a daily basis.  And maybe someone in our state legislature would be dynamic enough to order a full forensic audit of this agency and clean it up to close it down.  The money spent on this agency could go to lowering taxes on Connecticut businesses and the laws of supply and demand could actually be seen once again in Connecticut.

Economic Freedom In Connecticut?

What happened to economic freedom in Connecticut?  In the past 28 years since the passage of a Utopian state income tax Connecticut has become an economic nightmare with high taxes, massive short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities, a net migration of citizens moving out of state and a corrupted state government.  The income tax has created a massive increase in state spending from roughly $7.7 billion dollars in 1991 to over $22 billion dollars in 2019.  And what has this increase in spending gotten for legal state residents?  Higher and more complex taxes with unlimited spending allowed for state management and union employees in wages, benefits and pensions?  The Connecticut State Income Tax since enacted has transferred in excess of $165 billion dollars from Connecticut Taxpayers to our state government and at the same time Connecticut's short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities is now at $100 billion dollars and rising.  Thus one could ask where did all the money go since 1991?  And more importantly how much economic freedom has been stripped from the state in this same time frame?
This past horrific legislative session brought about some of the most startling changes in our economic freedom for legal state residents and businesses.  From an out of economic equilibrium higher minimum wage that will eliminate jobs and raises prices on everything, a pyroll tax for family leave, the elimination and taxing of plastic grocery bags along with higher and new taxes on many items and services coupled with a strong desire for tolls continues the slow march to economic Armageddon that the Connecticut Democrat Party wants to inflict on the state.  All in the name of a progressive and socialist state government that ultimately wants to dictate to us what we can and can't have, what we can and can not do under the guise of false laws that these same Democrats exempt themselves from.
Thus what happened to economic freedom in Connecticut?
Where did all of Connecticut Taxpayers Monies go?
What has it been spent on?
Why do we have short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities of $100 billion dollars?
Economic freedom is an important concept to freedom in general.  In Connecticut it is apparent the Connecticut Democrat Party does not want you to have economic freedom.  Or freedom in general.  Sad but true.
It is time for economic freedom again in Connecticut.

Can Connecticut's Economy Be Repaired?

Can Connecticut's economy be repaired?
Is there any hope for Connecticut's economy?
What can be done to make Connecticut a vibrant economy again?
Depending on what point of view you take Connecticut is a vast economic wasteland or it is one of the most prosperous socialist economies in the country.
If you are a Democrat your non stop command economy demands and laws have help to create a socialists dream of gun control, an excessive minimum wage, high taxes, a taking away of personal freedoms along with rampant illegal immigration with a more than generous welfare system.  The legal system does not pertain to you or your party.  Laws are meant to be broken.  Political nepotism rules.
If you are a Republican you are thinking about moving out of state as fast as you can.  You are supposedly always in the minority and have no voice or say in state government.  The state economy remains near last or last in all economic development, job creation and business development categories.  The state media is a feeding system for the Democrat Party thus their non objective reporting on all economic issues.
There is not really much being offered to change Connecticut's economy.  Connecticut's legal Taxpayers and businesses realize they work only to support a bloated state government whose only concern is state management and union employees salaries, benefits and pensions.  They also realize there is little they can do to address Connecticut's growing $100 billion dollars plus short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities since the Democrat Party could care less about it.  They also realize they have literally become indentured servants to Connecticut's state government.
Thus what can be done?
At this point literally nothing unless there is balance in state government.  The Connecticut Democrat Party has been in control of the state house for 40 plus years and an almost equal time for the state senate.  It is their political rule that has brought the state to its economic knees.  It has been their corruption and pay to play schemes that have disrupted our economy and forced its citizens to leave.
Cut spending, cut taxes, we all know it falls on deaf ears.  But it is what is necessary to get Connecticut to become a free economic system once again.  Think about it if you dare to.

