The Continuing Scam of Ned-O-Nomics: The Infosys Economic Giveaway (Part 2)

In my second part of my analysis of the debacle of the  Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (aka “DECD”) providing an $18 million dollar contract of taxpayer money to purportedly bring 1,200 jobs to Connecticut over an either six- or eight-year period (depending on clarifications to this secret agreement), along with a $20 million dollar contract for supposed maintenance and support services to the Office of Early Childhood and Connecticut’s Health Insurance Exchange known as “Access Health CT”,  we will look at several more highly questionable situations with respect to Infosys Systems (aka “Infosys”) and their dealings with other cities and states and employees in our country.As my friend and colleague Tony De Angelo is fond of saying on 94.9 “Lee Elci Show,” if you like peanut butter, you are going to love Skippy once you review these debacles.

Recently Indianapolis, Indiana is wondering where $56 million in grant monies have gone for supposedly "3,000 new jobs".  The following news report speaks volumes: "In 2018, India-based Infosys, a technology information service provider, announced to great fanfare that it was going to build a $245 million campus near the site of the former Indianapolis International Airport terminal on South High School Road just off Sam Jones Expressway and I-465.  A potential $100 million in state and local incentives, grants and tax breaks helped seal the deal."  "Three thousand people by the end of 2023, according to a $56 million grant contract signed with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation." "City County Councilor Jared Evans is still waiting for that new day to dawn on Indianapolis’ westside.” I’d like to know where the three thousand jobs are at,” he said. “I don’t think all of them are at One America Tower, and they’re certainly not out there, so, where are they?” "Infosys has a headquarters in downtown Indianapolis and has completed construction on a training center as the centerpiece of its proposed campus that on most days appears nearly empty judging by the number of vehicles in the parking lot." "Evans and westside business leaders tell Fox 59 News that Infosys has rejected attempts to participate in community events and organizations despite promises to be a good neighbor."  (https://fox59.com/indiana-news/city-and-state-await-payback-from-infosys-expansion). Again, please remember that Connecticut is giving $18 million dollars to Infosys for supposedly 1200 "new jobs".

Or how about this issue with California? "Infosys will pay California $800,000 to resolve allegations that between 2006 and 2017, approximately 500 Infosys employees were working in the State on Infosys-sponsored B-1 visas rather than H-1B visas, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said. This misclassification resulted in Infosys avoiding California payroll taxes such as the unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and employment training taxes." (https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/infosys-fined-800-000-for-worker-misclassification-tax-fraud-in-us-119121800136_1.html)

In trying to find any information as to the actual amount of jobs Infosys has created in our country, regrettably, one is unable to get any information with regards to this critical information.  Instead, we see the company has been fined millions for violating Visa laws.  Infosys paid a record $34 million dollar penalty for immigration fraud in 2013, per the following news report: "Infosys, a Bangalore-based outsourcing company, agreed to pay a civic settlement of $34 million for “systematic visa fraud and abuse” as announced by Texas prosecutors after two years of investigation. This serious offense constitutes the largest fine in history for an immigration law violation. Misuse of B-1 visas was not the only serious and blatant violation of immigration law, Infosys also had other less obvious, but equally significant infractions in regard to I-9 compliance. It turns out that Infosys failed to maintain I-9 records for many of its foreign nationals in the United States in 2010 and 2011 as required by law; 80% of all I-9s from Infosys contained substantive violations." (https://visawolf.com/infosys-pays-34-million-for-abuses-of-immigration-law)

Infosys was also the subject of a massive discrimination lawsuit.  "The plaintiffs, four IT workers from around the U.S., brought their discrimination lawsuit against the India-based IT services giant in 2013. This week, they filed a motion seeking class-action certification from 2009 and say the potential pool of plaintiffs may be as large as 125,000." "The lawsuit alleges that the India-based firm was engaged in "ongoing national origin and race discrimination," and claimed, at the time the lawsuit was filed, that the Infosys U.S. workforce was roughly 90% South Asian. One plaintiff was hired by Infosys to work on a $49.5 million Affordable Care Act, government-funded development project for the District of Columbia. There were about one hundred Infosys employees working on the healthcare project, but only three were American, the lawsuit claimed. The plaintiff alleged harassment, and was denied promotion, the complaint said. Neumark brought a statistical analysis to the discrimination claim. Specifically, the economist wrote, "from 2009 through 2015, 89.39% of Infosys' United States workforce was South Asian while only 11.45% of the United States' Computer Systems Design and Related Services industry was South Asian."(https://www.computerworld.com/article/3137500/infosys-u-s-workforce-is-mostly-south-asian-and-no-accident-plaintiffs-allege.html)

