The Continuing Connecticut Economic Free Fall Into Unconsciousness

 If I could invoke the spirit of the great “60 Minutes” commentator Andy Rooney.  I can ask this question: "Did you ever wonder why they call it a State Legislature?”

Do you wonder? For after all, what in fact is a Legislature?

A Legislature is supposed to be the group of elected officials in a state who make, amend, or repeal laws. The term comes from Latin—lex for law, and latus meaning carried or proposed. A legislature passes bills in accordance with the will of the people, sets budgets, and handles state-level policies.

That is what a legislature is supposed to be. And then, we have Connecticut. 

And we have the Connecticut State Legislature. Such legislature being a body of individuals so out of tune and touch with the citizens they represent that the far corners of the Grand Canyon are closer in proximity.

In that connection, it is amazing to watch the Connecticut State House of Representatives and State Senate when they are in session. The State House consists of 102 Democrats and 49 Republicans, while in the State Senate there are 25 Democrats and 11 Republicans. As one can see, the Connecticut Democrat Party has an iron grip on Connecticut's State Legislature. And when Democrats rule the roost, your money flows like water without any regard to you. The costs of this Legislature are excessively high for the pitiful results it gives Connecticut Taxpayers. As just one 2024 example, $9,890,000 was spent for "Legislative Management", whatever that is, (not counting the operations budget) according to Open Payroll (https://openpayroll.ct.gov/#!/year/2024/full_time_employees,others/pay1,pay2,pay3/explore/0-0-0-0-0/job_cd_descr/Legislator/0--0-0-0/agency/Legislative+Management/0--0-0-0/union_descr/Legislative+Management/0--0/emplid_empl_rcd). This would be hysterically funny, if it were not so sad and so sick.

However, undeterred, legislators gave themselves a large raise to somehow attract a wider mix of individuals who would be willing to serve in the Legislature. So far nothing has changed other than the Connecticut Democrat Party further tightening their grip on power. It is also interesting to note the Connecticut's State payroll for 2024 was $5.8 billion dollars, while the state budget for 2025 is a mere $25.2 billion dollars. The "fiscal moderate" Governor Lamont has proposed a FY 2026-27 budget that increases spending to a $55.2 billion dollars for both years. Included in this proposal is to loosen and lessen Connecticut’s fiscal guardrails, start a major early childhood development initiative spending even more money in this area, (with little result), and more pork type spending projects.

But always keep in mind that your elected officials are there to serve you! And here is what YOU get for this $25.2 billion dollar investment according to a new study by the American Legislative Exchange Council (alec.org) in their 18th Edition of "Rich States, Poor States". Based upon equal weighting of each state’s rank in fifteen policy variables, Connecticut ranks #44 out of 50 states, after it has shown a constant drop in its ranking over the past six years.  

If one looks at Economic performance rankings based on the period of 2013 to 2023, Connecticut ranks #48 out of fifty states. This ranking is: "A backward-looking measure based on the state’s performance (equal-weighted average) in the three important performance variables. These variables are highly influenced by state policy." (https://alec.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ALEC_RSPS_18th_2025_Web.pdf). The three performance variables include State Gross Domestic Product, Absolute Domestic Migration, and Non-Farm Payroll Employment. Each area shows continual decline for the state. Contrary to biased and state-fabricated reports, Connecticut has lost over 171,000 citizens who have moved out of the state since 2013. Connecticut also has one of the highest property tax burdens in the country ranked at #45 out of fifty states and one the highest minimum wages in the country ranked #48 out of 50 states.  High property taxes and excessively high minimum wages have greatly contributed to the state's economic decline.

But chilling news such as this is lost with Connecticut's Democrat Legislative Super majority. There never can be enough spending and funds freely given out with no strings attached to satisfy their unquenchable need to spend Connecticut Taxpayers monies. This lack of thinking is evident by the free cash to the increasing amount of "nonprofit" groups who hold massive sums of money in their assets and seem never enough to solve the problems they supposedly are taking care of. We view this as well with the powerful state labor unions whose raises, benefits and pensions are never good enough for them. We see the political patronage positions that State Representatives and State Senators yearn for to help boost their state funded pensions to infinity. We see this with the hidden monies and 2% interest-only loans given away to politically connected businesses especially those affiliated with the Lamont Oak HC/FT hedge fund; 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 to name a few of many.  The list of economic "freebies" and "giveaways" is endless, and arrogantly continues in the open, again, citizen, be damned.

Thanks to the Connecticut Democrat Party, years of economic decline have nurtured $100 to $150 billion dollars of short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities, to a point of economic Armageddon, a point of economic ruin and a point of true economic failure. Why has this been allowed? This Legislative session has not been any different than any other year (except as of the time of this writing no legislator has flipped over a car, drunk, on the way home). Connecticut Democrat Legislators want even more spending especially for social services of any type, more taxes especially on the "wealthy" (whatever their current moveable definition of it is), and most importantly less personal freedom for those who must toil daily in their command economy.