Connecticut's State Pension Crisis

Hidden in the economic debacle created by the Connecticut Democrat Party is the ongoing state pension crisis.  According to a new report released by the American Legislative Exchange Council Connecticut is dead last in total ratio pension funding in the country coming in at 20.28% of the money needed to fund the pensions, thus being underfunded by 80%. The unfunded pension liability amounts to $32,805 per person in the state and 45.13% of Connecticut’s gross state product according to this report.
Connecticut assigns a very high rate of return of 6.9% to its State Employee Retirement System and an even higher 8% rate of return for its Teachers Retirement System.  Both funds do not achieve this rate of return as far as I can research.  With limited information to review I see that the Teachers Retirement System is seriously underfunded and their rate of return is also seriously understated.  Therefore both funds are underfunded by $70 billion dollars.  This debt will only grow in the future and is a massive part of the states yearly budget in costs.  I estimate in the near future that due to the borrowing for these pensions along with the actual annual contributions the state makes to them and the pension payouts themselves, 20% or more of the state budget will account for employee pension costs.
Governor Lamont's solution like former Governor Malloy's solution is to push payments down the roads years from now and continue to estimate the same rates of return on the pension funds. Thus future generations will be bankrupted trying to pay for these pensions for a small minority of the workers of the state.
This current pension crisis should have been addressed in this legislative session.  Obviously it was not.  Where is the money going to come from in the future?  How is this sustainable?  What is coming next a new tax to pay for the state teacher and employee pensions? 
Pushing payments years from now to pay for the funds just exaggerates the issue.  Realistic rates of return along with self funding pensions should be immediately enacted.  Negotiations need to be implemented to restructure pensions to stop these massive costs from bankrupting Connecticut.  I think many legal citizens and legal taxpayers of the state are fed up with these ridiculous salaries, pensions and benefits that paid out yearly to suffice a ruling political elite of the state.
It is time to address Connecticut's state pension crisis today.

Connecticut Turnaround? Where?

Where is Connecticut's economic turnaround?
I am curious as I can't see what Governor Lamont sees nor what the Connecticut Democrat Party sees as far as an economic turnaround.
Where is the economic turnaround?
Is it in the higher taxes that will be going into effect on August 1st?
Is it in the banning of plastic shopping bags next year?
Is it in the higher business taxes that will be going into effect this year?
Is it in more businesses moving out of the state?
Is it in Connecticut being last and or near last in most economic and business categories in the country?
Is it in shoving tolls down the throats of Connecticut's drivers while raiding the Transportation fund and leaving our state roads and bridges in disrepair?
Is it in the time of recovery from one recession to another recession that Connecticut can never seem to get out of as compared to the rest of New England?
Is it in the amount of sanctuary cities Connecticut's Taxpayers have to support in the state?
Is it in the $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities the state has?
Is it in the net outflow of legal citizens moving out of Connecticut on a daily basis?
Where is Connecticut's economic turnaround?
Sorry I do not see it.
Governor Lamont is confused and offered nothing to rectify these issues in the unbalanced budget that he signed into law.  We are now in the ninth year of economic failure and counting due to the Connecticut Democrat Party.
We do not have an economic turnaround.  We have a great deal of economic misery instead.

243 Years of Freedom July 4, 1776 - July 4, 2019

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated  Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Connecticut's New Unbalanced Budget

Connecticut has a new budget that is unbalanced.  The smoke and mirrors of the budget afforded the usual political patronage pay outs and once again disrespected and insulted the legal Connecticut Taxpayers of the state.
In homage to the ruling political ruling class was the usual sneaking in of the following:
$46 million dollars in new wage increases to state employees.
An addition $2 million dollars in raises to Legislative staff members.
An impossible real time sales tax to paid immediately by Connecticut businesses to the Department of Revenue.
A new mansion and exit tax for those leaving the state.
New taxes on dry cleaning, a new 1% additional restaurant tax and sales tax on many other services.
Budget revenue being stated in the non existent $450 million dollars in state union employee contract savings.  There has been no agreement to these give backs but yet were included as revenue in the new budget.
Estimated growth in tax revenues over 5% in the budget when they is no indication this will be forthcoming given the poor economic climate of Connecticut.
A raid of the special Transportation budget  to de-fund it.
And the entire budget was a given a whole 24 hours to be voted on.  Over $44 billion dollars worth  of spending to be read and analyzed in 24 hours to decide the economic conditions for Connecticut for the next two years.  In 24 hours.
The Connecticut Democrat Party budget once again makes a mockery of the state budget process and is hostile and unfair to legal Connecticut Taxpayers.  It is an insult to our economic intelligence.
Sickening is another good word for this budget.
In a few months with a battle to ram tolls down our throats we will be hearing the familiar cry of lower than expected tax revenues along with a rapidly approaching $1 billion dollars budget deficit thus taxes will need to go up as fast as possible to cover this new deficit. 
And the $100 billion dollars plus in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities will continue to grow along with the unrelenting increases in state employee union and management salaries, benefits and pensions for 2019-20. 
The economic crisis continues unabated here in Connecticut thanks to our economically irrational and illiterate Governor Lamont and the Omnipotent Connecticut Democrat Party.
The legal Connecticut Taxpayer is damned.