The Biblical premise of finding out if information is true is the law of this information being repeated “in the mouth of two or three witnesses.”  To this end, we have viewed several examples of this worldwide company and how it apparently operates in the United States.  From an economics perspective I do not see how Connecticut Taxpayers benefit from two separate taxpayer funded contracts to Infosys that will transfer $38 million dollars to them.  For what?  Mythical job creation?  Mythical upgrades to a computer system and program? Another profit source for the Lamont's family hedge fund Oak HC/FT based upon the documented common investments between Oak HC/FT and Infosys? More state crony-based DECD “economic development training?”  To help eliminate more jobs for United States born and raised Information Technology workers? Another "throw your money in the street DECD/Ned Deal" just to show how fast taxpayer money can disappear and how inept people can be? All of this puts one at a complete loss.

Please consider the following: It has been four years starting with the 2020 Covid-19 debacle and we still do not have any answers to Ned Lamont's family hedge fund (Oak HC/FT Partners) investments to Rapyd, a global Fintech-as-a-service provider and Unqork, both having documented common-investment ties to Infosys.  Nor are any answers forthcoming from associated companies relating to the Covid-19 crisis that include "Thermo Fisher Scientific", "Sema 4", " Core Infomatics", “Centrellis”. "Ocrulus", "Urjanet", "1life Healthcare", "Galileo Health", "Castlight Health", "Paladina Health", and "VillageMD" to name several.   

Thus, the rip off of Connecticut Taxpayers and many other Taxpayers throughout our country continues with the economic grants given freely to Infosys.  Many more examples exist as to why Infosys (and the DECD) should not be funded any more, at all. Yet, poor vassal taxpayers’ monies are freely given in the rhetoric and drivel that is defined as "economic development" which is a game that government likes to play with taxpayer substance, especially in the non-transparent state of Connecticut. 

Since there has been scant government outcry to this egregious situation, one only prays that there will be a chorus of taxpayers who will first call for the breaking of ties with Infosys, followed by the defunding of the DECD.  Jobs are not being created especially for Connecticut Information Technology workers.  This is a sham and a shame and should be called out as such.  But with Annie Lamont of Oak HC/FT spouse of the stalwart Connecticut Governor His Royal Con-Man, King Ned Lamont the Unaccountable, aided by the corrupted Democrat Party in an iron grip control of the state and bankrolled by an economically irrational DECD calling the shots, it is business as usual in the state.  Connecticut Information Technology workers be damned.  Connecticut Taxpayers be damned. And any reasonable economic fairness and decency in Connecticut can go to hell as well. Nothing changes in a state that is a bottom feeder in all economic categories with $100-$150 billion dollars in short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities. 

Connecticut will soon be accelerating its trip into the economic and social gutter with the help of this horrendous and illogical Infosys economic grant. Its up to you, my reader, to cry out and finally put a stop to this mess.

The Continuing Scam of Ned-O-Nomics: The Infosys Economic Giveaway (Part 1)

Just about all poor vassal taxpayers in the State of Connecticut are aware of the saga of Sema4, a flagship equity investment promoted by Oak HC/FT, Oak HC/FT being the hedge-fund partnership partially owned by Annie Lamont, spouse of the stalwart Connecticut Governor His Royal Con-Man, King Ned Lamont The Unaccountable. We followed Sema4 through its journey from "no-bid" Covid testing and documented its personal data theft of children to the “pump” of its IPO in 2021, down through the aftermath of its subsequent “dump” leading to the withdrawal of its in-state presence in 2022. During this time, the Lamont-related ownership interests greatly benefited by leveraging millions of incredibly cheap “economic assistance” dollars to a backdrop of almost total political silence and a concerted corporate media effort to look the other way.

