Economic Freedom In Connecticut?

What happened to economic freedom in Connecticut?  In the past 28 years since the passage of a Utopian state income tax Connecticut has become an economic nightmare with high taxes, massive short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities, a net migration of citizens moving out of state and a corrupted state government.  The income tax has created a massive increase in state spending from roughly $7.7 billion dollars in 1991 to over $22 billion dollars in 2019.  And what has this increase in spending gotten for legal state residents?  Higher and more complex taxes with unlimited spending allowed for state management and union employees in wages, benefits and pensions?  The Connecticut State Income Tax since enacted has transferred in excess of $165 billion dollars from Connecticut Taxpayers to our state government and at the same time Connecticut's short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities is now at $100 billion dollars and rising.  Thus one could ask where did all the money go since 1991?  And more importantly how much economic freedom has been stripped from the state in this same time frame?
This past horrific legislative session brought about some of the most startling changes in our economic freedom for legal state residents and businesses.  From an out of economic equilibrium higher minimum wage that will eliminate jobs and raises prices on everything, a pyroll tax for family leave, the elimination and taxing of plastic grocery bags along with higher and new taxes on many items and services coupled with a strong desire for tolls continues the slow march to economic Armageddon that the Connecticut Democrat Party wants to inflict on the state.  All in the name of a progressive and socialist state government that ultimately wants to dictate to us what we can and can't have, what we can and can not do under the guise of false laws that these same Democrats exempt themselves from.
Thus what happened to economic freedom in Connecticut?
Where did all of Connecticut Taxpayers Monies go?
What has it been spent on?
Why do we have short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities of $100 billion dollars?
Economic freedom is an important concept to freedom in general.  In Connecticut it is apparent the Connecticut Democrat Party does not want you to have economic freedom.  Or freedom in general.  Sad but true.
It is time for economic freedom again in Connecticut.

Why Can't Connecticut's Government Cut Spending?

Why can't the government of Connecticut cut spending?  Why is the only alternatives offered each budget year are increases to the state budget, increases in both union and management state employees salaries, benefits and pensions along with new and raised taxes?  For 2019 it is no different.
This years events echoed the past eight long years of the Malloy regime.  The state has no budget deficit nor will any taxes be increased during the gubernatorial campaigns.  Immediately when the Democrats win control of all state offices through questionable election law violations, there is now a budget deficit, all new state commissioners that reek of political nepotism get pay increases and the new and increased taxes start to get listed.  The same tired arguments of the rich (however that is defined) don't ever pay enough in taxes, illegal immigrants deserve the same rights as legal Connecticut citizens and the Elitist Connecticut Democrat Party knows what good for you so shut and accept it.  This year's variation is that now tolls are the only way to repair a completely dysfunctional and not kept up highway, road and bridge system.  Yes implement tolls to add more fire to burning and failing Connecticut economy.
Debate is controlled and limited each legislative session.  The Elitist Connecticut Democrat Party tries to push through bills without any public hearing or allowing legislators to read and ask questions on bills.  Public debate is controlled as much as possible when it does not match the thought process of the Democrats.  Insults are hurled at the minority Republican legislators to put them in place and to try to silence them. 
This year the Connecticut General Assembly Conservative Caucus is fighting back questioning finally every move the Democrats are making.  An anti-toll group is fighting back against the economically irrational tolls proposal that is being shoved down the throats of Connecticut drivers.  Connecticut Taxpayers are angry and fighting back.
And nothing has been said about Connecticut's debt crisis.  A debt of $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.
The Connecticut Democrat Party has to be on the defensive as their failed economic policies and political nepotism have driven Connecticut into an economic sewer of no return.  Tax and spend policies have failed the state miserably yet Connecticut Taxpayers must accept them year in and year out.  In case the Connecticut Democrat Party hasn't noticed many businesses and citizens have moved out of state over the past eight years.  It is an economic fact that the Connecticut Democrat Party is in total denial of. 
Connecticut needs a change.  The Connecticut Democrat Party has failed the state for years now.  Tax and spend policies along with tolls will continue to damage the state economically.  But it will never be understood by those political elite who have manipulated Connecticut's economy to their advantage.  Why can't the government of Connecticut cut spending? And the vote with one's feet continues unabated thanks to the Connecticut Democrat Party.