But let us remember the hardworking and decent taxpaying of Connecticut. He or she does not want more government. He or she wants to see lesser government and lower taxes. Many of these disaffected souls have cried for a Connecticut DOGE to rip and tear at the wreckage of the Connecticut fiscal morass and root out waste, fraud, and abuse. Many of these disaffected souls are correct in that neither the Legislature nor those in Connecticut government are capable of such an endeavor as most are well past being part of the solution and have become part of the problem over time. Therefore, the only type of DOGE that could work would be one done by capable individuals with no financial ties to government.

To this end, my good friend Tony De Angelo has outlined to Senator Rob Sampson exactly the type of DOGE on X that is necessary in Connecticut in order to fix things once, and for all, in my view:

“In order for a Connecticut DOGE to be the useful at all, it minimally has to be.

1) 5-10 NON politically connected individuals of stature and acumen, serving as volunteers.

2) 60 days of "no-holds barred" access to any item or record requested to be delivered in no less than 72 hours.

3) Remove every (read that as EVERY) restriction on records and state-connected nonprofits, agencies, and "quasi-publics" (whatever in the hell a "quasi-public", is).

4) Full access to all travel and other records from all offices including that of UConn Foundation, Advance CT, and the office of Gov Ned Lamont

5) Real-time access to the retirement plan and treasury. If we have at least that, it would be a very meaningful exercise.

If we have an "inspector general" type of corrupted shop-steward thing like Vincent Candelora has suggested, Connecticut DOGE will be a joke.

Your ball. (https://x.com/TonyDeAngelo7/status/1914703792320254259)”

Tony De Angelo summarizes what is needed to finally end the economic decline of what was once a vibrant and robust economic state. For Connecticut to have any chance of economic survival, it must weed out the corruption of theft, waste, and fraud that Connecticut's government has evolved into.

 Connecticut is on track to be #50 out of fifty states next years in the American Legislative Exchange Council (alec.org) in their 19th Edition of "Rich States, Poor States".   But who cares in government? I guess nothing really matters any more to the deluded leaders of the Connecticut Democrat Party who the authors of this morass are.  They have to be proud of the economic quagmire they have created and truly own.

 

The Great Failed Reset And Pandemic Puppet Show

On June 3, 2024, the U.S. Senate Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic heard the testimony of Dr. Anthony Fauci (“Fauci”), the retired head of the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases with respect to his management (or more properly, mismanagement) of the Covid-19 pandemic. Even though some of the Congressional questioning and criticism was incisive and targeted, Fauci, being a skilled bureaucratic swamp creature, darted and dodged through many questions and statements that were either weak or rather were glowing statements by many Democrats. In the final analysis, only time will tell if this hearing was a springboard leading to a more effective prosecution of the fraud and of the mismanagement of Covid-19.

Unfortunately, many critical observers were left wanting after the Fauci testimony with respect to the critical questions left unanswered after the hearing concluded. Due to a myriad of reasons unknown, Congressional representatives did not sufficiently press Fauci as to where the convoluted nonsensical policies and reasoning as to the “coronavirus response” in the United States originated. For example, how was “social distancing” developed? Why were the schools closed? Who developed “phased reopening's”? How about “positivity counts?” Why was there masking and limited capacity in venues? Who killed the restaurant business? Why were there continuing coercions to forced vaccination? What was the logic? What were the reasons? Why was there gross mismanagement and errors in judgment? As my friend and colleague Tony De Angelo said on his June 4, 2024 “Lee Elci Show” segment, the vast majority of political operatives and politicians do not have the mental capability nor vision in order to devise these masterplans, so something else must be afoot. However, it is unquestioned that Fauci held himself out as the living final authority on all things regarding Covid-19 as he arrogantly held the entire country under his authoritarian thumb.

If one watched and/or read the Fauci testimony, one may have become sickened that their tax monies supported these insane, unlawful, and draconian policies which led to many needless heartbreaking deaths and a massive economic loss that America has still yet to recover from. At least some of the legislative comments directed at Fauci from this hearing that are worthwhile: “A million Americans died from Covid-19, marking one of the darkest chapters in our nation’s history. Four years later, more than 10 million Americans are still suffering from long Covid. We continue to fight for accountability.” “(Fauci), in his role as chief medical adviser to the president, insisted upon mask and vaccine mandates, lockdowns, and overstated vaccine efficacy, often disregarding the public and private medical professional’s ability to assess the facts.” “Blocking FOIA requests: It’s also curious that after Dr. Fauci was questioned by our Senate HELP committee in May 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services shut down all Freedom of Information Act requests. Was (Fauci) involved in any discussions for this decision? Why was that decision made?” Many people also don’t know that (Fauci) received two government salaries simultaneously, making him the highest-paid federal employee ever. He was both the director of the NIAID and the director of civilian biodefense, which was operating with a $6 billion budget.(”https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/under-oath-fauci-must-answer-these-questions-5660314/)  This Senator was well justified in his comments that still are being ignored by the media and the incoherent and unserious Biden Administration. 