If we lived in any sort of a rational world instead of Connecticut, the picture we would be seeing today would be far different than the one now existing. That said, my review of a “responsive information” disclosure this past week concerning the same players but a different equity made it quite clear that other shifty “Ned Deals” were occurring during the identical time frame of Sema4, and unfortunately, no one was the wiser.

To this end, Infosys Limited (aka "Infosys”) is a worldwide company that over the past five years has been able to and will acquire, a mere $38 million dollars of Connecticut Taxpayers monies. How, you ask? From the generosity of the (should-be abolished) Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (“DECD”) via an $18 million dollar contract to bring 1,200 jobs to Connecticut over an either six- or eight-year period (depending on clarifications to this secret agreement). $2 million dollars of this grant was purportedly used for "job training", however that is defined and what actual job training was provided is a mystery also according to the disclosure. These 1,200 jobs cost Connecticut Taxpayers $15,000 for each job.

Whom Infosys can hire to meet this nebulous quota is also confusing to many. Apparently "green card" permanent residents can be hired and will qualify for meeting this jobs quota. Jobs can be done remotely from home and apparently from out-of-state employees so long as they in theory somehow pay a Connecticut State Income Tax on their wages. Salaries that need to be paid qualifying to meet this quota are equally hazy. Further, there is no study in the disclosure to exactly ascertain how much tax revenue Connecticut will get back from this $18 million investment. Regrettably, a review of these documents tells us it will take many years for the state to get back this massive amount of money given freely to this out-of-state worldwide company, if anything ever gets returned at all.

That said, if we feel the above is bad, things become much worse: In 2022, Infosys also received a "sweetheart" $20 million dollar Connecticut Taxpayer- funded contract for maintenance and support services to the Office of Early Childhood and Connecticut’s Health Insurance Exchange known as “Access Health CT”. This ostensibly undeserved gift, along with the proviso of additional services for the Department of Social Services were a part of this contract. It seems like this was a pre-planned contract even though it went through a state bidding process and amazingly enough was awarded to this foreign company that uses "green card" permanent residents and out-of-state employees in what has been publicly represented to corporate media as a “local” economic development program.

Trying to understand the complexities of this worldwide company is made to be intentionally difficult. And why this company was given this money is questionable. For example, the global revenue of Infosys amounted to about $18.2 billion U.S. dollars for Fiscal Year 2023. (https://www.statista.com/statistics/900303/india-infosys-revenue). It looks on paper as a highly profitable company worldwide. The operative question then becomes as to why a company that has this type of revenue need this $18 million dollar pittance of Connecticut taxpayers' monies? We still do not see nor understand how this grant benefits the state at large. But regrettably, (or thankfully) those of us that have dutifully followed the saga of The Unaccountable and his spouse in this state discovered the inevitable tie-in food chain between Oak HC/FT and Infosys.

As just several examples:
• In 2019 Rapyd, a global Fintech-as-a-service provider, received $100 million dollars in financing that was led by Oak HC/FT. Rapyd and Infosys partnered together to create and enable a functioning local payment system and methods for their global clients.

• In 2020 Infosys partnered with a company called Unqork. Unqork creates "Codeless Architecture". Unqork received funding from Oak HC/FT.

These are just a several examples of the Lamont-Oak HC/FT modus operandi of using Connecticut taxpayer monies to prop up questionable investments made by Oak HC/FT thus facilitated via the uncontrolled and secretive DECD cash spigot leading to either taxpayer-supported profit or risk-free loss. Followers of my blog and of Tony De Angelo on 94.9's "Lee Elci Show" are well-familiar with this Lamont shell game. However, while the above is both shocking and disgusting (if not, larcenous) no one seems to care about these new founded investments nor do we still have any answers to Ned Lamont's family hedge fund (Oak HC/FT Partners) investments to associated companies relating to the Covid-19 crisis that include "Thermo Fisher Scientific", "Sema 4", " Core Infomatics", "Ocrulus", "Urjanet", "1life Healthcare", "Galileo Health", "Castlight Health", "Paladina Health", and "VillageMD" to name a few. It is yet more of the same with Infosys and the Lamonts, as he continues to be the darling poster boy of the state to the point where more than one state politician (including some Republicans) cannot wait to grab a “selfie” with him.