What Would You Like To Be In A State Bill For Yourself And Or Your Family? UConn's Randy Edsall Got His-What About You?

Head UConn Football Coach Randy Edsall was given a gift by Democrat Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz by inserting secretly in a non related bill a provision to allow him to allow Edsall's son Corey to be the UConn Tight Ends Coach in the final minutes of the Legislative session.  This is against the law in the state as Connecticut has rules prohibiting the hiring of relatives to work together in state jobs and the state ethics commission ruled against the hiring also.
But really what control does any Connecticut government agency have when dealing with political nepotism and favoritism?  None as exhibited by the total disrespect that Democrat Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz has for rules and the law that govern those who work for the state of Connecticut.  Edsall's case whether or not you are a football fan is wrong.  If Mr. Edsall was worried about his son getting a job on his coaching staff he should have pursued a job at a private college that allowed that.  But again as we have seen so many times in our state a political ruling class dictates to Connecticut Taxpayers what they can or can not have.  Political nepotism rains supreme in Hartford led by Democrat Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz and his Democrat Party.
All Connecticut Taxpayers in my opinion should be given the same treatment as Edsall and his son.  What do you want to be inserted in a bill that will directly benefit you and your family?  Whatever it is you should send it to your State Representative and State Senator for inclusion in a bill in the next legislative session.  If all legal Connecticut Taxpayers did this maybe just maybe the rule and law of Connecticut would actually be enforced.
Connecticut Taxpayers have little if any trust in our state government.  Connecticut's state government as seen by yet another example of political nepotism in the Edsall/Aresimowicz case works for the benefit only of its union and management workers to enrich their salaries, benefits and pensions and for those of their families.  This current example is a sickening excess of our political system.  It is ethically wrong and against the law.  But that does not stop our valueless elected officials and their constant schemes to manipulate government to their advantage.
I and many others see Connecticut government as a decadent and perverted system that only serves the politically connected.  This decadent and perverted system needs to end now. 

Connecticut: Who Wants To Be Governor Of The Swamp?

One could argue that Connecticut's state government is a swamp.  And this Connecticut swamp needs to be drained immediately.  But will the upcoming election be an opportunity for the political swamp to be drained?
Connecticut's economy is in poor shape.  For the past eight years we have seen a mass migration out of Connecticut of taxpayers and businesses.  For the past eight years we have seen a massive increase in state taxes.  For the past eight years we have seen laws broken by the Connecticut Democrat Party with no repercussions.  For the past eight years we have seen a state constitutional spending cap be totally ignored by our elected officials.  For the past eight years we have seen pay to play Connecticut Taxpayer funded corporate welfare at its worse.  For the past eight years we have seen the state's short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities skyrocket to well over $80 billion dollars.  For the past eight years we have seen the state rank last or near last of all 50 states in all economic and business related categories.  
The Connecticut Taxpayer funded state government political swamp needs to be the issue in the November election.  Connecticut Taxpayers can disregard any messages being sent by the two Democrat candidates for Governor as they are incoherent, biased and economically irrational.  One could further argue as to why a convicted felon is being allowed to run for Governor?  One could also further argue that the Connecticut Democrat Party is void of ideas, void of ethics, void of economic plans, void of accomplishments and has created the mess that the state is in today.  That is the real record they are running on in November.  For them to try to make President Trump the issue this election is illogical, incoherent and a desperate attempt on their part to avoid their horrific record of governing for too many years now.  They are the swamp. 
Thus who really wants to be Governor?  The Democrat candidates and their stale ideas of more spending and more taxes will once again resolve Connecticut's economy is unjustifiable.  They have no new ideas and or programs.  The Connecticut Democrat Party only concern is protect their political nepotism and their political patronage spoils system that is funded by Connecticut Taxpayers.
The solution in November is not to elect or re-elect any Connecticut Democrat.  It is a simple yet complex solution.  Complex as many current Connecticut Democrat elected officials lose their seats in November they will be rewarded with new and high paying do nothing Connecticut Taxpayer funded state jobs before the end of the year.  Yet they will finally be out of office once and for all.  And the swamp known as Connecticut government will start to drain ever so slowly of its cancerous debris and garbage that has plagued our state for too many years now.
 

