More Bad News For Connecticut Taxpayers With The Secret SEBAC Agreement. More And Higher State Spending.

You can never underestimate the political power of the Connecticut Democrat Party nor their hatred of the non state employee/non political donor Connecticut Taxpayer.  More information is coming out about the secret SEBAC state agreement with its labor unions.  An agreement that Connecticut Taxpayers will pay for and have absolutely no representation in as to how their tax monies will be spent for years to come.  It is the classic political nepotism that we have seen for 30 plus years now in the state that has helped to contribute to Connecticut's economic ongoing depression.

According the Yankee Institute for Public Policy (www.yankeeinstitute.org.) who has been able to through media findings and leaks have been able to summarize this massive pay increase for state workers.  What I find interesting is that the state unions feel that they have saved $24 billion dollars for the state since 2010.   I can not see that.  Where is the actual proof? This contract is a huge expense for Connecticut Taxpayers and should be treated as such.  One must remember we are in a period of runaway Democrat Party induced inflation coupled with excessively high taxes in the state.  The Connecticut taxpayer never gets a break with regards to any cuts in spending nor cuts in taxes even in stoic election years.  And really why should they since they are the true slaves of state government by paying these excessive pay raises and bonuses to state workers while in many cases doing without so they can pay the enormous tax burden of Connecticut.  This agreement needs to be made public immediately and should be open to public hearings.  If I am interpreting the agreement correctly most of the state surplus will go to pay for this contract and raises/bonuses. The long term costs of the contract will cost Connecticut Taxpayers hundred of millions of dollars over the lifetime of the contract.

Salaries and benefits account for well over 35% of Connecticut's $24.2 billion dollar state budget or roughly $8.2 billion dollars.  An immediate question one must ask is why in a state such as Connecticut that is small and is losing population daily why does the state spend so much in the first place and why does well over 1/3 of the budget goes to state employee salaries and benefits. With all this money being spent why does Connecticut rank near first in the highest taxes in the country along being near last in most business and economic categories in the country?  The question that voters and taxpayers must ask during this upcoming election is why is Connecticut so badly run?  And who has been in power for the past 30 years?  Why isn't spending being cut in 2022?

 Fortunately for America and in particular Connecticut, the Connecticut Democrat Party will be voted out of office at all levels of government in November, 2022.  The incompetence and corruption that is the keyword of the Connecticut Democrat Party is on full display with this secret labor agreement.  The working middle class has taken the brunt end of runaway inflation and they will vote with their wallets and pocketbooks. A non functioning Connecticut state government that is only interested in a small part of the state's population are the enablers of the corrupted Connecticut Democrat Party rule.  They rule the state with an iron fist. This contract and its provisions further separates the haves and the have nots in Connecticut. The tidal wave of change is beginning and will encompass the overhaul of our corrupted government and political system. Connecticut will see massive changes in November.   It is 1776 again.

Hey What's Another $3500. To Connecticut Taxpayers? It Is An Election Year Isn't It?

 Hey what's another $3500 to Connecticut Taxpayers or a 2% raise each year for the next four years with job security and no lay-offs for 44,000 state unionized employees?  Hey what's $150 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities to Connecticut Taxpayers?  Hey what's a $62500 per person state debt tax to Connecticut Taxpayers? Hey what's another $150 million dollars in state labor costs for Connecticut Taxpayers?  It is an election year isn't it?  And what better way for the Connecticut Democrat Party to maintain omnipotent one party rule and continue to destroy Connecticut's economy but to buy state government workers votes through this incredibly generous and bloated pay raise package that has been negotiated and blessed by multimillionaire Governor/Hedge Fund Owner Ned Lamont.  After all look how many state workers lost their jobs during the manufactured Covid-19 crisis?  Oh I forgot none.  After all look at how many  Connecticut businesses were forced to shut down and went bankrupt and or out of business during the manufactured Covid-19 crisis?  Thousands?  And lets not forget how many Connecticut Taxpayers lost their jobs and declared personal bankruptcy during the the manufactured Covid-19 crisis?  Thousands?  

Why can't the terms of this contract being public knowledge today?  Why is it secret?  What is being hidden to Connecticut Taxpayers?

And what will Connecticut Taxpayers get for these above average pay raises for 44,000 Connecticut government workers?  The state is still last or near last in most business categories with a constant anti business atmosphere of excessive rules, regulations, laws  and excessively high taxes.  Will these raises end the horrific conditions that Connecticut businesses must operate in with these same excessive rules, regulations, laws and excessively high taxes somehow being changed and somehow making the state more business friendly?  Will state government actually be responsive to the corruption and fraud that takes place on a daily basis in this same state government if they get these raises?  What will change if state government workers get these raises?  Does it mean that Connecticut Taxpayers must dig deeper to pay higher state taxes to support these same state workers especially when they retire with well above average state funded pensions and benefits?  Does it mean that Connecticut Taxpayers $62500 per person state debt tax will go up even higher since multimillionaire Governor/Hedge Fund Owner Ned Lamont wishes to bond over $1.4 billion dollars in new political pet projects over the next few years to help his political allies in Hartford?  Isn't the sky the limit when it comes to Connecticut Democrat Party's total disregard and disrespect for the Connecticut Taxpayer?  This salary raise package certainly leads one to believe that the Connecticut Taxpayer is garbage and the Connecticut State Employee and its unions can and will never do any wrong.  They have no incentives to show greater efficiencies or be customer friendly to the same Connecticut Taxpayers they serve.  What a farce.