Complex larceny is one thing, but lousy employee management is another. Infosys has a checked history when it comes to employee retention especially for United States workers. Looking at reviews that employees have entered at the website glassdoor.com one can see major issues. You can review some of this data brought to us by the diligent efforts of “CT Techworkers” This group has compiled a pdf of some of these reviews that are horrific. I suggest you read this document: (https://cttechworkers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/glassdoorreviewshartfordinfosys.pdf) An example from this pdf on page 4; "I left the company back in August 2020 and to this day (2/1/2021), I am still dealing with HR issues and HR no longer responds to my emails. The company had me listed as a resident of two different states, therefore I was paying income tax for both states-it was never corrected despite many different tickets submitted." My thoughts regarding this would Infosys Limited being counting this employee with two different state grants it received, being Connecticut and another state? Regardless, this would be a bookkeeping system in which millions of state tax dollars are channeled through.

What's another $38 million dollars of Connecticut Taxpayers monies? A “mere bag of shells” according to bus driver Ralph Kramden of “Honeymooners” fame, especially if the “key people” of the state are being buoyed by the funding. Again, this past budget featured over $823 million dollars spent for "economic development" in the 49th worst economic state in the union, and it looks that Connecticut has nothing to show for almost $1 billion dollars being spent by the DECD. However, this example presented with Infosys in conjunction with profits being made by Ned Lamont's family hedge fund Oak HC/FT represents again, a complete and total disregard for both Connecticut Taxpayers and for legal Connecticut citizens who work in the IT field and pay taxes to the state.

My second part to this issue will be forthcoming next week. Suffice it to say these situations are a farce and a rip-off against state taxpayers while an entire political and media system remains silent. But as you struggle to piece together a holiday meal for your family do keep in mind that others closer to the inner-machinery of the farce that is called Connecticut government, do not struggle nearly as much as we may.

The Destruction of Connecticut, as Brought to You via the Department of Economic and Community Development

 

A question for the upcoming 2024 Connecticut state election that must be asked to elected officials and candidates is how much taxpayer money has been lost or written off by the economic sieve known as the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development? (“DECD”) And the next question must be when will the DECD offenses of malfeasant behavior that have been noted since 2017 be addressed and corrected with proper reimbursements paid back to the state?   This past budget featured over $823 million dollars spent for "economic development" in the 49^th worst economic state in the union, and it looks that Connecticut has nothing to show for almost $1 billion dollars being spent by the carefree, unaccountable, and politically connected Cracker Jack box known as the DECD.  

In the past, I have written with regard to the failed state audits of this agency as performed by the Connecticut Auditors of Public Accounts. My colleague Tony De Angelo continually points out that these audits are fine work with no teeth as nothing here is ever legislatively acted upon. In this connection the DECD, being an agency that spent almost $2 billion dollars during 2011-2017, did not even have its first audit until 2017.  Why did it take that long?  Connecticut Taxpayers are still waiting for a response for that issue while during that same period job growth was the slowest in the nation and Connecticut was last or nearly last in most business and economic categories in the country.  Job growth was last or near last in the nation and Connecticut was last or nearly last in most business and economic categories in the country for the subsequent years 2018 to 2022 also.  This all was taking place while nearly $1 billion dollars is poured into the DECD yearly with these results.  There is no clear ascertainment to this day with the overstatement of the number of jobs created and/or retained along with the financial and economic impact of these same programs, further, there is scant due diligence of business borrowers, and in some cases there is no explanation for second loans granted even though the companies did not meet job creation requirements and/or were not making payments on their initial loans.  What are the real goals of the DECD?  To pay off Democrat Party politically connected businesses? To buy votes at taxpayer expense? To glad-hand and photo-op in the inner cities where money is only a temporary balm and false hope for these poor people that never fix the burn as politicians and panderers continue to lie right between their eyes? Truly, no one seems to know. (And worse, no one seems to care).