SEBAC 2017-Ten More Long Hard Years For Connecticut Taxpayers

It is sort of like a prison term for those remaining legal taxpaying citizens of Connecticut.  Ten more long hard years of unbalanced budgets, more and higher taxes, more and higher short and long term debt.  It is the SEBAC 2017 agreement which was negotiated behind closed doors between the omnipotent Connecticut SEBAC Labor Union and pro Union Democrat Governor Malloy that should help bankrupt the state over the next four years.  An analysis by Conservative Republican State Senator Len Suzio of Meriden and confirmed by the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) shows a much bleaker side of this union agreement.
Let us look at the supposed savings in wages for the next four years.  The first two years of the agreement there are no wage increases. The state union employees will pay a 1% increase in their health care premiums over a three period raising their premiums from 12% to 15%.  The state still pays the rest of the ever increasing health care premium.  They will also increase their contribution rates to their pensions ending up paying a mere 2 to 4% in the third year of their agreement for their over generous and economically unsustainable pensions.  Union employees have to take three unpaid furlough days that may average a loss of $850 per employee that first year only. That is the end of their "concessions".  However there are "step increases" which are regular annual wage increases for every full-time employee that average 3% each year that are guaranteed.  Even though these increases are suspended for the first two years they increase on average between 6-7% in year 3 of the agreement and 13-14%. in year 4 of the agreement.  However the second year of the agreement each union employee gets a $2000 to $2850 one time payment obviously to make up for the the two year wage freeze and the three unpaid furlough days.  There are also annual longevity payments (I have never received one in any job that I have had since I started working many years ago, have any of my readers received one?) that are paid to state union employees with 10 to 15 years of service, they receive $1,000 each year and those with more than 15 years get $2,000 each year.  This agreement continues through the first two years of the supposed wage freeze thus the state still pays this money out. According to the analysis of the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) a union employee who earned $74,000 in the first year of the agreement will earn $84,000 by the fourth year of the agreement due to the step and wage increases.  How much was given back by the union employees?  In my analysis around $1000 at the most given all the wage increase and payments made during this four year period (an average of $250 per year).  Thus the $10,000 average salary increase adds a mere half-billion dollars to the state payroll over the coming years.  How is this wage agreement saving any taxpayers monies in the next four years?  It is impossible because the other part of this secret agreement is that there can not be any union employee layoffs over the next four years. 
Why is this agreement not the central focus of the Gubernatorial campaign?  Why was this agreement not voted upon by the State Legislature?  Connecticut State Employee Unions own the state government.  It is legal collusion in its purest sense that helps to continue the further economic decline of Connecticut's economy.  Connecticut Taxpayers and Legal Connecticut Voters need to wake up to this embarrassment that is our state government in this upcoming state election.  This supposed money saving agreement secretly negotiated between the Connecticut Democrat Party and SEBAC is a farce.  There is no credibility as far as I am concerned in our state government.  And the remaining legal Connecticut Taxpayers continue to be economically raped by the ruling political elite and corresponding state employee labor unions through agreements like this.  Enough is enough.

Why Democrat Dan Malloy has never been trusted. Connecticut's new budget crisis.

