Connecticut’s New Democrat Party Truck Toll Tax. Welcome To Higher Prices For Everything.

 

I wonder if Connecticut Taxpayers understand that the Connecticut Democrat Party loves taxes.  If they could every aspect of Connecticut Taxpayer’s lives would be taxed, from miles driven in their personal and business vehicles along with the air they breathe.  From every time they flush their toilets to every morsel of food they eat in order to survive in this economic wasteland of a state.

Our Legislature (whether sober or not) satisfied our Executive Order Governor by passing yet another transportation toll tax this time on our trucking industry.  

Part of the House Bill 6688 summary is quoted below:

“Beginning January 1, 2023, this bill imposes a highway use tax (HUT) on every “carrier” for the privilege of operating, or causing to be operated, certain heavy, multi-unit motor vehicles on any highway (i.e., public road) in the state. The HUT is calculated based on a vehicle’s weight and the number of miles driven in the state. The bill establishes per-mile tax rates that increase based on vehicle gross weight, ranging from (1) 2.5 cents per mile for vehicles weighing 26,000-28,000 pounds (lbs.) to (2) 17.5 cents per mile for vehicles weighing more than 80,000 lbs. Revenue from the tax is directed to the Special Transportation Fund (STF) (see BACKGROUND). Under the bill, carriers must file returns and remit the tax to the Department of Revenue Services (DRS) on a monthly basis. The bill requires carriers to obtain HUT permits from DRS and establishes procedures for suspending or revoking them. It also applies to the HUT various collection, enforcement, and appeals process provisions that apply to other taxes under existing law. The bill authorizes the DRS commissioner to adopt implementing regulations for the HUT and prohibits tax credits from being applied against the HUT. *House Amendment “B” exempts certain motor vehicles transporting milk.”

My question to the Connecticut Democrat Party is who is actually going to pay this toll tax?  What does the “Special Transportation Fund” do for Connecticut Taxpayers?  What makes the fund “Special”?  Does the Connecticut Democrat Party think that the trucking industry will just eat this toll tax and not pass it on to consumers through much higher costs for all the products that are delivered in the state?  Does the Connecticut Democrat Party understand the amount of products that come into the state are by trucks of these sizes?  Do they think our state economy is self-sufficient and does not need to have anything shipped into the state?  Why in the middle of an economic recession would they want to raise prices for all consumers in the state?

We as Connecticut Taxpayer’s will never get any answers to these questions.  The Connecticut Democrat Party loves to tax anything and everything in our state.  This new truck toll tax will down the road be argued for all cars in the state (with plenty of exemptions written for Connecticut Democrat Party members and their donors to their party) since cars will probably be made a scapegoat for “damage” made to state roads.  The same state roads that we see hayfields growing on the side of them since the grass seems only to be cut once a season.  

Maybe the trucking industry will teach the Connecticut Democrat Party a lesson and boycott delivering to the state.  Maybe the Connecticut Democrat Party will tell Connecticut Taxpayers to grow their own food like they do in Venezuela.  So we won’t be dependent on trucks.  

We can really make Connecticut like a Third World Nation/Banana Republic that Ned Lamont, the state run media and the Connecticut Democrat Party so desperately want to have and control for their personal financial gains and power.  Welcome to much higher prices for everything coming very soon. Thanks to our Supreme Rulers in Hartford, the Connecticut Democrat Party.

More Connecticut Taxes-More,More,More

More Connecticut Taxes.
More, more, more.
It is a consistent theme in Connecticut.
The Connecticut Democrat Party likes to raise taxes since 1991.  They have been successful in raising them year in and year out.
The Connecticut Democrat Party likes to spend money for their political ruling class to keep them in power forever.
The Connecticut Democrat Party is not concerned in the least with the $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities the state currently has.
The Connecticut Democrat Party is not concerned at all with raising the minimum wage which will in effect force more businesses out of Connecticut.
The Connecticut Democrat Party does not worry about the costs of state employee union and management salaries, benefits and pensions.
The Connecticut Democrat Party are above rules and laws that govern our state-laws are meant to be broken and disregarded by them especially when election time comes.
More Connecticut Taxes.
More, more, more.
It is a consistent theme in Connecticut.
Ned Lamont in his brief time in office has also shown is a true  and loyal member of the Connecticut Democrat Party by lying during his campaign and his lack of decision making as Governor.
Ned Lamont obviously felt by investing $50 million dollars plus of his own money in all of the elections he has run he is entitled to do whatever he wants and the legal Connecticut voter and taxpayer be damned.
This entire legislative session could have been about cutting spending, cutting taxes, addressing the $100 billion dollar debt crisis and reforming state employee union and management salaries, benefits and pensions.  This was not even looked at.  Instead it was the chronic theme and new, higher taxes along with tolls will once again solve Connecticut's issues.
It doesn't and has not for years.
More Connecticut Taxes.
More, more, more.
Start voting with your feet-there are many other states better run than the oppressive and omnipotent one party rule of what was used to be "The Constitution State".   RIP Connecticut.