Did masks, plexiglass around dining room tables and bars, constant disinfecting of anything and everything, standing six feet away from people while checking out in grocery stores, lockdowns, walking in only one direction in store aisles and many other illogical and unproven medical theories forced us save lives? It is highly doubtful at best. For example, if you are reading this column now, you did not die of Covid-19. Amazing, isn't it?
Also, did Fauci have a brain trust in working his twisted magic?

Needless to say, Connecticut had its profit driven motives during the Covid-19 crisis. I have written about them numerous times since the pandemic resulted in deafening silence from all sides as a result. My good friend Tony De Angelo who initially started to unwind the corruption of these state Covid-19 policies several years ago, re-introduced many of the same unanswered questions in his segment this past week on the Lee Elci Show on 94.9 FM. Tony submitted to the listeners that the same dastardly Covid-19 masterplan was hatched in the minds of Ivy-League consultants and indoctrinated into the weaker political minds of elected officials largely serving as enablers to the festivities along with Fauci and his colleagues. Trendy buzzwords such as "The Great Reset", "The New Normal", "Mask Mandates" and more key word phrases such as “The Greater Good,” are now part of our permanent vocabulary through the efforts of the non-elected but politically tied McKinsey Corporation group. A group who mysteriously was drafting the Covid-19 protocols and manuals for the State of New Jersey in 2019 and released the same in 2020 while forgetting to change the header date. A group whose "Covid-19 Updates" were issued to many elected lemmings such as King Gov. Ned Lamont The Unaccountable and his legislative enablers that did incredible damage to our economy and country as a whole that were accepted as the gospel truth while making these same officials appear cool, calm, collected and in charge where all they were doing was acting by a script. A group that in the case of Connecticut was buried in a nonprofit organization so the public never even knew they were involved, up until the time of Tony’s radio segments. It is unquestionable that something on a much greater scale was involved in pulling the Covid-19 puppet strings, and McKinsey proudly served the governments, colleges, schools, and military in this failed fashioning of The Great Reset.

Of course, the Covid-19 pandemic was a fantastic opportunity for the Lamonts and several of their close cronies and investors to exploit the State of Connecticut for their own personal gain and profit. The Lamont owned Oak/HC Limited Partnership was a fund that made great strides and profits thanks to the no- bid contracts it was able to secure from Connecticut Taxpayers during the Covid-19 crisis marched its way to a bonanza IPO ina huge "pump and dump" litigated stock scheme, with such “economic activity” hidden in and blessed by nonprofit AdvanceCT. This organization was concurrently housing and paying the McKinsey Corporation for its services. Let us never forget that in the beginning of the crisis during June 2020, Lamont-owned equity Sema-4 entered into a no-bid State of Connecticut contract for Covid-19 testing at the opportune moment. And Oak HC/FT invested in Sema-4 which was a DBA (doing business as) of Mount Sinai Genomics. Never forget as well that the Lamont limited partnership through a complex maze of companies, (many of which received Connecticut Taxpayers monies through forgiven loans and state grants), made an enormous profit during this crisis. A profit that goes undisclosed with no reactions whatsoever from ostensibly dimwitted and unconcerned (if not corrupt) body of elected officials from either party. And somehow, the state-run media remains silent with regards to questioning these "deals".

As Tony said on June 2, 2024, this situation is highly worth revisiting since the lies of the Covid-19 are being proven for real four years later. Many did not realize that they were being governed by the McKinsey Consulting Corporation secretly by proxy, with their directives passed down through the Faucis, Cuomos, and Lamonts of the world. And after many businesses and individuals lost everything they had economically and socially to an elite power that was financed by you and me the American Taxpayer, they scored, and you, lost. With that all said and known, justice needs to be exacted upon them all, once, and for all.

 

Philanthropic Hypocrisy- The Lamont’s’ Innovative New Profit-Making Game.

Money is made in Connecticut.  Especially if you are His Royal-Con-Man King Ned Lamont the Unaccountable, and his wife Annie Lamont. Especially when you know you will never be questioned nor investigated by the Legislature nor from your state-supported “journalists” about what you have done, how your profits were made, how much of Connecticut Taxpayers monies have been invested in companies you own, and as to why your income tax statements are forever hidden from Connecticut Taxpayers. You take comfort in the fact that there are still no state media questions to your issues and involvements with Sema-4, Digital Currency Group, and its affiliates, ADVANCECT, 4-CT, Boston Consulting Group, Digital Currency Group, UNITE US, Mt. Sinai Genomics, “The Horsebarn Hill Investment Fund”, McKinsey and the Lamont-based Cayman Islands shell companies.  Ned and Annie Lamont need not be transparent to Connecticut as they own Connecticut, and they are continually held to be unaccountable by all for whatsoever they may do.