Thus it is more of the same for the Connecticut Taxpayer.  Keep doing without especially with runaway Democrat Party induced inflation with obscene energy and food prices.  Keep doing without so that a small minority of Connecticut's population can keep enriching themselves and their power over the peon taxpayers of the state who are forced to serve them.  Shared sacrifice does not exist in Connecticut's government and has not existed for years now.  It is pathetic to see the years of inept Democrat Party rule bringing about now a total sense of hopelessness for the remaining Connecticut Taxpayers who are forced to pay for this theft of public resources.  

It seems to be a fact that state union labor agreements are one sided.  Connecticut Taxpayers have no say whatsoever in how their taxes are spent.  Nor will they ever will given the dictatorship that Connecticut has evolved into over the past 30 years.  What was once was a state of economic opportunity and growth is now a ghetto of failed economics, political corruption and a total insolence for the Connecticut Taxpayer.  And yes once again this is the record that the Connecticut Democrat Party is running for re election on in November.  And finally this is the record that they will lose by a landslide on Election Day 2022.  And yes it is 1776 again.  Free Connecticut.

Welcome To Connecticut The Third World State-Part 1

Welcome to Connecticut: The Third World State, Ned Lamont, Governor.  That should be the new sign at the entrances on the highways when one enters Connecticut.  Since the hysteria and lock down of the Covid-19 crisis of March coupled with the massive economic damage it has caused, more economic destruction has occurred this past week with a Tropical Storm.

At the peak of the storm almost one third of the state's residents lost power.   And for Eversource Energy customers their last month's bill showed in some cases a 50% increase in the bill due to several factors including less power being used, and a state mandate that all energy be renewable in several years.   Thus those customers got higher rates plus no service.  And it seems to be a regular pattern here in Connecticut as to when a storm hits.  Power is out for days and Connecticut continues to have some of the highest electric rates in the country.  Oh well that seems to be acceptable to our elected officials as the blame starts as soon as power is out.  Ned Lamont's attention is now taken off the profit driven Covid-19 crisis and he must somehow answer to the public during a hot spell as to why power take days to restore while condemning high electric rates that are a product of his party's legal legislation that has passed.  And with a totally inept Public Utilities Regulatory Authority that does nothing to monitor nor oversee the state's utility monopolies such as Eversource Energy.  Please remember that these utilities have massive lobbying groups in Hartford that help nurture their companies at the expense in my opinion of their paying customers.  But isn't that how a Third World State operates?   A ruling political elite in this case coupled with a do nothing highly paid state agency regulatory group and lobbyist influencing legislation.  What is better than that?   The costs of clean up for this storm will be enormous thus causing more economic havoc to the state.  Insurance losses and personal property losses will be high especially with spoiled food.  

I truly wonder if Connecticut's state government has any plans whatsoever for an emergency?  It really does not seem like it to me.  Whether it is a public health crisis with no apparent state Public Health Commissioner in charge except for a highly paid consulting group or now yet another storm that creates chaos to the state's residents and businesses with losses of electricity, phone and internet services, there is really no plan in an emergency.

And that is the way it in Connecticut: The Third World State.  Enough is enough.