Dan Malloy Connecticut's lame duck Governor can not be trusted.  He should be viewed as a Dictator not a Governor.  In my opinion he has never been trusted since he has been elected.  He has an obsession in cutting and destroying fiscally conservative and financially well run Republican led towns in order to preserve both union and non union management benefits, salaries and pensions.  He has decided not to follow what was voted upon in the budget that was just passed in which he was required to find cuts to state overtime and to consolidated bloated government administrative functions.  Thus instead he cuts now $91 million dollars to aid that Connecticut's municipalities were counting on after their budgets have been passed and enacted.  This comes after the first series of cuts to their aid.
To explain this example as far as it pertains to Wallingford, the town now loses $1.8 million dollars in funding that they have budgeted for in the current fiscal year that is five months old.  Thus where does Wallingford find this money?  It only has three choices.  First it can somehow cut this money from the current budget.  This is difficult to do since we are already five months into the budget.  Second it can raise taxes however this can not occur until the next fiscal year.  Lastly it can raid its rainy day fund to cover this cut.  In this past local election the rainy day fund and budget surpluses were an issue by the Democrats (along with Charter Revision).  The Democrats claim and have claimed in the past that Wallingford has too high of a rainy day fund.  Is it too high now?  Since the Democrat Governor has decided to make an example of Wallingford because it is run efficiently and with fiscal conservatism by cutting $1.8 million dollars?
Dan Malloy now gets what he wanted all along with his economically irrational budgets he has proposed, the massive shift of costs of state mandated programs, services and teacher pensions to cities and towns from the state.  Connecticut budget in theory then becomes only a tool to manage for a select few union and non union management employees benefits, salaries and pensions.  It also must keep paying interest on its massive amount of bonding debt along with its unfunded short and long term liabilities.  We again see clearly the economic non sustainability of our state government since its only mission is to protect the politically connected state work force.
The Connecticut Democrat Party and its Governor can only be viewed as an economic cancer to the state.  Year in and year out Connecticut voters have heard the promises that become lies from them.  This budget is no different than all of the other Malloy budgets, higher taxes, higher spending on union and non union management employee benefits, salaries and pensions.   Dan Malloy can never be trusted, he is not a leader.  He can not be propped up any more.  He really should resign and be done with it.
Why Connecticut voters decided to trust Democrats this past local election defies logic.  However I am confident that voter remorse will set in very quickly in January.  Especially when they get their new property tax bills in 2018.

No Connecticut Budget on October 21

My usual blog on a Saturday is to remind Connecticut Taxpayers that there is still no budget and there is still massive short and long term unfunded liabilities and debt.  Along with above market salaries, benefits and pensions for both state management and union workers.  Thus today, Saturday October 21, I will state the same there is still no budget and there is still massive short and long term unfunded liabilities and debt.  Along with above market salaries, benefits and pensions for both state management and union workers.
There was a budget proposal that was worked on and is being ready for a vote this coming week.  Governor Malloy has been shut out of these negotiations as both sides are tired of his fits of rage when dealing with his economically illogical proposals on his four ridiculous budgets that he has presented.  The new budget raises the cigarette tax and eliminates the local property tax on motor vehicles which will shift this tax burden to cities and towns.  It increases the amount that state teachers contribute to their pensions from 6% to 7%.  Currently according to the Office of Fiscal Analysis Connecticut has one of the highest average teacher pensions in the country at $59,000 per year for those who retired in 2016.  In 2017 it will increase more.  State teachers do not pay into Social Security but pay 6% of their incomes into their pension fund.  The pension fund unfunded liability is expected to increase dramatically over the next ten years.  The amount the state contributes to this fund will grow from $1 billion dollars a year to $6 billion dollars a year in the near future.  Connecticut also offers a state income tax break on those state teachers pensions of 50% beginning in 2017 up from the current 25% if these teachers continue to live in Connecticut.   Connecticut Taxpayers who have private sector pensions receive no state income tax exemption for their pensions.  For those individuals who work in the private sector and who pay into Social Security their tax is 6.2% on their incomes.  As an example, an individual who works in the private sector and averages $80,000 a year in income will when retiring at age 67 will only receive an average social security payment of $22,000 to $27,000 a year depending on gross life time earnings.  This figure is much less than Connecticut teachers retirement benefits.  The fiscal imbalance is enormous for Connecticut Taxpayers who work in the private sector.  If we look at other state pensions for both management and union workers the amount they receive in their pensions are well above average as compared to other states.  Some state workers do not even contribute to their pensions.  Some state pensions will add overtime and mileage reimbursements to their pensions.
This budget proposal also address binding arbitration cases for towns and cities by allowing more than just the last offers from both sides to have to be accepted in these cases.  This leaves more room for negotiations and less costly proposals to be available for cities and towns.  The budget naturally will bail out the city of Hartford to help avoid their inevitable bankruptcy.
There is a lot to like and dislike about this budget proposal.  Connecticut Taxpayers can see the incredible power the state employee unions have over how the state is allowed to spend their monies.  Connecticut Taxpayers can also see how above market salaries, benefits and pensions for both state management and union workers will eventually be the only area that the state will be spending its money on and will probably lead to our own states bankruptcy. 
How did Connecticut end up in this fiscal mess?  In my economic opinion it has been pay to play, give unions and all of the other special interest groups what they want paid for by Connecticut Taxpayers.  Make sure votes both legally and illegally are then delivered to the Connecticut Democrat Party to keep them in power.  Push any economic solutions to resolve the impending economic crisis to future unborn generations.
What a mess.
It is time to take back Connecticut.