Con artists and grifters are continually in search of new marks. The new mark and obvious profit-making machine are Annie Lamont and her new “Tidal River Fund”.  The Tidal River Fund is yet another new state-driven startup for women and minorities for financing “early-stage startups of businesses”.  How and why this fund/program is any different than the myriad of State of Connecticut programs for women and minorities no one can explain.  However, the branding on the Tidal River Fund is that Annie Lamont founded it along with former Democrat Governor Dan Malloy's niece Alison Malloy, who just happens to be also the managing director of the state’s questionable secretive venture capital arm, “Connecticut Innovations”.  The spin on Tidal River is also that there are 21 (twenty-one) first time investors who have invested $25,000 in the fund.  It is important to note that there has already been a $100,000 investment by another cloistered state entity named “CTNext” to this fund.  Both Connecticut Innovations and CTNext are supposedly investing heavily in Tidal River but many fund investments will show little (if any) results once the “winners” are segregated from “losers” and the “winners” are picked for funding.    Possibly one reason the new Tidal River Fund is different than other investments is that is has the Democrat pedigree of the relatives of two of the worse Governors in the state's history, Malloy, and Lamont The Unaccountable. But by these people appearing magnanimous, this endeavor will never come to full transparency with respect to its reason for existence, and its benefit to the state as a whole.

Investments by the many state/private nonprofits for job creation and business formation are vast in the state and are intentionally made difficult to follow.  The Lamonts’ plea of ignorance as to the number of investments made with Connecticut taxpayer's monies into Oak HC/FT hedge fund companies would be funny if it were not so ridiculous and sick.  One should be reminded of the atrocious economic record of Connecticut even though billions of dollars of Connecticut Taxpayer's monies are dumped yearly to prop up the economic ventures and failures of Democrat Connecticut political operatives. Even so, Connecticut continues to rank last and or near last in many business categories and ranks at the top of the highest taxes in the country.  Do keep in mind that Connecticut has $100 to $150 billion dollars in unfunded liabilities along with short- and long-term debt, with no endgame in sight nor any plan to satisfy the debt.

In addition, please keep in mind that Connecticut is a state without any ethics or firewalls operating in a continual state of moral bankruptcy. My friend and colleague Tony De Angelo from the Lee Elci Show (WJJF 94.9 and THIRTY WITH TONY) took one look at this arrangement and said “Bob, this is a wonderful way for the Lamont family to scout companies with potential and invest in what they want and/or direct others to invest under a cloak of philanthropy. What is even better is that they and their cronies get to be observant “venture capitalists” without “venturing” one red cent. There is no written agreement against self-dealing in these start-ups. Nothing whatsoever prevents them from doing whatever they want, especially as they know they will never be questioned, and given their past track record it is shameful and sick that no one is questioning them”. Tony’s observations are barometer as to how business gets done by the politically connected in the once proud Nutmeg State

So, it is another year, and it is another innovative and racket-style Lamont Family economic plan for personal profit while inane marketing gimmicks like the "Make It Here" campaign (if you are not taxed out of business, robbed at gun point, or have your vehicles stolen), are to suffice for the rest of us.  More of the same rhetoric and more of the same results by the profit driven team that leads Connecticut. 

 The power-hungry Democrat Governor and his wife are the first couple of their kingdom in so many ways. This should sicken the state-but never will.  It’s profit (and now philanthropic hypocrisy) over people, especially in Connecticut.

More Bad Tax News In Democrat Connecticut For Connecticut Taxpayers: Senate Bill No. 999

The news is never good when it comes to taxes and tax policy in Connecticut.  King Ned Lamont The Unaccountable and his Omnipotent ruling Democrat Party are now backing much higher property taxes for Connecticut residents through Senate Bill No. 999, "AN ACT INCREASING THE UNIFORM ASSESSMENT RATE FOR PROPERTY TAX".  This bill would increase the state-wide assessment ratio on property from 70% to 75%, effective with the assessment year commencing on October 1, 2023.  This proposed change will produce immediate tax increases in municipalities across the state by a large amount.

As it stands, Connecticut already has some of the highest property tax mill rates in the country.  In economic terms, this increase in valuation from 70% to 75% allows for municipalities to further increase their tax bases and their tax revenues. Raising property valuations by 5% increases property taxes by 14%, thus ratcheting Connecticut into being one of the top five highest property taxed states in the country in addition to being one of the worst five economically.

It is apparent that the excessive state and local tax burden in Connecticut is already driving out citizens and businesses from the state. Once can also argue successfully that these same high taxes have contributed to Connecticut's poor economic performance for many years now and has kept the state in a virtual, perpetual economic recession with little chance or change for economic growth.  One can also argue successfully that it is economically insane for the state to assess more high taxes and then turn around and give more Connecticut Taxpayer paid for-tax based, economic tax credit incentives, zero percent "sweetheart" loans with sickeningly low interest rates often leading to complete loan forgiveness, and to provide more unjustified giveaways to businesses and individuals for moving their businesses to the state with a false promise of expanding them.  This happened quite frequently with the integrity-bereft Lamont Administration channeling monies to Lamont family hedge fund and related companies such as Sema-4, UNITE US, and Vestwell. 