Another Connecticut Tax For Drivers-Another Connecticut Double Taxation

Connecticut Democrats in their quest to tax any conceivable economically productive activity to obtain tax revenue are looking at a proposal to tax vehicles when you trade them in when purchasing a new vehicle.  Thus when you purchase a new or used vehicle in Connecticut you pay a 6.35% sales tax and now when you sell and trade in your vehicle you will pay again sales tax.  Thus another double taxation for Connecticut Taxpayers.   The purpose of this tax is to raise depending on the analysis $250 to $300 million dollars in new tax revenue.  The revenue will be used obviously to increase spending on state management and union salaries, benefits and pensions.  An example of this increase was seen this past week when an 11% pay increase was voted in for all newly unionized tax attorneys that were formerly managers who work for the State Attorney Generals Office.  Another example of where this revenue might go is towards the pay increases that were received by all of the newly appointed State Commissioners.  Yet another example of where this new revenue may go is to the State Union employees and their upcoming longevity payments on July 1. 
The costs of this new car tax will make drivers think twice on trading in their vehicles and will probably add anywhere from $635 to $2000 on the costs of purchasing a new vehicle in the state.  It will in both the short and long run decrease car and truck sales in the state while further increasing the costs of driving in Connecticut which are already influenced by high gasoline taxes, property taxes on the vehicles you own and the possibility of one of the highest amount of toils and toll rates in the country.
All this while Connecticut continues to remain at the bottom or last in all economic categories in the country with net migration and loss of population on a yearly basis.  All this while Connecticut has $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  All this while there has been no conversation in the state legislature to cut spending of any sort this session.
Thus we will see yet another Connecticut tax for drivers that is yet another Connecticut double taxation.  All this while Connecticut falls further into a never ending cycle of an economic recession fast approaching an economic depression.

The Double Taxation Of Tolls

Tolls create a double taxation for Connecticut Taxpayers and businesses.  Toll taxes will only be passed on to consumers who are already paying toll taxes.
Here is an example.  A heating oil company must deliver oil to its customers.  For a heating oil company located in Meriden they must drive to the storage areas of New Haven to obtain their heating oil wholesale.  The drive to New Haven will entail them driving on I-91 and possibly I-95 depending on what exit they use to pick up the oil.  The tolls round trip for this may range from $4 to $8 depending upon time of day and what the state will actually charge for the tolls.  If this company must pick up heating oil on an average of 500 times per year this will increase their costs by $2000 to $4000 per year.  The heating oil in some cases will have to be transferred to other trucks and then sent out for delivery.  Based on scheduling and the needs of its customers the heating oil company will then route its truck or trucks to deliver their product.  Tolls because of their locations will be encountered by the heating oil company delivering to their customers.  Based on the number of deliveries this now adds an additional $2000 to their costs yearly depending upon time of day and what the state will actually charge for the tolls.  Taking a high end figure the heating oil company now has an additional $6000 in new costs yearly in the form of the toll taxes that have been implemented.
The heating oil company also must add an additional sales tax to the cost of their deliveries which is 6.35% that is passed to their customers due to this new tax.  The costs of tolls adds an additional five cents per gallon to the price of the heating oil.  Also the state has passed a "green tax" of roughly ten cents a gallon to heating oil to penalize them for supposedly being a non clean fuel.
The customer comes home from work from his or her job.  Their commute from Meriden to Milford now costs them an additional $20 a week or $80 per month due to the toll tax they must now pay.  They have received the bill for their heating oil delivery of 200 gallons.  Last month before the tolls and new taxes on heating oil they paid $2 a gallon or $400 for 200 gallons.  This delivery cost them $457.31, 200 gallons at $2.15 per gallon/$430 for the heating oil plus $27.31 for state sales tax on the bill.  Because of the supply and demand for heating oil the prices will fluctuate.  The customer now must come up with an additional $57.31 per month for the heating oil.  They also must come up with an additional $80 per month for the costs of the tolls.  The customer will not be getting a raise this year either due to the additional state taxes that the business they work for has to pay.
The customer must now cut costs a minimum of $137.31 per month due to the increased costs of tolls and heating oil.  However the costs at the grocery have increased dramatically also due to the new toll tax as all shipments to Connecticut have gone up with some trucking companies refusing to deliver to Connecticut due to its high taxes and tolls and also some trucking companies in the state have gone out of business since they can not make a profit here any more due to the high tolls and taxes.
The customer must now figure out a way to cut back to pay what they estimate is the additional 25% more they are paying at the grocery stores weekly for their food.  The customer figures now they have to come up with an additional $400 a month more between the toll tax and higher costs for all consumer goods they must purchase to live here in Connecticut.  They have no alternative but to eliminate their 401K contributions at work.  They have no alternative to lower their thermostats in their houses to try to save on heating oil.  They no longer spend any money on any form of entertainment or eating out.
After a year of tolls and increased prices Connecticut's economy is in a massive recession with huge budget deficits since toll revenues are not coming in at what was estimated and most non discretionary consumer spending has stopped thus lowering state sales tax revenue.  The Connecticut Democrat Party thus decides to raise tolls even higher and all other taxes even higher to make up for the shortfalls.  By the way the rest of New England is experiencing economic expansion and prosperity at this same time due to its lower taxes.
The economic example that I have described will become economic reality if toll taxes are passed.  Tolls are a form of double taxation. I urge you to contact your State Senators and State Representatives to express your concerns and opposition to tolls in Connecticut.  No tolls are needed and will damage even more a damaged state economy.  Enough is enough.