No Tolls For Connecticut

There should be no tolls in Connecticut.
The different costly studies and economically irrational plans have not stated how these tolls will  relieve congestion on our highways nor work to repair and fix the decaying highway and bridge system in Connecticut.  The toll plan is a fools dream, a commuters nightmare, an economic shock due to the higher costs of living in Connecticut that would be created from it and another economic insult to legal Connecticut Taxpayers.
There are many questions unanswered with the push for tolls.
These include the following:
How much will it actually cost to build these tolls?
How many tolls will there actually be?  This number changes on a daily basis.
How much will the tolls actually cost and what is the theoretical discount for Connecticut drivers since supposedly our state highways have at all times 40% out of state drivers traveling on them?
What are the costs to actually run the toll program?
How much revenue will actually be brought in from the tolls?
What happens if revenues are low for the tolls?  How much do the tolls go up to per mile?
Where does the money from tolls go to?  Trains?  State employee salaries, benefits and pensions?  Will any money actually go to repair the crumbling state road and bridge system? (I personally doubt it)
Why has the Special Transportation Fund been drained each year since it was implemented?  This years budget was no different.
Tolls will do the following:
Increase the costs of living in Connecticut as the costs of tolls will be passed on to all goods and services being offered, sold and delivered in the state.
Increase the costs of driving in Connecticut.
Create a new union bureaucracy with even more political patronage jobs with high salaries, benefits and pensions to run this program.
Toll monies will naturally be diverted from the repair of the crumbling state road and bridge system and be lumped into the general fund.
State jobs will open up mysteriously for all Democrat State Representatives and Senators who lose their election bids for voting for tolls in 2020 growing the states massive management and union payrolls which will further expand the state pension crisis.
Connecticut can ill afford tolls on top of the massive taxes Connecticut taxpayers must pay to work, operate a business and live in the state.
It is a bad economic idea that is being shoved down the throats of legal Connecticut Taxpayers. 
No Tolls for Connecticut.  It will make Connecticut dead last in all economic categories in our country.  It is a horrific plan.  End it today.

What's Another $460,000,000.00 For Connecticut Taxpayers?

What is $460,000,000.00 for Connecticut Taxpayers?  In the excesses of a $43,200,000,000.00 bloated new Connecticut state budget that is filled with political fat and nepotism not much.
For the $460,000,000.00 is the "supposed savings" that has yet to have been agreed upon by the state labor unions but yet has been included as a line item in the budget.
Therefore the state budget is already out of balance because we as Connecticut taxpayers know there will never be any state labor savings anywhere near approaching $460,000,000.00.  And Connecticut Taxpayers will hear the familiar story in a few months that the budget is out-of-balance, we need higher taxes and to cut services for those who truly need it like the elderly and our special needs citizens of the state.  The pork will never be cut to balance the budget as that gravy train of political nepotism and patronage is the hallmark of the Connecticut Democrat Party. 
As an economist and a Connecticut Taxpayer how is it legal to create a budget that includes $460,000,000.00 of savings that has not even been accepted yet?  What is being cut to achieve this $460,000,000.00 of savings?  Over what time frame does this $460,000,000.00 take place in is it one month?  A year?  Twenty years? 
As a reminder to Governor Lamont and the Connecticut Democrat Party, Connecticut has a $100,000,000,000.00 short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  This is a massive debt that has not been nor seems ever to be addressed by the Connecticut Democrat Party.  What is the plan to pay this off? 
The new state budget is out of balance.  It is a financial time bomb waiting to happen.  There never is thoughts of cutting spending or lowering taxes when budget time comes.
And the State Legislature has less than 24 hours to read and vote on the budget.  This is not fair to the Connecticut Taxpayers.  It is a sickening excess of political bias against the Connecticut Taxpayer.  it seems that the Connecticut Democrat Party despises the legal Connecticut Taxpayer.
Why? 