As wretched as the above record is, please bear in mind that the last state audit of the DECD covered the period prior to the reign of His Royal Con-Man, King Ned Lamont, the Unaccountable. To that point, we still have no answers to Ned Lamont's family hedge fund (Oak HC/FT Partners) nor to their associated companies relating to the Covid-19 crisis include "Thermo Fisher Scientific", "Sema 4", " Core Infomatics", "Ocrulus", "Urjanet", "1life Healthcare", "Galileo Health", "Castlight Health", "Paladina Health", and "VillageMD" to name some, and we have no disclosure of how many Lamont cronies are sampling treats from the DECD candy box via means of loans and grants. But for Tony’s dogging the DECD, we would have never heard the real facts of the $15,000,000, 2% (two percent) “disappearing sweetheart” loan to Lamont-family connected Sema-4 with no collateral or guarantee of repayment, and these documented facts are contrary from what Sema4 has ever shared with corporate media. Further, we have never heard accountability for the $5 million dollars given to Lamont family-connected Digital Currency Group to (in theory) "move" 300 jobs to Stamford, CT?  Also, we never (ever) hear about the profit train that is forthcoming with the banning of gasoline cars for Lamont and family with their EV investments tied directly to the Saudi Public Investment Fund as major financial news sources such as the Wall Street Journal have repeatedly reported. Think about how much cash will be going to Oak HC/FT Partners from this “green energy” effort while Lamont continues to travel the state in his huge Beast vehicle with his state-paid attendants and flying with state paid fossil jet fuel while he demands we drive cars fueled by propellers. Sadly in the perspective of the Connecticut taxpaying vassals, the only "green energy" taking place is cash rapidly flowing into Lamont-related coffers.

Further, one puzzles as to what actually takes place at the DECD and as to why seemingly there is no political will anywhere to clean house. The DECD has had three Commissioners over a two-year time limit thus indicated managerial and leadership crises. Politicians and candidates of whatever party always seem to line up and support the people in charge. One can only conclude that the political will to throw money as a feelgood by a Connecticut official is far greater than the political will to exercise proper fiduciary responsibility by that same individual. But this type of glad-handing practice is standard operating procedure in Connecticut.

In closing, let us conclude by having a real moment. Connecticut still has $150 billion dollars in short- and long-term debt and unfunded liabilities.  It is a bottom feeder state with high taxes, poor infrastructure, economically incoherent state union labor agreements, legislative Communist aspirations, high crime, theft and murders, rampant illegal drug trafficking and drug abuse, and a lack of any ethics or accountability from its Governor's office.  It is high time for a complete and full audit of the DECD from its inception and a full accounting of all of its bad deals and the true costs to Connecticut taxpayers, followed by fines, liens and prosecutions for perjury and larceny where warranted.  How much of Connecticut Taxpayers monies have been wasted since 2011?  What is the DECD really?  Connecticut’s government does not want you to know.  I guess 2024 will be another $1 billion dollars or more in Connecticut Taxpayers monies being spent for "economic development" while the state roils further in economic chaos.  And concurrently Ned Lamont's family hedge fund soars to new profitability.  

Things seem to never change for the destruction of Connecticut via the DECD and by those benefiting from the destruction.  

Connecticut's Perpetual Pension Crisis

Connecticut has a Perpetual Pension Crisis.  It is a crisis of its own making and State government is responsible.  There are several reasons why Connecticut is in such a mess with its pensions.  These reasons include horrific and sometimes nonexistent returns on its pension investments, as Connecticut recently ranked next to last out of all fifty states in the country.  However, keep in mind that this crisis has been years in the making as appointed and skill-less Connecticut State Treasurers have picked pension managers with more regard to political patronage rather than their ability to invest money with greater returns, and the taint has spread to about all political actors responsible across the aisle.  As just one example, we can look back at the scandal involving former Connecticut State Treasurer Paul Silvester as an example and his subsequent prison sentence for kickbacks.  Connecticut also pays out some of the highest pensions in the country in all categories including teacher pensions, municipal pensions, and state employee pensions.  Some who are retired from the state even get their Medicare premiums reimbursed by the state.  Further, state representatives and state senators have become masterful over time in laying low to play out the clock to the pension vesting line. Viewing this myriad of ills, legendary fraudster Charles Ponzi could not design a financial mousetrap as precarious and unsure as the state pension plan of Connecticut.