Connecticut Can't Save Nor Stop Spending Taxpayers Money

Can Connecticut's State Government learn how to save money?  Can it stop spending Connecticut Taxpayer's Money?
This week we see a convicted former Whiting Forensic Hospital nurse who abused his patients is still receiving his $88,229 a year state pension while in prison.  Why is he still getting this pension?  Why must Connecticut Taxpayers pay for this?
This week we see that hundreds of Connecticut state employees may have filed for unemployment benefits illegally due to losses of part time and or side jobs.  These state employees are full time workers and are not eligible for unemployment benefits under state law.  Why was this allowed to happen in the first place and why did it take so long for auditors to find it out?  Connecticut's unemployment fund is once again broke thus the state must borrow money from the Federal government to keep it afloat.  Connecticut will then in turn issue a special tax on all businesses in the state to pay for this borrowing.  Connecticut has a 20-22% unemployment rate at this time of Ned Lamont's Executive Order of a continuing lock down due to the now fading Covid-19 virus.  Why can't Connecticut reopen fully?
This week we see that Ned Lamont wants to have airline passengers flying into Bradley Airport (which is subsidized by Connecticut Taxpayers) to quarantine for 14 days when here and to fill out forms stating where they are staying, what purpose, etc.  How much is this program going to cost Connecticut Taxpayers?   Who is going to run the program?  A new state agency?  Boston Consulting Group?  Will a Lamont family hedge fund invested company be given a no bid contract for its implementation or tracing?  How is this even legal?
We also see that Connecticut homeowners pay 20% more than New York and almost 50% more than Massachusetts in property taxes as a percentage of housing value while Connecticut home values have declined by roughly 10% over the past ten years.  Property taxes continue to go up here in the state year in and year out.  These were the results found by the Tax Foundation (taxfoundation.org)
It is obvious that Connecticut's government can not save nor stop spending Connecticut Taxpayers money.  And contrary to State Treasurer Shawn Wooden's claim that Connecticut residents are not fleeing out of state especially to Florida or other states, Connecticut Taxpayers and Businesses are fleeing the state year in and year out, Covid-19 or not.  Connecticut has both a spending and debt problem.  Connecticut still has over $145 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.   Connecticut State Government shows no fiscal restraint crisis or no crisis.  Connecticut State Government just relies on the failed tax and spend policies years in and years out to reach the mess we are in and continue to be in for the foreseeable future. 
Remember on Election Day this is the record that the Connecticut Democrat Party is running on.  Why would you vote Democrat?  
And why can't Connecticut stop spending Connecticut Taxpayer's Money?

Connecticut's Constant Pension Crisis

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

Why Is Food Taxed At All In Connecticut?

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

Connecticut's State Pension Crisis

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

Connecticut's New Unbalanced Budget

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

Connecticut's New Tax Reality-A Scene From The Future

As Connecticut leaps to a even more socialist/liberal tax and spend state with massive tolls and taxes with a rapidly rising debt load that becomes unsustainable let us look at a possible scenario in the not too distant future.
You are driving to work at your job that takes you on I-91 and I-95.  Because of your hours of employment you must drive during rush hours.  These rush hours due to the set up of the 53 tolling gallantries on all state roads encompass congestion pricing that charge commuters double the fares than off peak hours.  Your 42 mile round trip commute daily costs you an addition $40 a week to get to work due to the close proximity of the new tolls on the highway.  You have read that these tolls are going to be going up July 1 since the revenues that were expected to taken in from the tolls have fallen short of projections.  Connecticut has the highest cost per mile administrative fees in the country for road maintenance and now the highest cost per mile in toll administration in the country.
You stopped on the way home from work to pick up a few items from the grocery store.  You notice that prices have gone up in the store literally week to week.  The canned cat food that you paid 65 cents a can last week is now 72 cents a can.  The bottle of soda has gone up 15 cents for the bottle due to the new soda tax that was passed.  The store manager states to you that due to the tolls all costs of shipping goods has increased dramatically and the store has no choice but to increase their costs.  He also recommends stocking up on items since on July 1 a higher sales tax will go into effect and that will further increase costs.
When you get home that night you have received bills that shock you due to the increases in them.  Your electric bill due to the new one mill tax on each kilowatt hour you use has gone up roughly 12% since last month.  Your heating oil that was delivered yesterday cost you $28 more due to the new 14 cent per gallon heating oil tax on the 200 gallons that were delivered. The visit to vet for your cats now is being charged sales tax.
You get to work the next day after a nightmare morning commute to find out that two workers were let go due to the new $15 minimum wage bill that was passed.  The owner of your company states that he can no longer to afford to pay $600 a week plus the new .05% Family Leave tax plus all the other payroll taxes and unemployment taxes for both workers who just place items in boxes for delivery.  The costs of this new higher minimum wage have cut into the small profit margin he has thus beginning today, the owner will be forced to box the orders.  The owner says he will be looking at working 12 hours a day six days a week for himself to try to stay open and remain competitive in Connecticut.  He asks you to help with the orders if you have any free time during your work day.
A month passes and you and your wife are seeing that you will be spending $3000 more a year due to the higher taxes and tolls.  You also find out that the business you are working for is shutting down since he can no longer remain competitive due to the excessively high business and individual taxes in the state.  He thanks you for the 15 years you worked for him and can offer no severance package to you since he has run out of money due to these high taxes.
A few more months pass and you are still on unemployment compensation from the state.  Connecticut's unemployment rate has jumped dramatically in the past six months due to more businesses going bankrupt and or moving out of state.  You have sent out many resumes and applied for many minimum wage jobs just to try to get work.  You and your family have cut all expenses to the bare minimum to try to survive.   You are fast running out of money to pay the highest taxes in the country on a local and state level along with the highest costs in the country now for electricity, heating oil and food.
A state election is held in November that year and the Democrat Governor wins reelection by 3000 votes after weeks of counting and recounting the votes and the Democrats barely take the State House and Senate with a majority of only one in each case.  It is discovered in many House and Senate races that individuals were given wrong District ballots and were unable to in most cases vote for the candidate of their own choosing which was Republican.  In Bridgeport and New Haven polls remained open way past legal closing time and individuals who still were not registered to vote were allowed to vote.  Ballots in these two towns were found later discarded in dumpsters that had votes for Republican candidates.  Adding all these votes would have brought in a new fiscally conservative Republican Governor and under ticket along with majorities in both the House and Senate.  The election turns out to be a scam and your vote did not count.
When the dust settles and your unemployment has run you and your family decide to put your house up for sale.  You now take any single day employment you can find.  Your wife's employer states they will be closing at the end of the year thus you both decide to put your house up for sale and will move out of state.  You have been applying to companies in Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee and have had some promising results.  The realtor states it may take up to one year to sell your house since there are so many houses for sale.
Nine months later both you and your have accepted employment in South Carolina, your house finally sells in ten months at a price that you have lost about $15,000 on it due to property values plummeting in Connecticut along with your real estate commissions, closing costs and the new real estate sales tax that is in effect.  Your life savings is completely gone now.  You and your wife were four generations of Connecticut residents that are now finally gone and all your ties have been cut from the state.  You are starting new and will hopefully become economically prosperous in a low tax state that values legal citizens who are productive in their work and lives.
You and your family have escaped the socialist and liberal nightmare known as Connecticut. 
Connecticut's new tax reality.  This is a scene from the future.

