Connecticut Is Curious?

 

I am curious about Connecticut.  I also believe that many Connecticut Taxpayers are curious about their state also.  They are curious as whether or not to remain in the state for a variety of reasons.  These reasons include but are not limited to excessive state and local taxation, excessive state government laws on running businesses, excessively high unemployment insurance and workers compensation costs, a neglected bridge, road and highway system, a lack of ethics in state government, a lack of checks and balances in state government, excessive unfunded pension liabilities, excessive short and long term debt, just to name a few issues.  There are many more that one can talk about.

The economic news continues to be negative in Connecticut and I am curious as to what our one party rule is going to do about these issues in the coming legislative session?  We see already that the tried and true policies of raising of taxes, new taxes/tolls/miles driven tax are being reintroduced in the legislature along with the usual laws that continue to take away our personal freedoms and advance a failed socialist liberal agenda for the state.  

There seems to be little new coming out of our state government as far this Legislative session is concerned.  I again am curious as to what are the plans to restore the state’s economy and create jobs?  Raising taxes?   Mandating a socialist liberal education agenda for Connecticut Taxpayer funded schools?  Hiring more politically connected state employees at above average salaries and benefits?  Creating more no bid state contracts that are directed at companies that have economic ties to the Lamont’s hedge fund?  

If all of these programs and new and higher taxes have failed to solve Connecticut’s economic problems why are they being touted again as a solution?  With the amount of money Connecticut Taxpayers are spending in taxes why is the state in such bad shape economically?  Is it possible that these same programs and taxes have done nothing for the state since the implementation of the state income tax in 1991?  Thus I am curious as to why in 2021 they are being offered again as a“solutions”.  

“Solutions” should include the following:

1. Cutting state spending across the board by at least 10% focusing on the elimination of political patronage management jobs and the over compensation of State Commissioners.  

2. A complete overhaul of the state purchasing system opening it up to real competitive bidding and the elimination of no bid contracts regardless of pandemic restrictions.

3. The elimination of binding arbitration for municipalities and a complete restructuring of the state pension system to eliminate a pension like the one Mark Ojakian, 67, who retired January 1, 2021 as President of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System received for $237,310 a year and will grow by an estimated 2% or more annually with cost-of-living adjustments. Does he really deserve a pension like this?  This defies economic logic.

4. A Constitutional right to recall elected officials who are incompetent and unethical via petition and vote form.  

5. Fully open hearings on all bills that come to the legislature.  These same bills can’t have amendments tacked on to them that have no relationship to the original bill itself.  All bills must be made public and summarized as far as the costs involved in the bill that must be borne by the Connecticut Taxpayers.  No votes on legislation or state budgets can take place between 7pm and 7am during a business day.  

6. No former state employee or legislator can be employed by a lobbying firm before a five year waiting period after they leave their position or office.

7.The elimination of all paid consultants and consultant group from any work or policies with state government.  We have elected and paid state employees who should be capable of running our government.  That is their job.  If they can't then they should be removed from office or their jobs.

If Connecticut started working on and implementing some of these suggestions I am curious if we would see some changes in our state government?  Connecticut Taxpayers are curious?  Maybe our state government officials should be too?  Free Connecticut.