The fundamental problem with these generous pensions is that they are constantly underfunded.  However, the amount of unfunded pension liabilities seems to vary.  I have written at length in the past that Connecticut has $100 to $150 billion dollars’ worth of short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  Other estimates range that the amount of unfunded pension liabilities is from $30 to $50 billion dollars with an accepted amount being roughly $40 billion dollars.  Connecticut has seen this figure rise dramatically over the years while economically illiterate Connecticut Democrats feel that $7.7 billion dollars paid into the fund to pay down the enormous debt has gone a long way to fixing all ills.  Figures that have been thrown at the poor sucker Connecticut Taxpayers responsible for all of the debt in the state now show budget surpluses being shrunken in part to the ending of Covid-19 funds and the severe economic recession we endure caused by massive runaway inflation occurring due to the economically incoherent and ridiculous economic policies of the Democrat Biden Administration.

I submit unto you that Connecticut has a spending problem as it cannot tax enough aspects of our personal and business lives to cover that same spending.  Budgets always come and go with a maximum increase in state spending as the almost comical "fiscal guardrails" consisting of spending caps implemented over the years kick in.  However, to work around this fictional safety net, money spent on many occasions just falls off budget and is forgotten until the time comes for Connecticut Taxpayers to pay for it through yet even higher taxes and for added items, services, and crony support. Therefore, spending cap in my observation is normally ignored.  Much more egregiously, Connecticut has a habit of spending to excess with pensions. Connecticut Taxpayers are forced to live within their means and a strict budget especially during these Democrat Party induced runaway inflation times.  However, State government fights fiscal restraint at every turn since political patronage spending is built into the state budget, followed by the continual progression of handing state jobs and nonjobs to the politically favored, thereby growing the pension deficit to new stratospheres.

Unfortunately, little can be done to undo the commitment of past pension obligations, but there are several things Connecticut can do to make the future brighter. The biggest solution that can be afforded Connecticut's constant pension crisis is to properly fund it and hire a non-politically affiliated investment company that has proven results in their investment returns. Also, our fintech “businessman” Governor (his Royal Con-Man King Ned Lamont the Unaccountable) could call for a full real time and coherent disclosure of all pension business, so that crony dealings (such as his wife’s assets being placed into the pension via manager Hamilton Lane) can come to immediate light. Also, will we ever live to the day when we will see any one legislator have the courage to advocate for “defined contribution” Section 401(k) or 403(b) pension plans for new hires instead of the current bankrupting system?  Further, as much as there been some recent increases by new hire state employees to increase their required payments into the fund, it as a drop in a bucket. Connecticut's pension still is unfunded by roughly 50%.  Cut spending and invest pension funds wisely.  But with all of the fingers in the pie, we know this type of courage and reform will never happen in Connecticut. 

When Connecticut Taxpayers run out of money and the state's debt escalates to the point of no return, maybe we will then hear reform is needed.  Do not count on it.  Also do not count on any politically connected individuals proposing solutions to the pension Armageddon being laid across the backs of Connecticut vassal-like taxpayers. Debt is the solution of constant omnipotent Democrat party control and power in Connecticut forever.

 

Connecticut's Profit Driven Democrat Party: Democrats Profit at People’s Expense

 

It has become increasingly evident over time that most of Connecticut's Taxpayer funded programs and policies are somehow related to Democrat politicians and their ability to earn a personal profit or benefit from it.  Since the advent of the completely non-transparent Administration of His Royal Con Man King Governor Ned Lamont the Unaccountable, we know little to nothing about the many deals that are made almost daily to help the profits of the Lamont's family hedge fund and the deals of other assorted Democrats. Again and again, be it Lamont, or his wife Annie Lamont (aka “Saudi Annie”) and their myriad family private equity partnerships such as Oak HC/FT, Connecticut Taxpayers still have no clear answers to many questionable investments and arrangements tied to Sema-4, Digital Currency Group and its affiliates, ADVANCECT, 4-CT, Boston Consulting Group, UNITE US, Mt. Sinai Genomics, “The Horsebarn Hill Investment Fund”, Tidal River Fund, McKinsey, and the Lamont-based Cayman Islands shell companies a number of years later. The list seems endless, and we see absolutely no research, acuity, or initiative from our state-run media in investigating any of it. 

In any event the “Ned Gang” experienced a small loss this past week on the adopted California edict to outlaw gasoline powered vehicle sales in 2035 but we have no delusions in that the same gang will be back with retaliation in the form of a bill that buries this "Advanced Clean Cars II, ACC" initiative in it, possibly with a cuter name designed by either McKinsey or Boston Consulting.  When this initiative is then buried in a “rat” bill at 3 am at the close of the legislative session for passage, this successfully opens up yet another profit stream for Oak HC/FT along the lines of where investors vested in e-cars (such as the Lamont-connected Saudi-based Saudi Public Investment Fund), will profit once again off of the backs of non-politically connected minion and serf-like taxpayers.