Want To Save $100,000. Move Out Of Connecticut.

There are many ways to save money.  One way for Connecticut Taxpayers to save money is by moving out of state.
Young couples starting out can save a great deal of money by moving out of state. 
For example a young couple buying a $250,000 house in Connecticut depending on which town it is in will pay anywhere from $4500 to $7500 in property taxes along with $400 to $800 in property taxes on their cars.  If they bought that same house in South Carolina, Florida or Tennessee their property taxes would be from $1000 to $2000 and depending on the state no property taxes on their cars.  Florida has no state income tax thus the couple would save an additional $6000 to $10,000 a year depending on their income levels.  Thus in a ten year period or less a young couple by moving out of Connecticut can save $100,000 or more depending on which state they move to.  In a 30 year time frame the couple has potential savings of $300,000 or more by moving out.
A couple retiring may move out of state also to save money.  There is little financial incentive to stay in Connecticut since retirees will be paying the same amount of property taxes as if you were working along with state income taxes on your pensions (if you have one) and social security.  The savings on your property taxes alone by moving out of the state could be $100,000 in a ten year or less time period also.
As much as the current state budget which again raises taxes on many items and income is painted as yet another cure all for Connecticut's government spending and nepotism problems it is creating more and more examples of what I have just stated to occur.  More and more people will move out of Connecticut to save money.  Connecticut continues to have a net migration out of the state that will only accelerate with this current Taxpayer be damned budget that was passed.  The current Connecticut tax system is an entrapment that has created a serfdom in the state.  We as Taxpayers are serfs in the political serfdom that has been created to benefit those in political power.  Connecticut Taxpayers work for our state government to maintain its excesses.
Governor Lamont seems to be following in the Weicker and Malloy footsteps of lying to get elected and raise spending and taxes.  He is a political puppet of the Connecticut Democrat Party especially its economically irrational progressive wing.
If you want to save money and have a better quality of life move out of Connecticut.  I know many who have and will do in the future.  it is obvious that our state government is only concerned about their ruling class not its legal working citizens.

What Connecticut Taxpayers Must Deal With Now

Connecticut Taxpayers have woken up this morning to face another new chilling economic reality thanks to the brutal and omnipotent one party rule of the Connecticut Democrat Party.
They are going to be paying much, much higher taxes.
Connecticut Taxpayers will now be paying a 10 cent per bag tax on plastic bags when shopping.
Connecticut Taxpayers will now be paying a .05% payroll tax for paid medical and family leave even though they may never use it.
Connecticut Taxpayers will now be paying sales taxes on all sorts of services and goods that were previously tax exempt.
Connecticut Taxpayers who own pass through entity companies will now be paying a new massive tax on their earnings.
Connecticut Taxpayers will now be paying for much higher salaries and benefits for state workers.
Connecticut Taxpayers will now be paying to house, feed and give state benefits to illegal immigrants in the state as a sanctuary state law goes forward.
Connecticut Taxpayers who have businesses will be forced to pay a $15 minimum wage which will drive up the cost of living in Connecticut, eliminate profits and reduce entry level jobs.
Connecticut Taxpayers will possibly now be paying tolls in the near future as they get rammed down their throats by the Connecticut Democrat Party.
The Connecticut Democrat Party offered no cuts in any spending in this budget.
The Connecticut Democrat Party offered no solutions to the $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.
The Connecticut Democrat Party offered to push down the road the funding of their high cost mandated teachers pensions to 2033 with massive negative economic implications for future Connecticut Taxpayers.
The Connecticut Democrat Party once again did not allow meaningful budget negotiations with the Connecticut Republican Party.
And once again most of the legislature did not and will not be able to read the actual budget before voting on it next week.  Nor will any Connecticut Taxpayer like myself be allowed to read it either.
And so it goes.
Connecticut's economy will further its decline as a bottom five states in the country in economic development and friendliness.
Connecticut's economy will further its decline as one of the highest five states in the country for taxes.
I really wonder why the Connecticut Democrat Party still governs in 2019?
Because in reality they can not lead or govern at all.  They again have failed the Connecticut Taxpayer.  The Connecticut Democrat Party loves to lie to the Connecticut Taxpayer over and over again.
RIP The Connecticut Taxpayer.