Connecticut's New Tax and Spend Budget

Governor Ned Lamont's first budget was an extension of former Governor Malloy's budgets.
The budget increases spending and increases taxes.
There was not much new in his speech this week other than if includes his proposed toll plan taxes will increase over $2.4 billion dollars, $1 billion dollars in new and increased taxes along with at least $1.4 billion dollars in tolls.  This is on top of the $4 billion dollars plus in new and higher taxes that were enacted during the Malloy regime. 
In the Lamont budget the sales tax will be expanded to virtually anything and everything that one uses including vehicle trade ins (even though you paid sales tax already when you bought it new or used you will also pay when you trade it in), college textbooks, soda, plastic bags that you pack groceries in, and parking just to name a few.
Lamont is also is forcing some towns and cities to pay for a portion of teachers pensions costs.  For example in Wallingford the town loses over $1.8 million dollars in this category.  One will assume that for the towns that will lose money their property taxes will increase to offset this loss of funding.  These same towns and cities have no say in how teachers pensions are either negotiated and or structured. 
Tolls are an impending nightmare for Connecticut Taxpayers.  Now 50 tolling places will be installed throughout the state with congestion pricing impact rush hour traffic.  The costs of living in Connecticut will increase dramatically as the costs of tolls will be passed on to all consumer and business goods and services.  I wonder how our Governor with all of his supposed years of business experience would not think the cost of living would not go up from these tolls?  Also how do any of the studies come up with the actual revenue figures from these tolls?  How much per mile?  There are an excessive amount of questions with regards to tolls that are not being answered by our Governor.
However, Governor Lamont stated he was open to suggestions on the budget.
Here is a partial list of mine:
Cut state spending in the following areas. All newly appointed Commissioners would take a 10% cut in pay from the last Commissioner when appointed.  They would not have pensions.  Cut the non union workforce in these agencies by 5%.  (Most new Commissioners got massive raises from the old ones.)
Eliminate all longevity bonuses for state employees. 
Eliminate all non essential bonding for two years.  This would lower interest costs and improve the state bond ratings.
Privatize several state agencies including the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Connecticut with its new budget remains non business friendly and non taxpayer friendly.  It continues the irrational economic policies of Dan Malloy and enacts new burdens on both businesses and taxpayers  that will result in more economic stagnation for the state and more moves out of the state.  There is little economic logic in what we have been presented in this new yet old Lamont tax and spend budget.
By cutting spending and cutting taxes it would help stimulate Connecticut's dormant economy.  But instead the opposite occurs.  It is what we have come to expect from the Omnipotent Party Rule of the Connecticut Democrat Party.  Tax and spend.  Forever until Connecticut is bankrupt. 