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development ("DECD"), under the guise of secrecy, is the seeming arbiter of the winners and losers in Connecticut's economy.  DECD  does this through bulbous Connecticut Taxpayer-funded tax breaks that have been given with little to no oversight nor ramifications for both the lack of disclosure on their secret "deals" as for the loans and other aspects of the agreements. This situation becomes frighteningly clear when the businesses fail (and/or) move out of the state, most recently seen in the Lamont-based carpetbagging masterpiece known as Sema-4. 

As we have seen in this 2023 legislative session, the Connecticut Democrat Party can not tax Connecticut Taxpayers enough to pay for their socialistic agenda of political nepotism, the taking of personal freedoms, the stripping of personal wealth of the working middle class, the embracing of crime and criminals rights over the rule of law, a total disregard of the state constitution and the brainwashing of the state's young people.  The daily gibberish force fed Connecticut Taxpayer's through a state run media along with the lack of transparency in Ned Lamont's state government should scare both sides of the political aisle along with anyone having a pulse.  Yet it is embraced and rewarded through the corrupted political game called state government.

Higher taxes through this new Senate Bill No. 999 along with the all the other new and higher taxes on energy and other items will all help to cement Connecticut's economic failure for the rest of the decade.  Another lost economic decade is on tap as has been the case in the 90's, 00's, and 10's.  Connecticut still has a mere $150 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities that is ignored since those elected officials and state employees who helped to create this nightmare will be long gone out of Connecticut, fleeing to low taxed Republican governed states, when the real economic crisis of bankruptcy falls upon the state in several years.  The state's spending and debt is not sustainable.  Cutting taxes, cutting the waste and fraud in state government is never an option, nor is it ever discussed by the ruling class.  The economic end game of one of the highest taxed states in the country will help to create its bitter and horrific collapse. And we are again at a point in history, both socially and economically, that it is 1776 all over again. 

Ned Lamont's "No Salary" For His Second Term. But He Made $54 Million Dollars in 2021?

Democrat Governor Ned Lamont is once again not taking a salary for being the ruling by decree Governor of Connecticut for his second term.  Connecticut Taxpayers paying one of the highest amounts of state and local taxes in the country can all rest easy tonight knowing their Governor has once again declined his salary for 2023-2026.  Lamont was scheduled to earn $226,711 next year but once again has declined it.  Lamont made $54,000,000 in income for 2021 according to his feeble and disguised representation of his income taxes.  One has to wonder how Lamont made so much money since Connecticut Taxpayers were not allowed to view his tax return, but were told most of his income was made through investments. 

Connecticut Taxpayers do not know how much Lamont paid in federal and state income taxes on this $54 million dollars in income for 2021 if any taxes were paid at all, since he has SEC documented ties to offshore tax havens.  A question that has to be asked by Connecticut Taxpayers since neither the Connecticut State run media nor the Legislature will ask, is through what investments is Ned Lamont earning this money, and where are these investments located?

Was this investment income made through the basically now worthless stock of Sema-4?  Was the investment income made through the multi-million dollar state loans given to Sema-4 that were forgiven by the state?  Was the investment income made through the loans and/or sweetheart deals made by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development to Lamont family hedge fund companies?  Was the investment income made through cryptocurrency companies such as Digital Currency group and its affiliates that were subsidized by the state?  Was the investment income made through the all new "non profit" ADVANCECT?  Was it made through the selling of citizen data via Boston Consulting Group, Mt. Sinai Genomics and/or McKinsey? Was the investment income made through the Lamont-based shell companies that were formed in the Cayman Islands and other tax havens? 

As usual it is business as usual for Democrat Governor Ned Lamont's various investments and companies that are just too plain hard and economically complex to be questioned or digested in any manner  by Connecticut's State run media.  Yet, we have seen a constant condemnation of all of Republican President Trump's companies and investments even though he has been audited yearly since 2009 with no issues found from these audits resulting in additional tax assessments.  So much for transparency in the Democrat Ned Lamont profit making Administration.  Will Democrat Governor Ned Lamont ever be audited?  Will Democrat Governor Ned Lamont come clean on his investments?   It is also comical to note that Connecticut still has $125 to $150 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  It is also comical to note that there is no plan whatsoever to pay down this debt.  I guess that $226,711 in salary saved by Lamont will go a long way in paying down $125 to $150 billion dollars in debt and unfunded liabilities.