No Connecticut Budget On October 14

Yes there is still no Connecticut budget as of October 14, 2017.  Connecticut remains no only state in the country not to have a budget.  Connecticut still has a massive amount of short and long term debt, short and long term unfunded liabilities along with a massive budget deficit.  Connecticut is ruled not by an elected state legislature but by an omnipotent state labor union along with a core of management non union employees whom are all paid above market salaries, benefits and pensions.  These above market union and non union salaries, pensions and benefits have helped to contribute to Connecticut's constant economic decline and enormous debt.
Thus we still have no budget.  Governor Malloy chooses to insult all groups that he dislikes in the state with regards to his economically illiterate budget proposal he presented several weeks back.  Governor Malloy chose to veto a bi-partisan budget that passed the House and Senate that would have started to address the massive tax and spending problems the state has.  But no the Governor has hissy fits and tantrums when he is being questioned about his budget or lack of leadership.  Yet budget negotiations trudge on and on and on. 
And the best part of the entire crisis is that Connecticut Taxpayers will paying Malloy's pension for years to come when he gets out of office.
A dictatorship is seen in Hartford.  Connecticut Taxpayers support this dysfunctionalism on a daily basis due to the high levels of taxes they must pay to live in the state.  The Malloy Administration has been an abysmal failure in governing.  The Connecticut Democrat Party is a tool of the state labor unions.  And Connecticut Taxpayers are governed by an elite few and told what they can have and not have.
There is still no Connecticut budget as of October 14, 2017.  There are still no answers to Connecticut's massive amount of short and long term debt, short and long term unfunded liabilities along with a massive budget deficit. There are still no answers to Connecticut's above market state union and non union salaries, pensions and benefits.  No answers.  Just political grandstanding by the Connecticut Democrat Party.
It is time to take back Connecticut in 2018.