Connecticut Democrats Love Affair With New And Higher Taxes

The Connecticut Democrat Party has a love affair with new and higher taxes.  In 2019 there seems to be an avalanche of new and higher tax measures being shoved down the throats of Connecticut Taxpayers. 
For instance tolls seem to be the new answer to Connecticut's horrific and non maintained road and bridge system.  The state taxes on fuel that we pay already do little to maintain these brutal roads and bridges.  Tolls like the state income tax is the new answer to all of the state's spending problems.  Unfortunately what the Connecticut Democrat Party is oblivious to is how this will dramatically increase the cost of living in the state.  The cost to transport any goods in and out of the state will go up as the costs of tolls will be passed along by companies to consumers.  The costs to commute to work will go up-will all employers reimburse their employees for these additional costs?  I highly doubt that however I know there will be massive exemptions written in the bill so that elected officials/family members of elected officials, etc. will be exempt from the tolls.  I am also confident that tolls paid (?) will be added to House and Senate members expense accounts and in adding to their pension estimates. 
Another example is a statewide property tax on motor vehicles that rewards the politically corrupted and economically inept cities of our state.  Property taxes on personal vehicles will some how be paid to the state and then those monies redistributed to the towns and cities.  Thus high tax cities such as Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven get rewarded with lower car taxes while low taxed towns such as Wallingford get to pay more.  Also included in this bill is a state wide one mill real estate tax on all property that also will be redistributed to these same cities.  Thus property taxes in Connecticut will increase.  One can conclude also that this one mill rate will go up each year as has the state income tax has gone up over the years as there is never enough revenue to spend in Hartford.
When you go grocery and or regular shopping you will either pay a tax on the plastic bags that you use and get from the store or they will be banned altogether.  This will increase the costs of shopping that have been increased already due to the tolls.  One will have to bring bags that consumers will have to buy in order to pack their groceries. 
There are other taxes being discussed along with new licensing and user fees that are talked about each year also.
The economic reality will be after all these new taxes and fees are enacted by the Connecticut Democrat Party there will no cuts in state spending.  Connecticut will still have $100 billion dollars or more in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  It will not take any actions about the excessive salaries, pensions and benefits that are paid to both state management and union workers.  It is the same stale economic story over and over again, year in and year out.
The Connecticut Democrat Party has a love affair with new and higher taxes.  They hate opposition to new and higher taxes.  Most importantly they love to see Connecticut Taxpayers suffer economically.
The Connecticut Democrat Party enjoys our state being last in all economic categories in the country so long as they can manipulate the state government to their political advantage for themselves, their families and friends.   Really that is all that matters in Connecticut.  And it has been like this since 1991.

Connecticut's New Government-Same Like The Old One?

Well Connecticut just got rid of Dan Malloy.  Now it has Ned Lamont as Governor.  There is really not much new in state government as far as Commissioners and appointees.  Nine Commissioners got to keep their jobs, 3 Democrat State Senators and 2 Democrat State Representatives got either Commissioner positions and or high paying state jobs.  New elections must be called for and paid for by Connecticut Taxpayers, they are all relatively safe Democrat seats thus there should be no change in the makeup or either the Senate or the House.  The Democrats control all aspects of state government with the Republican Party being somewhat insignificant at this time.  The Democrats hold the Senate by a 24 to 12 majority and the House by a 92 to 59 majority.  The Connecticut Democrat Party has become much more liberal and socialistic in nature while the Connecticut Republican Party has become somewhat insignificant and will probably be shut out of discussions, negotiations and any and all things that the House and Senate will vote on.  The Connecticut Democrat Party will push for a $15 minimum wage, legalized marijuana, paid medical and family leave, tolls and higher taxes.
Connecticut has a declining population, ranks last or near last in most business and economic categories and ranks as one of the highest taxes states in the country.  Connecticut still has yet to recover from the recession nor from the implementation of the state income tax.
Yet with all of this negative news Governor Lamont basically has recycled the same people and Democrat politicians to run the state.  Why?  I really do not have a good answer other than the Connecticut Democrats run the state and there is massive political nepotism supported by Connecticut Taxpayers who truly have no say in our state government.
2019 seems to be just like the last eight years of one party rule in Connecticut.  I anticipate tolls,  higher taxes, more state spending, more short and long term debt, and higher salaries, benefits and pensions for state union and management employees (as witnessed by some hefty increases in Commissioners salaries). 
This is really the best Governor Lamont could do so far?  Why couldn't he be different?
Connecticut's new government is just the old one.  I didn't expect anything different.

Goodbye 2018

Goodbye 2018.
Many former Connecticut Taxpayers said goodbye to Connecticut in 2018.
In 2019 many Connecticut Taxpayers will also say goodbye to Connecticut.
They will move out of state.
In 2019 Connecticut will see probably the same that it has seen since 1991 when the state income tax was enacted.
Connecticut Taxpayers will again see higher taxes.
Connecticut Taxpayers will again see more budget deficits.
Connecticut Taxpayers will again see more state union and state management employees receive raises in their salaries, benefits and pensions.
Connecticut Taxpayers will again see more short and long term debt.
Connecticut Taxpayers will see total short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities exceed $100 billion dollars over the next year.
Connecticut Taxpayers will again see higher property taxes.
Connecticut Taxpayers will again see more businesses moving out of state.
Connecticut Taxpayers will again see less jobs in the state due to the increase to $15 for the minimum wage.
Connecticut Taxpayers will see tolls.
And once again a failed Connecticut Democrat Party liberal economic tax and spend agenda will be forced upon Connecticut Taxpayers with little discussion or transparency or challenge from the Connecticut Republican party.
1991.
2019.
The same story and the same failed results-different years thanks to the Connecticut Democrat Party.
Once again it is time to take back Connecticut. 
It is no different than it was in 1991.
We are still waiting for change.