Why Can't Connecticut's Government Cut Spending?

Why can't the government of Connecticut cut spending?  Why is the only alternatives offered each budget year are increases to the state budget, increases in both union and management state employees salaries, benefits and pensions along with new and raised taxes?  For 2019 it is no different.
This years events echoed the past eight long years of the Malloy regime.  The state has no budget deficit nor will any taxes be increased during the gubernatorial campaigns.  Immediately when the Democrats win control of all state offices through questionable election law violations, there is now a budget deficit, all new state commissioners that reek of political nepotism get pay increases and the new and increased taxes start to get listed.  The same tired arguments of the rich (however that is defined) don't ever pay enough in taxes, illegal immigrants deserve the same rights as legal Connecticut citizens and the Elitist Connecticut Democrat Party knows what good for you so shut and accept it.  This year's variation is that now tolls are the only way to repair a completely dysfunctional and not kept up highway, road and bridge system.  Yes implement tolls to add more fire to burning and failing Connecticut economy.
Debate is controlled and limited each legislative session.  The Elitist Connecticut Democrat Party tries to push through bills without any public hearing or allowing legislators to read and ask questions on bills.  Public debate is controlled as much as possible when it does not match the thought process of the Democrats.  Insults are hurled at the minority Republican legislators to put them in place and to try to silence them. 
This year the Connecticut General Assembly Conservative Caucus is fighting back questioning finally every move the Democrats are making.  An anti-toll group is fighting back against the economically irrational tolls proposal that is being shoved down the throats of Connecticut drivers.  Connecticut Taxpayers are angry and fighting back.
And nothing has been said about Connecticut's debt crisis.  A debt of $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.
The Connecticut Democrat Party has to be on the defensive as their failed economic policies and political nepotism have driven Connecticut into an economic sewer of no return.  Tax and spend policies have failed the state miserably yet Connecticut Taxpayers must accept them year in and year out.  In case the Connecticut Democrat Party hasn't noticed many businesses and citizens have moved out of state over the past eight years.  It is an economic fact that the Connecticut Democrat Party is in total denial of. 
Connecticut needs a change.  The Connecticut Democrat Party has failed the state for years now.  Tax and spend policies along with tolls will continue to damage the state economically.  But it will never be understood by those political elite who have manipulated Connecticut's economy to their advantage.  Why can't the government of Connecticut cut spending? And the vote with one's feet continues unabated thanks to the Connecticut Democrat Party.

More Connecticut Taxes-More,More,More

More Connecticut Taxes.
More, more, more.
It is a consistent theme in Connecticut.
The Connecticut Democrat Party likes to raise taxes since 1991.  They have been successful in raising them year in and year out.
The Connecticut Democrat Party likes to spend money for their political ruling class to keep them in power forever.
The Connecticut Democrat Party is not concerned in the least with the $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities the state currently has.
The Connecticut Democrat Party is not concerned at all with raising the minimum wage which will in effect force more businesses out of Connecticut.
The Connecticut Democrat Party does not worry about the costs of state employee union and management salaries, benefits and pensions.
The Connecticut Democrat Party are above rules and laws that govern our state-laws are meant to be broken and disregarded by them especially when election time comes.
More Connecticut Taxes.
More, more, more.
It is a consistent theme in Connecticut.
Ned Lamont in his brief time in office has also shown is a true  and loyal member of the Connecticut Democrat Party by lying during his campaign and his lack of decision making as Governor.
Ned Lamont obviously felt by investing $50 million dollars plus of his own money in all of the elections he has run he is entitled to do whatever he wants and the legal Connecticut voter and taxpayer be damned.
This entire legislative session could have been about cutting spending, cutting taxes, addressing the $100 billion dollar debt crisis and reforming state employee union and management salaries, benefits and pensions.  This was not even looked at.  Instead it was the chronic theme and new, higher taxes along with tolls will once again solve Connecticut's issues.
It doesn't and has not for years.
More Connecticut Taxes.
More, more, more.
Start voting with your feet-there are many other states better run than the oppressive and omnipotent one party rule of what was used to be "The Constitution State".   RIP Connecticut.