Connecticut: No Tolls Today, No Tolls Tomorrow, No Tolls Ever

No tolls.
Not today, not tomorrow nor ever in Connecticut.
The Connecticut Democrat Party is trying to manipulate the debate on tolls.  But in my opinion they are losing.  The reason is that there is a massive amount of legal Connecticut Taxpayers who see the scam that these new tolls are and will become.
The new tolls program has no transparency.  Trying to get any information on them is limited and not readily given out to the public.  We are just told that they are needed, shut up and accept them.  Just like the state income tax in 1991.
The new tolls are needed to provide $100 billion dollars in transportation spending according to Governor Lamont.  Where does he develop this figure from?  What projects are being added and or repaired?  How many years will it take to achieve $100 billion dollars in toll revenue after expenses?  Ten years? Thirty years?  100 years?  Doesn't Connecticut already have $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities?  Is that economic issue going to be addressed or does it now mean we will have $200 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities?
The new tolls will cost how much to implement?  Connecticut already is at the top in the country for administrative costs to maintain our crumbling road and bridge system thus I will assume this will be the same for the costs of tolls.
The new tolls will cost Connecticut drivers how much per mile?  This figure changes daily it seems.  Will there be congestion tolling?  At what times?  What roads?  With 53 plus tolls being proposed it seems to me there will be massive shifts of costs everywhere and at all times while driving.  Thus you will never know how much it will cost to drive.
 Connecticut already has a massive amount of taxes that Connecticut drivers pay already.  A secret 8.1% gross earnings tax on fuel which equals roughly 18.8-cents per gallon of tax, along with a 25- cent gallon tax equals 43.8-cents per gallon of taxes that drivers pay for each gallon of gas they buy. The 25-cent per gallon tax alone takes in over $505 million dollars in revenue for the state.  Then add all the other state taxes one pays for motor oils, tires and maintenance of their vehicles and you have an enormous cost to operate a vehicle in Connecticut.
Tolls if implemented will only go up rapidly and often.  Bridges and roads will not be repaired.  Toll money will be funneled somewhere in the non-transparent spending schemes of the Connecticut Democrat Party.  The lies will begin just as they did for the state income tax when that was seen as an epic economic failure contributing to the economic downfall of Connecticut.  It is logical to assume that the Connecticut state government has massive spending problems.  Tolls will not solve it.  Cut spending dramatically on management and union salaries, benefits and pensions.  Cut all state agencies budgets by 10 to 15%.  Have these supposedly exceptional Commissioners find a way to save Connecticut Taxpayers monies.  This all falls on deaf ears.
No tolls today, no tolls tomorrow and no tolls ever.