Connecticut's State Government Constant Problem

Connecticut's state government has a constant problem.
It never has enough money to spend.  It always runs deficits.
It has close to $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.
Since the state income tax was passed in 1991 state spending has increased in excess of 300 percent with no end in sight.
State taxes had tripled in some cases since 1991.
Connecticut ranks near last or last in ,many economic and business categories since that time.
Connecticut really still has yet to recover from the last recession.
And there is no end in sight as to any plans to address spending and or the massive debt the state has.
The state has lost a great deal of population since 1991 and also a great deal of legal taxpayers in that time also.
It is one of the few states that has a net migration of population out of the state.
Jobs are difficult to come by in the state since there are high taxes and a poor transportation infrastructure.  The poor transportation infrastructure will get even more costly as tolls in 82 different locations will implemented by the omnipotent Connecticut Democrat Party who controls all parts of our state government.
Taxes are likely to be raised once again since the next four years will bring more political patronage spending and more debt.
Thus, Connecticut's state government has a constant problem.
It never has enough money to spend.  It always runs deficits.
And once again there are no solutions offered by the party that is always in power and has failed for many years now to resolve the economic issues we face.
May Connecticut Rest in Peace. 

What Is The Connecticut Democrat Party's Plan For The Future?

What is the Connecticut Democrat Party's plan for the future of the state?  If we are to understand the answer to this question it will probably be more the same that we have seen for the past eight long and hard years of Democrat rule.
We will see new and higher taxes.
We will see tolls on many of the roads in the state.
We will see higher salaries, benefits and pensions for both state union and management workers.
We will see increased corporate welfare for businesses that are willing to pay for play using Connecticut taxpayers monies.
We will see Connecticut's big bankrupt cities like Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford have their state funding increased along having most of their debt be picked up by Connecticut taxpayers.
We will see more people move out of state to continue the enormous net migration out of Connecticut.
We will see more and new levels of corruption in our state government.
These visions are real if we are to once again vote into office one party rule and allow the Connecticut Democrat Party to control all levels and divisions of our state government.  The candidates that the Connecticut Democrat Party have decided to run are weak and are controlled by the party machine.  There are no new thoughts other than the same mantra of higher taxes, higher spending and more debt will solve all of Connecticut's problems.
We all now it hasn't and never will solve our problems.
It is time to take back Connecticut in November before it is too late.
It is time to end one party rule.
Vote Republican this November.

The Connecticut Democrat Party's Delusional State Economy

Are the remaining Connecticut Taxpayers better off than they were in 2014?  2010?  According to Dan Malloy and the Connecticut Democrat Party you are supposedly better off than you were in those years and thus you must vote to keep the status quo of omnipotent one party rule continuing in Connecticut by electing Democrats this November.  Malloy has stated that the state is in much better shape today than when he took office in 2011.  Malloy and his fellow Democrats are delusional since the state has lost a massive amount of economic ground with enormous tax increases along with chronic budget deficits with close to $80 to $100 billion dollars of short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities especially in state pensions.   Connecticut continues to rank near bottom in all economic categories in the country.  Malloy's approval numbers are horrific. Connecticut thanks to the Democrat Party and its omnipotent one party rule for years is in poor economic health and lacks a viable plan to address its massive debt.  Instead Connecticut works for its ruling elite cutting deals for jobs and bonds for its political pay offs.  How any Democrat running for office can state that Connecticut is on the right economic track is a delusional thought.  Dan Malloy and the Connecticut Democrat Party want you to believe that high taxes, a lack of job creation, political pay to play schemes, corporate welfare, political patronage jobs to get a full state pension after ten years of work and never ending union agreements are the norm. It is the way the Connecticut economy works for them and to their advanatge.  And Connecticut taxpayers should continue to pay for it without debate, without question and most importantly without resistance.
Economic resistance in the form of voting against all Connecticut Democrat candidates running for both state and national office should be unquestioned.  Yet the biased state media continues to work in step with the Connecticut Democrat Party in order to maintain this delusional economic status quo that has hurt our state for years to come by never questioning these policies or illegal actions. 
What will happen in November?  Voters are supposed to believe biased polls which favor Connecticut Democrats showing somehow they are in the lead in all state races.  Did the polls show President Trump leading?   Connecticut voters need to turn out in massive numbers in a few weeks and vote out of office this tired one party rule that has brought Connecticut to its economic knees.  The Connecticut Democrat Party's economic programs and policies do not work and have not worked for years now.  They do not deserve reelection.  We need an economic change in Connecticut.  Much lower taxes, economically friendly business policies and much lower and more efficient state spending is essential in 2019.  The delusional state economy that we have today must end.  It is time to take back Connecticut in 2018 by voting into office Republican candidates at all levels of government.

