Is There A Plan To Reopen Connecticut?

How has anything that Connecticut has done since March 17 made us more healthy from Covid-19?  I really wonder.  We need to reopen Connecticut's economy now so we do not go into a protracted never ending economic depression.  For every day the state is shut down as it has been for the past 54 days since March 17 there has been a massive loss of economic activity that is now contributing to a 20% plus unemployment rate as of May 8, a roughly $2.5 billion dollar budget deficit for the fiscal year, and a permanent loss of small businesses in the state.  This means that the Connecticut worker and taxpayer will have a great deal of difficulty in finding a new job in the future and will be looking at tax increases that will probably be very large in the near future.  How does someone unemployed with limited benefits and cash pay their taxes?  How does a business that has been forced to shut down come up with the money to pay its taxes especially their upcoming local property taxes?
The piecemeal approach to the virus has been very costly to the state and has eliminated many personal freedoms.   Ned Lamont who is ruling Connecticut by numerous executive orders without any legislative input has created a quagmire of economically illogical laws and rules that will do little for the state's economic health and well being.  For example why delay the opening of camp grounds in the state until June 11?  How is this date picked out of the air like that?  Is Lamont trying to stop groups of people getting together on Memorial Day Weekend?  This is now going to cause private campgrounds to lose even more revenue.  Being outside at a campground is one of the easiest way to practice social distancing. 
Why has Lamont created a private Commission to develop a plan to reopen the state that must report its findings by May 20.  Why is this plan taking so long?  Why is this Commission not transparent? 
There have been many things that Lamont could have done since March 17 to stabilize the state economy.  He needs to understand that Connecticut Taxpayers continue to face exceptional financial issues due to the state shutdown of the economy. 
He should implemented a 10% cut in all non essential, non virus state spending.  This could have saved the state roughly $1 billion dollars for the remainder of the current fiscal year.  These cuts would have also included a politically unpopular 10% cut in all State Commissioners salaries and benefits and also include a similar 10% in all State non union management salaries and benefits.
He could have frozen all state union workers and retirees wages and benefits forgoing their 3.5% scheduled pay increase on July 1.  These simple pay cuts and freezes could have saved the state an estimated $425 million dollars over the next two fiscal years.  The SEBAC state employee union agreement needs to be reopened as it is economically unsustainable given the shut down of the state economy.  Ned Lamont also could have led by example by foregoing his salary at this time.  After all how much of his own personal money did he spend on his campaign to win the Governorship?  The cuts in pay would show those who are unemployed in the state due to the state's mandates to the shut the economy and eliminate their jobs that the state was serious in addressing both their plight and the loss of tax revenues that is occurring. 
Small stores and businesses should be able to reopen immediately.  How is there no risk in shopping at a large store as compared to shopping at a small store?  A small coffee shop should be able to be open for people to walk into in the morning and get their coffee.  At some point these small shops and especially restaurants need to reopen or they will closed forever.   For some it is already too late and they will be permanently closed.   What happens when the unemployment checks stop in six months?  What are the unemployed going to do for money to live on?   Does our state have an unlimited supply of money with $145 billion dollars already in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities?  Won't their ability to borrow more money come with much higher interest costs and downgrades in debt grading?
Connecticut Taxpayers need to contact their State Representatives, State Senators and their Governor immediately to demand that the state economy opens again.  We still are governed by a rule of laws and a state constitution contrary to the Lamont decrees.  Contact the Governors office at 860-566-4840 or 800-406-1527 and express your frustrations with his inaction and executive orders.  We as a state can not wait any longer.  The time is now Covid-19 or not to move on and reopen.  We all can take precautions to safeguard our health and those around us.  We have an educated society here in Connecticut.  We are not stupid as our government seems to think we are when it comes to our health.