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 Liberals Fascination With Tolls

Connecticut's liberals and progressives have a fascination with tolls.  Just as they had a fascination and made in reality Connecticut's progressive state income tax.  For those who can remember Governor Weicker shoved down Connecticut Taxpayers throats a progressive state income tax in 1991 that was supposed to solve Connecticut's fiscal problems.  It did not solve any problems just increased by massive amounts Connecticut's debt through much higher salaries, benefits and pensions for both state union and management workers.
Thus tolls are becoming a forgone conclusion as a new tax on Connecticut Taxpayers in the amount of $500 to $700 million dollars more to drive per year in the state on our horrific and outdated road system.  Greenwich Democrat Senator Alexandra Bergstein has filed Proposed Bill No.102 which authorizes the Department of Transportation to establish tolls in the state.  This vague bill will allow the spigot of new tax revenue to flow freely with what I feel with be a massive amount of tolls on all the roads in state.  I am also skeptical that any of the money will be used to refurbish Connecticut's decrepit bridges and roads even with the new Transportation lock box (this money can only be used by the DOT).  Instead we will now have a Toll bureaucracy with new high paid union and management jobs that will erode a great deal of the revenue taken in.  And watch the lobbying efforts by the politically connected to be exempted from the tolls.
Millions of dollars were spent spent on three political studies on tolls that have suggested that all of the states roads have tolls - 82 different locations in our small state.  The reasoning behind this is get more revenue thus all the studies concluded that over $1 billion dollars in new revenue will be achieved by tolls.  What happens if it doesn't?  Do the rate of tolls increase even more?  Also there is no mention whatsoever of the economic impact the tolls will have on Connecticut Taxpayers and the massive increases in the costs of products, services and the general increase in the cost to live in the state.
Connecticut's liberals and progressives enjoy punishing Connecticut Taxpayers through new taxes.  After all the two largest tax increases in Connecticut's history in the past six years did nothing to alleviate Connecticut's massive budget deficits and or $80 to $100 billion dollars plus of short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities it has.  Tolls will add more fuel to the economic recession Connecticut seems to always be in.  And they will do little to create a more robust business climate to attract businesses to the state.
Connecticut's liberals and progressives could care less about Connecticut Taxpayers.  What is next a $14315 per person tax to have every Connecticut Taxpayer pay their supposed fair share of the Connecticut Debt?  Connecticut's liberals and progressives I am sure are working on this.
Tolls are yet another burden added to all of the other the tax burdens that Connecticut Taxpayers must deal with.  And they will further drive more citizens and businesses out of state.

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 Misguided Tolls

Tolls here.  Tolls there.  Tolls everywhere.  New union jobs here.  New union jobs there.  New union jobs everywhere.
A new liberal euphoria is spreading in Connecticut today with the new Lamont administration.  It can be summed up with yet a new tax being dictated to Connecticut Taxpayers.  It can be summed up as being equal to the second state income tax for Connecticut Taxpayers.
It is of course Tolls.
Tolls are a wonderful tax for Connecticut bureaucrats.  Studies have been made on tolls funded with Connecticut Taxpayers monies that are secret in nature.  It is difficult to gain information on them since the Connecticut Democrat Party does not wish to either discuss them nor disclose the amount of tolls they wish to place on the roads.  It was not an issue in the last campaign according to the state media. 
What is lost in the debate about tolls is both the economic impact it will have on the state increasing the cost of living dramatically for Connecticut Taxpayers and the amount of federal funds that will be lost because tolls have been implemented.  In my opinion there is no possible way tolls will either offset the amount of funding currently being given by the Federal Transit Administration which $703 million dollars (2017)) and or increase revenue for the state unless the state implements the highest toll roads in the country.  Someone in our state government needs to answer this question immediately before any more Connecticut Taxpayers monies are wasted on more "toll studies".  If tolls pass one will argue that Connecticut Taxpayers taxes have now increased by another $703 million dollars plus the costs to implement the tolls.
Naturally those politically connected will be exempt from the tolls through various amendments to the toll bill when enacted.  We as Connecticut Taxpayers will not be.
The new toll costs will be passed on by every business that must travel in the state through higher prices for their goods and services.  The cost of living in Connecticut will skyrocket again.  The working middle class will once again be forced to sacrifice to pay this new tax and their standard of living will become lower again thanks to these new tolls.
Thus in 2019 we will be entering our 28th year of the recession in Connecticut.  Connecticut will once again be last in all economic development and job creation categories, first in the country in state tax rates and highest local property taxes, first in the country with net population loss, and last in consumer confidence.
The new flight from Connecticut has started again.  Like it is has been for the past 28 years since 1991.