September 9 and No New Connecticut Budget

Again we have no new Connecticut budget.  Nothing new.  It is now September 9 and there is no new Connecticut budget.  71 days into the new fiscal year and there is still no new Connecticut budget. However we are witnessing the unmitigated gall of the Governor and the Omnipotent One Party Rule of the Connecticut Democrat Party in now developing the third highest tax increase in the states history with their new budget proposal coming after the two highest tax increases in the states history.  Those two highest tax increases were supposed to stabilize the states finances.
This new proposal again with zero input from the Connecticut Republican legislators who represent over 47% of Connecticut voters and taxpayers will be shoved down our throats in the coming days.  The tax increases are severe.  There is an increase in hospital taxes. There are increases in the state sales tax, an elimination of tax free week in August, the property tax credit on the state income tax would be reduced to $100 and be limited to senior citizens or those with dependents, a new 7% restaurant sales tax and an increase the conveyance tax on real estate sales.  Municipal aid to towns and cities to help pay for mandated teachers pensions will be cut thus creating higher property taxes for local property tax taxpayers.
Thus Governor Malloy has lied once again to Connecticut Taxpayers.  He will raise taxes yet again.  Connecticut still does not have a balanced budget.  The Connecticut Democrat Party has once again lied to Connecticut Taxpayers and will raise both taxes and spending.
There has been no real cuts in spending in the upcoming out-of-balance fiscal 2017-18 state budget.  There will be again budget deficits in six to nine months as more businesses and personal taxpayers move out of state.  There will be no mention of any plan to pay off Connecticut's $60 to $80 Billion dollars worth of short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  There is no discussion of the constitutionally mandated state spending cap that was ruled illegal by the Democrat Attorney General.
Connecticut voters and taxpayers need to recognize the fact the Governor and the Connecticut Democrat Party can not govern in any way, shape or form.  They can only legislate for themselves, their state unions and their political friends.  They despise Connecticut Taxpayers and Connecticut businesses.  The Governor and the Connecticut Democrat Party are useless in resolving our states economic problems.
A solution to our economic issues in Connecticut would be a general Taxpayers strike.  Connecticut Taxpayers would stop paying their state taxes thus it would strip our state government from its funds to enrich its political ruling class and truly force real budgetary negotiations along with real structural changes to take place in Hartford.  Alas I can only dream of a non corrupted state government in Hartford.
More of the same tax and spend lies will be spewed this week as Connecticut Taxpayers lose once again with still even higher taxes to try to manage.  All while Dan Malloy and the Connecticut Democrat Party lie and laugh at Connecticut.
It is horrific.

September 2 and No New Connecticut Budget

Again we have no new Connecticut budget.  Nothing new.  It is now September 2 and there is no new Connecticut budget.  64 days into the new fiscal year and there is still no new Connecticut budget.  Can you believe 64 days of total inaction and a lack of leadership by the Connecticut Democrat Party in preparing a mandated fiscal year budget?  In private industry you would be fired.  In Hartford you are rewarded in their political spoils system.  Now we know however there were several Republican budget proposals that the Democrats would not allow to reach the House or Senate floor for a vote.  No the Connecticut Democrat Party in their supposed bipartisanship does not allow for opposing views to be presented by the Connecticut Republican Party even though they represent 47% of Connecticut's legal citizens.  Obviously bipartisanship means with regards to budget discussions are only what the Connecticut Democrat Party will allow to be spoken through new and higher taxes.  Governor Malloy now is at war with the bulk of the state's cities and towns wanting to rob cash from fiscally conservative and responsible towns to give to the socialist and fiscally incompetent cities such as Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven.  He now states that cities and towns have been given too much over the years even though the state mandates draconian and fiscally irresponsible programs such binding arbitration that can not be paid for by these sames cities and towns.  To me there is such great irony and hypocrisy in the Governors remarks.
There is now talk in much higher state income taxes for those who are "rich" and for those who are middle class.  These income taxes I am sure will be retroactive to January 1 to extract more cash out of Connecticut "rich" citizens.  This higher income tax along with much higher sales taxes and a city sales tax will further the economic erosion of our once great state.
When will it all end?
These new taxes will not do anything to resolve the constant state budget deficits.
Again I will restate that lies are the rule in Hartford as our Democrat elected officials believe their constant lies of higher taxes and more spending will solve all of Connecticut's economic problems.  There is no accountability nor repercussions for the Connecticut Democrat Party and their dishonesty and myths about higher taxes.  Connecticut Taxpayers really deserve better.  This budget fiasco shows once again that the Connecticut Democrat Party is the true economic cancer of the state.