Again, please do not delude yourself and do understand that the Electric Vehicle mandate is still very much in play.   But truthfully after the revolt against this farcical debacle was engineered at the hands of citizens, intrepid independent journalists, radio commentators, social media contributors, and not politicians (regardless of what they tell you), has the day finally dawned that Connecticut Taxpayers, state businesses and individuals who are tired of supporting the profit driven Democrat Party (whether it is corrupt Bridgeport,  drug-addled-bullet-ridden New Haven or state government in Hartford) are finally fed up with writing checks for these economically incoherent programs that are being mandated by non-elected Democrat career bureaucrats?

In addition, it is quite interesting to me that the bureaucracies propounding these programs almost always escape any criticism or challenge from any elected officials whatsoever, perhaps because these officials are pining for similar cushy state employment that some of their predecessors have already attained?  Could it be possible that Connecticut Taxpayers, the businesses, and individuals who are supporting the profit driven Democrat Party are now wondering once again how their humanitarian Governor earns $54 million dollars a year even though he does not take his salary?  Could it now be possible that Connecticut Taxpayers, the businesses, and individuals who are supporting the profit driven Democrat Party do not wish fund this incoherent economic gibberish called “government” that is rammed down their throats and pocketbooks any longer?  

Maybe and finally the outcry against this wretched E-Car Act requiring that all light duty vehicles sold in the state be Zero emissions vehicles by 2035 and that medium and heavy-duty trucks reduce their "emissions" by 40 to 75% by 2035 and requiring Truck fleets of 50 vehicles and over to report to the DEEP for "prioritization" of these fleets to electric vehicles, has broken the Democrats back with regards to their incessant march to economic Armageddon for the state. Still, many Democrats in the state are shocked at the outcry to the rejection of this piece of legislation even though behind the scenes tradeoffs/lobbying and bribing were being offered for a yes vote.  Could this now possibly mean that Connecticut Taxpayers have had enough?

However, keep in mind that these logically incoherent bureaucrats try to guilt, propagandize and shame state taxpayers to embrace their twisted vision, they will never tell you this entire “effort” has a hideously dirty little secret. As just one example, we are browbeaten by the delusional Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (headed by the $175,000 taxpayer-paid Commissioner Katie Dykes) and her wish to protect us from all causes of pollution wheresoever. However, this "vision" gives absolutely no consideration to the abuses of people and children of Color caused by the serial mining of the minerals in order to produce E-Car batteries: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/02/01/1152893248/red-cobalt-congo-drc-mining-siddharth-kara (inter-alia). This issue is well-known and well-settled. That said, I am of the belief that the very woke-liberal- environmentally sensitive and happily bureaucratic walking among us in Connecticut could care less about the generational damage done to these helpless people and to the earth as a whole by mineral mining, provided that they have their neat little Subaru or Volt car to plug into a charging station and chat about how hip they are to the cause of clean air.

Since the beginning of the Lamont Administration to this day the Democrat Party places their profits over people especially over Connecticut Taxpayers.  A new war over town zoning has begun that will drive Democrat profit streams in the future, create unaffordable and nonsensical housing, raise property taxes even higher, eliminate wetlands and wreak environmental destruction (sort of like the EV mandate coming in 2035), and help destroy Persons of Color far away while Middle Easterners tied to the E-Car industry keep trying to force feed the misguided products onto the driveways of citizens.  Connecticut has the modern day "Robin Hoods" although with a twist as the current Democrat Administration of His Royal Con Man, King Ned Lamont the Unaccountable, his wife Ann Lamont (aka “Saudi Annie”) and their family private equity partnerships such as Oak HC/FT seem to rob the middle class Connecticut taxpayers to help make them become poor and then giving to the rich, to make them even more wealthy in the vast economic wasteland known as Connecticut. 

In consideration of all the above, perhaps “Robbing Hoods” is a more apt term for these connected characters. And again, it is truly Democrat Profits over people in 2023.