 

Democrat Governor Ned Lamont may now enjoy four more years of unchecked and non-audited investment profits and income beginning on Sunday, January 1, 2023.  Democrat Governor Ned Lamont can use Connecticut Taxpayers for four more years as his personal piggy bank for complex, secretive financial companies, and byzantine schemes throughout the world for his personal financial gain with no oversight whatsoever.  Connecticut taxpayers of all political persuasions should take note of that, as they struggle to survive and live in the corrupted, inept, incompetent economic wasteland known as the "Constitution State" Connecticut. Some do realize that is truly is 1776 all over again.

Connecticut's Corrupt Democrat Party Elephants In The Living Room

Connecticut's corrupted Democrat Party has many elephants in the living room.  The expression "elephant in the living room" may not be known to everyone.  It basically means that there is an obvious problem that is known and seen by all but it is not talked about.  Corruption in my opinion reigns supreme in Connecticut's state government that is run by the Democrat Party.  The same party that has been in control of state government for well over 30 plus years.  And Connecticut is really not getting any better any time soon with the Connecticut Democrat Party led by Ned Lamont in power.

I am fascinated by the elephants in the living room that the Lamont Administration keeps avoiding with a dormant and complacent (if not complicit), state run media.  How about a real answer to the Sema-4 debacle?   How much money and or profits did the Lamont's hedge fund earn from Sema-4 testing and during the time of the public offering of Sema-4?  Why was such a 2% interest "sweetheart loan" deal made in total silence between Sema-4 and the State of Connecticut?  Where is your personal information going to when it was taken by Sema-4 in the name of Covid-19 testing? Will this personal data be sold to the highest bidder in a bankruptcy proceeding if Sema4 continues to falter? Why is Sema-4 an investment in the Connecticut Employee Retirement Plan?

Advance CT is another example of an elephant in the living room.  I have written about them in the past and my good friend Tony De Angelo has talked about in depth on his weekly segment on the Lee Elci show on 94.9 WJJF, New London, CT.  CERC (Connecticut Economic Resource Center) was around for 25 years and somehow was renamed and spawned a second sham Advance CT organization due to the covert actions of Ned Lamont.  It is a complex organization that has been funded partially by Connecticut Taxpayers with the state paying $2.356 million dollars for items such as marketing, a pass through grant, sponsorship and out of state travel according to Opencheckbookct.  We do not  know their budget, nor what they pay their employees.  Advance CT is apparently considered a non profit that supposedly brings all sorts of new jobs and companies to Connecticut since it such a robust and dynamic economy according to their website Advancect.org.   In reality, according to their 2021 Annual Report they have done very little in the actual creation of new jobs, and or having companies wanting to move to Connecticut.  Through Tony's digging we do know that the clandestine Covid-19 Reopen CT "advise and consent" style group did run (or runs?) in Advance CT under the oversight of Lamont family business associate Dr. Zeke Emmanuel, and the mega-controversial multi-national consulting firm, McKinsey. So we have charitable organizations, exempt from public disclosure, employing the McKinsey consulting company in the functions of government, and citizens have no idea what is taking place.  And Connecticut Taxpayers help support this ostensibly racketeering "non profit"?  For what reason?  Why is there continuing media and political silence for these acts, that are highly illicit at best?

It is obvious to many that Connecticut's corrupt Democrat Party has many elephants in the living room.  Elected officials have turned a deaf ear to them and the result is corruption, theft and deception to Connecticut Taxpayers.  Why must Connecticut Taxpayers monies go to non-profits with no strings attached nor any accountability in the spending of their funds?  Why does Connecticut's state run media avoid at all costs investigative reporting of Ned Lamont's dealings while condemning daily what the income of Gubernatorial challenger Bob Stefanowski may be?  Doesn't Ned Lamont have more wealth than Stefanowski at this point, at least some of which is taking place in offshore tax havens?  But these points are never raised, as it is obvious to see the incredible bias the media has against all things Republican.  It is a debacle that really needs to be addressed once and for all as Connecticut Taxpayers should not be the personal slaves to Connecticut's corrupt Democrat Party and Ned Lamont's many elephants in the living room.  Honesty would be refreshing for a change but we know that can never happen in Connecticut. 

Political corruption is accepted, embraced and glorified by all involved in Connecticut.  Connecticut which used to be known as the "Constitution State" should be renamed the "Pachyderm State", or perhaps the second "Jungle Habitat".  Remember that when you vote in November.  And remember more importantly that it is 1776 all over again.

The $15 Million Dollar Covid-19 Test?