August 26 and No New Connecticut Budget

Again we have no new Connecticut budget.  But we know now that the Democrat Party has proposed guess what in their new budget.  New and higher taxes and fees represent their over eleven months of supposed work and supposed negotiations (little with the Republicans) on the new budget.  For this accomplishment they are offering Connecticut Taxpayers much higher sales taxes expanded to many previously non taxed items, a one percent city tax on restaurant food and other entertainment areas, much higher fees at the incompetent and inefficient Department of Motor Vehicles, a sales tax on any music you download and the usual higher cigarette taxes.  This package took the Connecticut Democrats about a year to develop.  There was no mention still besides the horrific non concession union concession plan (that was negotiated behind close doors) of reform in state management, union and non union salaries, benefits and pensions.  For those who are trying to comprehend the state union concession package it in my economic opinion offers no savings whatsoever to help this budget crisis since there can be no layoffs nor any reform to the current and future levels of pensions.
I would like to remind Connecticut Taxpayers that we just had the two highest tax increases in the states history compliments of the Connecticut Democrat Party.  These two highest tax increases in the states history were supposed to resolve Connecticut's deficit problems.  The Connecticut Democrat Party has lied once again to Connecticut Taxpayers as we see with this new budget.  
Connecticut still has an increasing short and long debt along with unfunded liabilities of $60 to $80 billion dollars.  As a reminder to Dan Malloy when he ran for reelection he stated that there was no budget deficit.  As a reminder to 85th District State Representative Mary Mushinsky she stated in the last election that the budget was balanced.   What happened?  How come all the highest taxes that the Connecticut Democrat Party slammed upon the state did not balance our bloated budget?  Why do we have an increasing short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities that will not be stabilized at any time in the near future with all of these tax increases?  Why wasn't any of the Republican budget proposals brought up for a straight up or down vote on either the House or Senate floor?
Accountability really can not be seen in our Governor nor in our Democrat controlled State Legislature.  Lies are the rule in Hartford as our Democrat elected officials believe their constant lies of higher taxes and more spending will solve all of Connecticut's economic problems.  There is no accountability nor repercussions for the Connecticut Democrat Party and their dishonesty and myths about higher taxes.  
Connecticut Taxpayers really deserve better.  This budget fiasco shows once again that the Connecticut Democrat Party is the true economic cancer of the state.



 

August 19 and No New Connecticut Budget

  Again we have no new Connecticut budget.  But we know now that Governor Malloy has come to the rescue of his Democrat Party voting blocks in the big cities by taking money away and or eliminating the Education Costs Sharing Grant from 85 cities and towns and giving it to poorer cities and towns in the state.  This grant is money that the state gives to all cities and towns in the state to help pay for some of the mandated state educational programs.  For example Wallingford would lose $19 million dollars in this funding which would have to be made up by raising property taxes almost immediately.  This is due to no new Connecticut budget.
At the same time Republicans for voicing their vehement opposition to Malloy’s plan and by the possible budget proposal by House Speaker Aresimowicz that includes higher sales taxes along with less exemptions and a new city sales tax are being condemned by Connecticut Democrats.   Republicans will not agree to any new tax increases.  One must remember that Connecticut Democrats slammed residents in the past six years the two highest tax increases in the states history that was to supposed to solve all of Connecticut’s economic woes.  It did not and now we are once again at a breaking point with a $5 billion dollar budget deficit along with $60 to $80 billion dollars worth of short and long-term debt and unfunded liabilities. 
Republican budget proposals have been completely ignored by Omnipotent Connecticut Democrat Party this session.  Republicans have been shut out of the budget process for six years now.  And the Connecticut Democrat Party has the audacity to vilify the Republicans? 
The Connecticut Democrat Party obviously has no respect for the Connecticut Taxpayer.  They believe their failed economic policies by choosing winners and losers in our state economy via taxpayer funded corporate welfare payments, along with constant new and higher taxes coupled with an economic love affair of state labor unions doing anything they want and given anything they want will somehow lead Connecticut out of its economic morass.  Do they think Connecticut Taxpayers are that stupid to believe this garbage?
One day Connecticut will have a new budget.  It will be more of the same, higher and new taxes, more spending for state labor unions and more political nepotism.  The Connecticut Democrat Party will be congratulating each other for their latest con job they pulled over the Connecticut Taxpayer.  They will reward themselves with more spoils from their conquests of the Connecticut Taxpayer.
It is sickening to say the least.