Connecticut's Poor Economic News Continues

While the Connecticut Democrat candidates for both state and national office continue to condemn President Trump and all things Republican in their campaigns, the states poor economic news rolls on.  The latest two economic issues that should be at the forefront of this election but are not include the constant Connecticut budget deficit which is now estimated at $595 million dollars and that Connecticut has only recovered 81% of its jobs lost since the 2007-08 recession which is now one of the lowest recovery rates in the country.
This news should scare any elected Democrat elected official but somehow is it ignored by both them and the media.  It should front page news but it isn't.  The voters of Connecticut are force fed the Democrat line of all of what President Trump is doing is wrong and what the Connecticut Democrats have been doing has made Connecticut a Utopia.
The continuing issues of a budget deficit will be a major problem for the upcoming fiscal year.  Connecticut is broke.  Its short and long term debt and unfunded liabilities are between $60 and $80 billion dollars.  This is an enormous sum for a state as small as Connecticut.  Years of continual Democrat rule has led our state to the path of economic ruin.
But who cares?  Not the media nor the Connecticut Democrat Party.  This election should focus on the state economy and its governments overspending problem.  It is not.  It is focused on President Trump and the dynamic national economy (that is not evident at all in Connecticut), transgender bathrooms and illegal immigrants supposed Connecticut Constitutional rights.  These are Connecticut's most important issues?  Are these issues going to help create non Connecticut Taxpayers funded jobs (unlike Connecticut Taxpayers funded jobs for Bob's Stores, Jackson Labs, etc.)?  Are these issues an actual plan to pay off $60 to $80 billion dollars of short and long term debt along funding the exorbitant long term pension liabilities that have been promised to state workers who in some cases do not even contribute to their pensions?
No the Connecticut election of 2018 is more of the same stale rhetoric and avoidance of real economic issues by the Connecticut Democrat Party.  And it is time for the Connecticut Republican Party to develop a clear economic plan and path to help create an economic recovery for 2019 so that the state can share in the current national economic expansion and prosperity that has been nurtured and enriched by President Trump and his economic policies. 
How much longer do Connecticut Taxpayers have to be governed by the failed economic policies of the Connecticut Democrat Party?  The time to the election becomes shorter each day.  It is time to take back Connecticut in 2018.

Connecticut: A Politicians Adult Playground

When I was younger I enjoyed playing in our school's playground.  The swings, the ball fields, the climbing bars and see saws were a great source of fun and good memories growing up in the 1960's.  Back then we did not have to check our messages on our phones, we could actually grow and learn, we did not have to hear political correctness in the classroom, we could learn to think, rationalize and reason and most importantly actually learn new ideas, concepts, and knowledge.  Skills to live in society.
In 2018 children grow up in a vastly different environment with strict controls and schedules.
Why do I bring this up in a political opinion column?  For the simple reason I can compare the playground of my youth to the carefree playground that is called Connecticut state government that is financed by you and I-Connecticut Taxpayers.
Connecticut Taxpayers foot the bill for the Connecticut politicians adult playground that is enjoyed by our elected officials, state union and management workers, state retirees along with the special interest groups that receive free taxpayers monies for their businesses.  This Connecticut adult playground is tough to get invited into as one must pay to play in it through a vast web of political donations, correct connections to employment (even though the person does not the qualifications for the job), special lobbying of elected officials with proper contributions to those same elected officials,  and secret agreements between state officials, agencies, state unions and certain hand chosen businesses that can not be viewed or questioned by Connecticut Taxpayers.
This Connecticut adult playground is free of worry or care as the only concern for many of Connecticut's elected officials is to control the press and get reelected to office for as long as possible.  This Connecticut adult playground is a place where no new or higher tax is cared about as in the playground only new and higher taxes are good and tax cuts and tax reform are bad.  In this Connecticut adult playground no laws exist and any law can be broken or manipulated to the benefit of the elected official, state official or state worker.  Laws only exist for Connecticut Taxpayers who foot the bill for this Connecticut adult playground.  This Connecticut adult playground has been nurtured and developed for years now with the Connecticut State Income Tax leading the way in its construction. 
This Connecticut adult playground has helped to bankrupt Connecticut both financially and morally.  Connecticut's short and long term debt along with its unfunded liabilities is between $60 and $80 billion dollars. Connecticut's debt to Gross Domestic Product ratio is at a staggering 20% and growing.  Is there possibly a plan to address this in the upcoming election?
Connecticut's current economic path is unsustainable and ready to collapse under this unyielding debt.   Connecticut will soon have junk bond status in the future and be unable to borrow monies to run this Connecticut adult playground.
Connecticut Taxpayers are tired of paying for this economic debacle.  This Connecticut adult playground needs to be destroyed.  Eliminated in 2018.

Connecticut Taxpayers-Are You Better Off In 2018 Than You Were In 2014? 2010? 1990?