$15 million dollars for Covid-19 tests?  Is this for real?  If you live in Connecticut a company called Sema-4 is getting a great deal of State of Connecticut money for Covid-19 testing and other items.  It has gotten this Connecticut Taxpayer money since 2015.  In December 2015 the Department of Economic and Community Development under the Malloy Administration gave this company a $9.5 million dollar loan (partially forgiven) to create 145 jobs in the state (or roughly $65518. per job). In April 2018 the Malloy Administration gave them another $6 million dollar loan (partially forgiven) for machinery, equipment, capital improvements along with the creation of 408 jobs.  They get $15.5 million dollars in Connecticut Taxpayers monies and amazingly get $12.2 million dollars of this money forgiven. 
In June 2020, Sema-4 seems to have entered into a no bid State of Connecticut contract for Covid-19 testing.  I again wonder are they the only company in the country that provides these tests and at what costs?   Connecticut Taxpayers do not know what these tests cost due to a concept known as "trade secrets" for the tests. Ann Lamont's hedge fund Oak HC/FT invests in Sema-4 which is a DBA (doing business as) of Mount Sinai genomics.  The State of Connecticut gets a bill from Sema-4 for $600,000. in Covid-19 tests that is paid for recently.  I wonder how much more the state will be billed by this company that already has gotten an enormous amount of money from Connecticut Taxpayers and at the same time that the Lamont's hedge fund receive profits from their investments in this same company?  No one in our state government questions this maze of Connecticut Taxpayers monies that have benefited the Lamont's. 
Tony DeAngelo, who has been investigating these issues on his "Ten Minutes With Tony"  segment heard on the Lee Elci Show that broadcasts on 94.9 FM New London, Connecticut talked about this never ending Lamont connection among other troubling connections with them on his June 30 segment. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfOV_iDeBAw&feature=youtu.be).
Ned Lamont now has to pat himself on the back all by showing the country that he himself stopped the Covid-19 virus in Connecticut.  It is truly amazing now that there are now few cases, few hospitalizations and obviously those who died in the state's nursing homes needlessly was just a bump in the road to the state's great health.  Ned Lamont also has to pat himself on the back for the amount of profit he and his wife have made through their hedge fund during this crisis through a complex maze of companies, many of which received Connecticut Taxpayers monies through forgiven loans and state grants.  He truly runs our state as a self appointed dictator under the cover of the supposed Covid-19 crisis. 
All this while the rest of our state's economy has imploded and the economic depression that exists in the state for many will never end.  Along with a massive $145 billion dollars plus in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  The Connecticut Democrat Party with its politically connected friends along with Ned Lamont have a twisted version of liberalism and economic stimulus. It is a fascinating read as they are the only ones who can and will benefit from the self induced Covid-19 crisis.   The hell with the rest of the state and its legal citizens once again.  

Connect The Connecticut Dots (With Connecticut Taxpayers Monies)

Connect the dots is a game played with Connecticut Taxpayers Monies.  Ned Lamont continues unchecked with daily Executive Orders to stop the spread of Covid-19 while allowing a small mix of businesses to open including the casinos along with hair salons and barbers.  Social distancing of six feet and masks is still required if you need to shop however if you wish to protest on the state highways it is apparently not required.  I wonder if Lamont will clarify that in a new and upcoming Executive Order?
As of June 3 we still do not understand how Boston Consulting Group has received a $2 million dollar no bid state contract for consulting apparently their process that will dictate to the state to reopen.  We do not know who are the actual consultants are nor what they will be doing for their $2 million dollars.  Why is Boston Consulting Group the experts on reopening Connecticut? Could it perhaps be that there is a financial benefit to the Lamont family by the employment of this firm?  You might see some areas of concern as you read further.

We also we are seeing that Thermo Fisher Scientific a company that purchased Core Informatics seems to be gaining a no bid state contract for Covid-19 tests that we are assuming will be mandatory for everyone in Connecticut.  It is interesting to see that Josh Geballe who was appointed by Lamont as his Chief Operating Officer was the former CEO of Core Informatics and more recently was a Vice President/GM for Thermo Fisher Scientific before being appointed by Lamont.  Is it possible that Gabelle still owns Thermo Fisher Scientific shares and incentives while he is employed in oversight to the state?  Is it also possible that one of Ann Lamont's Oak HC/FT hedge funds now owns shares in Thermo Fisher Scientific since the funds were largely responsible for the Core Informatics acquisition at great profit?  Are there no other companies in the country that they get these tests from except from this political connection? Please bear in mind that all of the above are legitimate questions, none whatsoever of which have ever been asked by any media source, legislator, or department head of this state to date as far as I am aware of.   In addition Lamont's wife Ann is part owner/investor in Oak HC/FT Partners III, L.P. fund that is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, a haven for secrecy of financial matters.  This fund was seeded with close to $800 million dollars shortly after the time of the porous Ethics Commission opinion that was issued by the state concerning the possibility of the Lamont's financial dealings while he is Governor.  This same limited partnership invests $156 million dollars in "1Life Medical" that is involved in producing a medical app that has hot buttons for Covid-19 testing.  This was done on February 4, 2020 immediately prior to the onset of the pandemic.  It is amazing how perfectly timed this investment was.
It is also interesting to see the similarities between the 1Life Medical website and the Boston Consulting Group websites.  They look very alike.  It is even more intriguing to note that "One Medical" (dba 1Life Medical) is the go to firm for Covid-19 testing in the State of New York. 