Connecticut Jobs? 30 Long Years And Counting Representative Mushinsky.

The Connecticut Democrat Party makes me laugh.  The state economy in their limited view of the world revolves around a political patronage system that protects the salaries, benefits and pensions of both state management and state union workers.  There is always a need for state employees even though the state is bankrupt with $60 to $80 billion dollars of short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.
I laughed even harder when I received via email Democrat 85th District State Representative Mary Mushinsky's grand announcement of all of the new jobs in Connecticut.  Quoted from her email of 7/23/18: "Connecticut’s economy is seeing significant improvement with jobs being added to the workforce and unemployment at an historic low. According to the state Department of Labor, more than 6,000 jobs were created in June and the Governor reports Connecticut has added more than12,000 jobs in two months. Private sector employment now stands at more than 111 percent, fully recovering from pre-recession levels.  I believe Connecticut’s economic growth is a direct result of business-friendly policies my colleagues and I have championed in the Legislature."
Apparently after 30 years Connecticut has regained all of the jobs it lost since the 1988 recession!  What an accomplishment!  Representative Mushinsky who has been in office since 1980 has voted for the state income income tax, tolls, the two highest tax increases in the state's history along with every other tax increase in the 38 years she has been in office.  As a reminder to Representative Mushinsky, Wallingford has lost one of its largest taxpayers, Bristol Myers Squibb since it is closing its operations in November of this year.  Many high paying jobs are lost from this closing, many families who work there are moving out of Wallingford thus depressing housing prices in town and a massive amount of local tax revenue will be lost.  Thus I can not see how these supposed "business-friendly policies my colleagues and I have championed in the Legislature." did in keeping Bristol Myers Squibb in Wallingford nor their jobs being replaced as the new owners of the building wish to tear down this 30 year old building and replace it with a warehouse.
I also do not see how Connecticut has "business-friendly policies" since the state ranks at or near bottom in many business categories such as taxes, starting a new business, regulatory environment, economic climate and growth prospects to name a few areas.  If these "business-friendly policies" were working Connecticut would not have taken over 30 years to regain jobs it lost so long ago.  And how much do these new 6,000 jobs pay?  Or are they entry level service related jobs that pay minimum wage?
The Connecticut Democrat Party's economic policies have failed the state miserably for the past 30 years.  Representative Mushinsky and her party's platform have contributed greatly to our state's economic decline.  We can not afford another two years of her tax and spend policies in Wallingford nor of the lies of the Connecticut Democrat Party that are force fed to us on a daily basis.  Wallingford Taxpayers and Connecticut Taxpayers have had enough.  Maybe just maybe we could get a new State Representative to actually represent taxpayers in the 85th District in November.

Yet Another Bad Week For Connecticut Taxpayers

It was another bad week for Connecticut Taxpayers thanks to the Connecticut Democrat Party.
First I wonder how many of my readers received a bonus lately.  I know I did not.  I know in the three jobs that I have I have not received a raise in three plus years at two of them and the other one it has been two years.  But for employees of Connecticut state labor unions it was payday with $2000 plus bonuses being paid out this week as part of the secret SEBAC agreement that was negotiated by Governor Malloy and the state unions.  This bonus agreement just cost Connecticut Taxpayers $80 million dollars at the beginning of the new fiscal year 2018-19.  The new fiscal year already has massive projections of major budget deficits in it.
The second piece of bad news for Connecticut Taxpayers is that they get to pay for a $10 million dollar political study for the implementation of tolls in the state.  Even though various toll bills have been voted down and testified against by many drivers and groups in the state, the Malloy regime wishes to force feed the tolls on the state as yet another tax cure all.  Tolls and the shear volume of them that the state wishes to install would make Connecticut one of the most heavily tolled set of roads in the country.  But then again when is any tax is disliked by the Connecticut Democrat Party?
The third item that engages good old Connecticut Democrat Party political patronage is the appointment of former former Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra to fill a vacancy on the state Workers’ Compensation Commission at a salary of a mere $160,000 per year all along with all of the fringe benefits that the job comes with.  Segarra lost his bid for re election in 2015 to hand appointed Malloy wonder boy candidate Luke Bronin who has done little if anything as Mayor of Hartford other than beg for money.  Segarra as you may remember thought he should have been appointed to a judicial nomination by the governor under a secret process after he lost his election.  That process included a closed-door vote in his favor by the state Judicial Selection Commission which was brought to light and subsequently led to his withdrawal for that position.  But don't worry political payoff came for Segarra through this political patronage taxpayer funded job a little later than what was promised by the Connecticut Democrat Party. 
Thus is was yet another bad week for Connecticut Taxpayers thanks to the Connecticut Democrat Party.  More money wasted to add to the $60 to $80 billion dollars of short and long term debt along with unfunded state liabilities that Connecticut Taxpayers owe.  And voters should remember these horrific, economically destructive and long years of omnipotent one party- the Connecticut Democrat Party rule on election day in November.  It is time to take back Connecticut in 2018.