The Connecticut Democrat Party Wants These New Taxes

The Connecticut House Republicans listed the possible new taxes that have been considered by the Connecticut Democrat Party led Finance Committee in 2019.  They equal roughly over $2 billion dollars more in new and higher taxes over the next two years.  This comes after the $5 billion dollars in new and higher taxes by Democrat Dan Malloy wrote into law during his failed administration.
The taxes include the following:
A new 2% Tax on Capital Gains
Property Tax Credit – Removed Scheduled Expansion
Tax for Rideshare
Increase in Sales Tax on Meals
10% Tax Increase on Alcohol
Increase Tax rate on Movies 6% to 6.35%
Eliminate 5 year, $500 credit for STEM college graduates
Tax interior design services
Tax dry-cleaning and laundry services, incl. coin-operated
Tax parking
Tax on digital downloads from 1.0% to standard 6.35% rate
Tax Safety apparel
Maintain current 10% business surcharge set to expire in tax year 2019
Tax E-Cigarettes liquid at 75% wholesale
Increase Minimum Markup on Cigarettes
Increased Sales due to Ecig Excise
Maintain Hospital User Fee at FY 2019 level of $900 million
Implement recommendation of ambulatory surgical center tax study
Surcharge on Plastic Bags of 10 cents
Increase annual filing fee for LLC’s and LLP’s from $20 to $100
Eliminate increased exemption for social security income
Eliminate exemption for pension and annuity income
Eliminate the sales tax free week
Tax legal services
Tax on accounting services
Tax on architectural services
Tax on engineering services
Tax on real estate activities and agents/brokers
Tax on veterinary services
Tax on barber shops and beauty salons
Tax on massage therapists and electrology services
Tax on sports/recreation instruction and industries
Tax on horse boarding and training
Tax on travel arrangement and scenic transportation
Tax on services to buildings and dwellings
Tax on waste collection
Tax on Renovation and repair of residential property
Tax on Repair or maintenance of vessels
Tax on Winter boat storage
Tax on Increase tax on boats from 2.99% to standard 6.35% rate
Tax Increase hotel occupancy tax from 15% to 17%
Tax on Trade-ins for vehicles
Tax on Non-prescription drugs
Tax on Text books, college & professional schools
Tax on Newspapers and magazines
Tax on Connecticut credit unions
Tax on Campground rentals
Tax on Bicycle helmets
Tax on child car seats
Tax on vegetable seeds
A new 25 cent deposit on wine and liquor glass bottles
A new Add 5 cent bottle deposit to nips
A new tax on payroll to fund state-run Family Medical Leave
These new taxes show the incredible disrespect the Connecticut Democrat Party has for Connecticut Taxpayers.
These new taxes show the incredible lack of economic knowledge the Connecticut Democrat Party has for Connecticut's miserable economy.  More taxes have not resolved Connecticut's economic problems.
These new taxes show how the $5 billion dollars in new and higher taxes the Connecticut Democrat Party shoved down the throats of Connecticut Taxpayers during the past eight years did nothing to help solve chronic budget deficits and long term debt.
Connecticut still has $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities that this budget does not address.  And these new taxes will not address them either.
The final budget will probably write into law some of these new miracle taxes along with increases in base taxes.
And Connecticut will continue to be last in all economic and business categories for the next four years.  More of the same stale rhetoric brought to you by the failed Connecticut Democrat Party.