If you are a Connecticut Taxpayer are better off in 2018 than you were in 2014? 2010?  How about 1990?
Think about it.  Are you paying more or less taxes?  Have you had to change jobs since your former employer either closed or moved out of state?  Has your local property taxes increased in that time frame?  Have you wondered why the Connecticut state budget has grown to $21 billion dollars a year from $7 billion dollars a year in 1990 while population has dropped by 10%, an approximate 67% increase in spending?  Have you wondered why Connecticut's short and long term debt and unfunded liabilities is now $60 to $80 billion dollars or four times the annual budget of the state?  Have you wondered why a state judge can retire at 70% of their pay for the rest of their lives after only three years of service?  In your current job are you guaranteed medical benefits for life when you retire?  Do you have a pension at your job?  If you do are you going to receive it by not contributing one penny to it in your work career?  Also if you have a pension are you able to include overtime worked and mileage reimbursement expenses to its calculation like Connecticut state workers can in some cases?  If you are a legal citizen of Connecticut are your children able to get financial aid attending a state community college or university like "Dreamer" students can?  If you own a business in Connecticut has the amount of regulations on your business increased since 2014 or 2010?  If you own a home in Connecticut and do not have a crumbling foundation do you want to pay a new $12 tax on your homeowners policy to supposedly correct this issue that you had no role in?  Do you like paying one of the highest levels of taxes in the country while the state ranks near last in economic growth and business friendliness?
Again if you are a Connecticut Taxpayer are better off in 2018 than you were in 2014? 2010?  How about 1990?
I know I am not and many of my family, friends and business owners are not.
This is the record that the Connecticut Democrat Party is running on in November.  They have lied for years now to Connecticut Taxpayers.  And Connecticut is in an economic mess.  They have no solutions other than tax and spend to protect their elite ruling political class.  The Connecticut Democrat Party owns the economy.  And they have no solutions whatsoever.
Remember this when you vote in November.  

Connecticut's Shrinking Economy: Now #49 Out Of 50 States.

It seems that there is constant news about how poor Connecticut's economy is and how it has not recovered since the last recession.  Recessions come in cycles.  The last recession was in 2008 and since that time Connecticut according to United States Bureau of Economic Analysis has only regained roughly 80% of the jobs it has lost while the country as a whole has more than doubled the jobs it has lost since then.  Connecticut now ranks #49 out of 50 states in economic growth dropping from #32 in 2016.  Connecticut's economy has shrunk to its lowest levels since 2004 a regression of enormous proportions.  This means that Connecticut is losing both businesses and citizens at a rapid level.  It is also means that the eight years of the Democrat leadership of Governor Malloy and a Democrat led State House and Senate have failed miserably in their economic programs.  It also means that the eight years of the Democrat leadership of Governor Malloy and a Democrat led State House and Senate increased taxes and expanded tax programs have failed miserably.  The Democrats who are running for reelection are quick to blame the Weicker/Rowland/Rell administrations.  Some Democrats blame the minority Republicans in the House and Senate for not increasing taxes enough. 
Yet the past eight long years in Hartford should prove to any Connecticut voter how poorly managed the economy has been run by the Connecticut Democrat Party.  Yet the Democrats continue to deny that anything is wrong.  They continue to argue for new and higher taxes.  They continue to nurture their brand of political nepotism with tremendous salaries, benefits and pensions for both union and management state workers.  This is the record they are running on in 2018.  The state media continues to embrace their failed policies in their reporting of the upcoming election by focusing upon the supposed "faults" of the Republican candidates.  I read little about any "faults" of the Democrat candidates including their convicted felon who is running for Governor.
Thus 2018 remains a critical election in Connecticut's history.  It could be an election that the economically illiterate Connecticut Democrat Party loses their majorities in the House and Senate.  It could be an election that the state Republican party loses some of their RINOS and become somewhat more fiscally and socially conservative.   It could be an election that we have a Republican Governor elected.  There are a great deal of unknowns this November.  One thing that is known is that Connecticut's economy is in a downward spiral.  Connecticut's economy has not been helped through the giveaway of Connecticut Taxpayer's monies through the Department of Economic and Community Development.  We see now the misuse and lack of record keeping for jobs and loan repayments in this agency.  And we also see that nothing whatsoever is being done at Department of Economic and Community Development to rectify it.
Connecticut's economy is on life support.  Connecticut's economy is damaged and broken.  Connecticut's state government tax and spend policies are economically unsustainable.  They are the direct cause of why businesses and citizens are moving out of Connecticut daily for the past eight years.  Yet many of our elected officials just do not understand it.  And the ultra liberal wing of the Connecticut Democrat Party wants even more state spending and more taxes. 
Connecticut is an economic crisis created by years of Democrat Party rule which has increased taxes to unsustainable levels.  Connecticut can only be saved if it is willing to cut taxes and spending.  Connecticut's swamp really needs to be drained this November to survive.