Is it possible that these companies are profiting from Connecticut due to their connections?  Does the longer a shutdown exists in Connecticut and New York, the more "One Medical"and the Lamont's profit from testing?  These are all legitimate questions needing immediate answers for the benefit of all citizens.

Tony DeAngelo, who has been investigating these issues on his "Ten Minutes With Tony"  segment heard on the Lee Elci Show that broadcasts on 94.9 FM New London, Connecticut on today's  Tuesday June 2 offering. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HD5g-hgtvMM&feature=youtu.be). Tony has done a powerful job in exposing a massive connect the dots of what amounts to being strong profits for some state players financed by Connecticut Taxpayers via the Lamont Administration.  Further, one also has to question the formation of the ADVANCE CT Foundation that also receives its tax exemption at the absolutely perfect moment in February, 2020 so that possible covert transactions could occur.  Tony does an excellent job in bringing this issue out from a professional's view.  I highly suggest you listen to this segment.

Therefore we see that our state officials play connect the dots as a game with Connecticut Taxpayers Monies.  We also see that some of the dots may be tethered to tentacles.  And Connecticut Taxpayers still can not get answers as to what is truly going on with these companies, their contracts, the Lamonts and their investments and with Connecticut Taxpayers Monies.

Connecticut's Government Profit Maze Funded By Connecticut's Taxpayers

I continue to be amazed at the complexities of Connecticut's state government under the rule of Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Democrat Party.  50 Executive Orders and growing.  Profits apparently will come at the expense of the Connecticut Taxpayer due to Covid-19 while the state has $145 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities that is being ignored.  Trying to understand the unclear and draconian guidelines that the secret Reopen Connecticut Committee came up with is a massive task (https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Office-of-the-Governor/News/20200526-Governors-Reopen-Report.pdf?la=en).  The report forces unrealistic costs on businesses need to take on in order to reopen.  It also is apparent that mandatory testing is essential.   They are also stressing in the report that they are trying "to build trust in reopening plan" (p.41).  How?  Why should  "Wearing a mask is the new normal" (p.40) be forced upon us?   Studies are showing wearing masks cause more harm than good.  Why should Connecticut Taxpayers build trust in a horrific plan to micromanage their lives developed in secret by a bunch of millionaires (some who may profit from Covid-19)?  Their guidelines should be viewed as a bunch of illogical rules and illegal rhetoric that once again eliminates more personal freedoms in the state.  If you read this secret report that seems to be hidden from the public view you will become possibly sick from it due to its content. 
We still do not get any answers nor know what the Boston Consulting Group will be doing to help the state in their "advisory role" for their $2 million dollar Connecticut Taxpayer funded contract?
Nor do we see as Connecticut Taxpayers why the former Connecticut Economic Resource Center is now known as a non profit entity called Advance CT that works with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).  Connecticut Taxpayers have helped to finance Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and its massive waste in spending.  Are we now going to subsidize Advance CT?  For example (DECD) "was cited by state auditors for forgiving or modifying state loans to companies totaling $23.6 million and awarding $16 million in excess assistance through the First Five Plus program" (https://yankeeinstitute.org/2020/03/04/decd-dished-out-39-million-in-excess-loans-and-improper-loan-forgiveness-to-companies/).   The First Five program has been an enormous waste of Connecticut Taxpayers monies since its inception and has created few jobs.
Lamont's wife Ann is the Executive Managing member of Oak HC/FT Management Company, LLC (Oak HC/FT) and certain general partnerships for private investment funds managed by them.   Will any of their companies they invest in receive state contracts from this crisis and profit by them? 
Is is also interesting to note that Ned Lamont's Chief of Staff Josh Gabelle was the former Chief Executive Officer of Core Informatics that was sold to Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2017.  However back in 2014 Core Informatics received a massive state contract with $3 million dollars in a state grant by Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).  (http://www.branfordseven.com/business/branford-based-core-informatics-in-line-for-3-million-in-state-funding/article_ebcc794e-b611-11e3-a0d6-0017a43b2370.html). Gabelle was the head of Core Infomatics at that time.   Thermo Fisher Scientific is working on Covid-19 testing and Lamont wants to get tests from them apparently for the state (https://ctmirror.org/2020/05/05/no-surge-yet-for-covid-19-testing-governor-says-its-coming/).  
Confusing?  Of course.  It is meant to be that way.  For more clarity please listen to Tony DeAngelo, who has been investigating these issues on his next "Ten Minutes With Tony"  segment heard on the Lee Elci Show that broadcasts on 94.9 FM New London, Connecticut this coming Tuesday June 2.
Connecticut's profit maze seems to be funded by Connecticut Taxpayers.  Ned Lamont seems to be unable to make a decision unless it can somehow be profited from.  Ned Lamont in true Democrat Party fashion does not want to waste a crisis and its profitability.  Ned Lamont is destroying Connecticut by his actions.