The Economic Costs Of Connecticut's New Tolls

Information on new taxes and user fees is always at a premium for Connecticut Taxpayers.  Our elected officials love sending out Connecticut taxpayer funded newsletters and pamphlets before an election hailing all the great things they have done over the years.  For example, Democrat Representative Mary Mushinsky 85th District who has been in office 37 years stated two years ago in her brochure that the state budget was actually balanced (when it was not and has not been).  Mushinsky and her fellow Democrat legislators will vote in favor of new tolls for the state over the next few weeks with little details being given to the public.
The details of the new tolls (as much as I can could understand from the bill and its amendments) should shock any Connecticut Taxpayer.  Connecticut drivers would have one of the most expensive tolled roads in the country along with the highest costs of administering those tolls.  In other words it would be a Connecticut Democrat Party dream come true of this new tax that would cost Connecticut Taxpayer drivers anywhere from $2000 to $5000 a year for the privilege of driving in our state.  Any where from 72 to 112 tolls could be placed along all of Connecticut's roads at a cost of between 10 and 20 cents per mile.  Congestion pricing would take place during peak times.  In my own personal example of my daily commute from Wallingford to Milford if I were to take my normal routes of I91/95 or the Merritt Parkway would cost me around $6 a day for my round trip or an additional $30 a week, roughly $1500 a year.  When I drive to Gateway Community College in New Haven  to teach my weekly class 32 times a year that drive will cost me another $4 round trip or additional $128 a year bringing just my basic commute to work up to $1628 a year not counting any other driving my wife and I do during the year.  My rough estimate based on our current driving patterns will cost another $1000 a year or more bringing my costs of the new toll tax to over $2600 a year.  If I choose not to get an EZ pass and or an automated toll reader for my vehicles I will be charged 50% more for the same tolls.  I wonder how much we will paying to buy these units for our vehicles?
Any road service company in the state will pay thousands more to service vehicles and road calls.  Any transportation company will have massive costs added to their services thus raising the costs of what they charge companies in the state.  UPS and Fed Ex will be adding toll surcharges to their home and business deliveries.  The general cost of living and doing business in Connecticut will increase by around $1 billion dollars yearly.  This figure is derived by $600 million dollars or more in the new toll tax being paid for by Connecticut Taxpayer drivers and businesses along with approximately $400 million in those same costs being passed along through higher prices for all goods and services bought and used by consumers and businesses due to the new toll tax. Businesses will not be able to absorb this new toll tax due to all of the other taxes and high costs of doing business in this state which include high electric costs, high workers compensation costs, and high fuel taxes that they pay already  It will be a vicious cycle of inflation and a much higher cost of living in the state represented by this new toll tax.
The costs to run this program according to the CDM Smith report would be an astounding $157 million per year with installation costs being in the range of $450 to $600 million dollars (all work would have to be completed by union contractors thus increasing the costs of this project).  Who pays for this is unknown as I can not derive this from the bill.  
The next question will be where will all of this new toll tax money go to?  I do not think it will go to road and bridge improvement as other taxes set out to do the same (Connecticut's secret gross earnings tax on gasoline for example) even though this new toll tax is being viewed as the cure all for improving our decaying and deplorable road and bridge system in our state.  The costs to administer this new toll tax are enormous and have to be met before any new revenue is derived. However in my opinion there is no guarantee that any of this money will end up improving our road and bridge systems but will be diverted to the state's general fund slush fund as has been the norm for years now.
Connecticut is an economic decline due to its high taxes.  The new toll tax should further its economic decline even more so than before.  How much more can Connecticut Taxpayers absorb in the cost of living in this state?  How much more can Connecticut businesses absorb in the cost of doing business in this state?
Why would anyone want to vote for any Connecticut Democrat candidate in this upcoming election based on this toll tax?  Connecticut voters really need to understand the economic costs of keeping the Connecticut Democrat Party in power any longer when examining this new toll tax.  Connecticut's economic path is no longer economically sustainable.