July 8, 2017 and No Connecticut Budget

It is now July 8, 2017 and there is no new Connecticut budget.  Nor does it look like there will be one either even after July 18 the day after the state unions voted on their supposed concession package.  For we do not know whether or not the "concessions package" will be agreed upon by the Connecticut state labor unions.  We know the State Police union refuses to vote upon changes in their wage agreement in the form of a three year wage freeze they have stated they will only vote on benefit concessions.

The budget proposal that the Connecticut Democrat Party is force-feeding on Connecticut Taxpayers includes a 6.99% sales tax.  You wonder why it is not 7%?  Democrat Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz will not agree to 7% because then Connecticut would just as high as some other states, 6.99% qualifying as being lower than 7%. Connecticut then would rank below states like New Jersey and Rhode Island that charge 7%.  However, Democrat Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz wants to allow cities and towns to charge a 1 percent sales tax on food and drinks at bars, restaurants and other outlets for local revenue.  Thus the sales tax would be 7.99% with this added 1% local tax and be higher than New Jersey and Rhode Island.

My question is reviewing all of the concessions and yet even higher taxes is how is this closing the state budget deficit because the combined supposed savings and increases in tax revenue does not match the budget deficit?  And why wasn't spending cut?  And why wasn't there any discussion in cutting the excessively high salaries, benefits and pensions for state management workers?   

And why can't the balanced budget that was presented by the Republicans that did not enact any new taxes be brought up for a vote in either the House or Senate?

Thus another Connecticut Democrat Party budget that offers higher spending and higher taxes.   Nothing new here.  Democrat Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz in his position as a state union employee places the self-interests of the union over the financial needs of the state.  Nothing new here either.  There was no bipartisanship in this budget.  What the Connecticut Democrat Party dictates to Connecticut Taxpayers is what we get.   

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Next Saturday will be July 15 and there will be no new Connecticut budget. Nobody really cares about it in Hartford any more anyways. 

July 1, 2017 and No Connecticut Budget

July 1, 2017 and there is no new Connecticut budget.  Nor does it look like there will be one voted upon until July 18 the day after the state unions voted on their supposed concession package.
There was a balanced budget that was presented by the Republicans that did not enact any new taxes and could not be brought up for a vote in either the House or Senate.  I wonder why?  Since it is apparent that the Connecticut Democrat Party runs the Legislature as a dictatorship taxpayers have to wonder why is our Legislature this dysfunctional to the point that an economically rational budget proposal could not allowed to be voted upon? Democrat Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz now has the audacity to wait until July 18 to vote on a budget since the state unions are supposedly voting on a concession package on July 17.  And my question to Democrat Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz is what happens if the state unions of which he is a member of do not agree to any concessions?  And the Democrat Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz's budget proposal includes higher taxes.
Connecticut Taxpayers recognize clearly that those management and union workers who are employed by the state rule our state government with an iron hand. These small minority of state employees in proportion to the roughly 3,591,000 people who still live in Connecticut have wreaked economic havoc through their spoils system of excessively high salaries, benefits and pensions.  And this issue of excessively high salaries, benefits and pensions for both state management and union workers has still not been addressed in this legislative session.Thus the 2017 Connecticut legislative session ended as it started with a high budget deficit and no reforms to the high salaries, benefits and pensions paid out for both state management and union workers.  More of the same stale rhetoric spewed by the Connecticut Democrat Party.
I have to hand it to the Democrat Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz in that in his position as a state union employee he places the self-interests of the union over the financial needs of the state.   Plus there is no conflict of interest for him either being a member of a state union along with being the Speaker of the House.  Are Connecticut Taxpayers really that stupid to believe that there is no conflict of interest in this arrangement?  Are Connecticut taxpayers that stupid to believe also the State Ethics Commission overlooks this arrangement and sees no conflict of interest?
Connecticut Taxpayers are overtaxed.  And with a new high tax budget to be voted upon in the near future with no reforms they got more of the same.  More spending, more taxes and more spoils system for state workers.
It just never ends here in Connecticut.  Connecticut should change its nickname from the "Constitution State"  to the "Debt Ridden Dictatorship State".  All thanks to the Connecticut Democrat Party who does not care in any way, shape or form of how far Connecticut has fallen economically over the past 26 years.