Connecticut's Imploding State Government- Ten Long Years Later

 Ten years ago on April 2, 2016, I wrote a blog on layoffs in Connecticut's state government. (https://swickspeak.blogspot.com/2016/04/connecticuts-imploding-state-government.html). In review of the same, it was a shock, even to me, as to how far economic conditions in the once-proud Nutmeg State of Connecticut have sunk.

In 2016, there were 45,000 full time state employees. In addition, there were over 46,000 state pension retirees in 2014 that cost about $1.6 billion dollars to the state in both short term and long term liabilities (http://ctsunlight.org/pensions/).  Fast forward to 2026, and there are over 74,000 state employees, being an increase of roughly 61% in ten years. As of 2024, there were over 54,800 state pension retirees which is roughly an increase of 20% in ten years. (https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/all-employees-state-government-in-connecticut-fed-data.html) The costs of those retirees in 2024 were roughly $2.5 billion dollars in both short term and long-term liabilities, being an increase of roughly 67% (https://ctsunlight.org/pensions). Of course, logic and reason would lead one to believe that the added taxpayer spending is attributable to a burgeoning population. But mind us all, this is Connecticut where reason and logic have no place. 

I sadly submit unto you that Connecticut's state population in the past ten years has stayed stagnant with estimates being between 3.6 and 3.7 million people (not counting illegal immigrants in the state). To accommodate this stagnant population that is largely supported by a handful of billionaires, Connecticut's state budget has increased in the past ten years by $7.5 billion dollars or roughly 40%. The costs of salaries, pensions and benefits now are roughly 20-25% of the state budget.

The costs of living have increased dramatically in the past ten years in Connecticut, with the state now having the second highest electric rates in the country that are marked up 20% as a “public benefit” to us all. Another evident result of the rot and decline of the state is that the business-toxic climate has driven the best, brightest, and most productive far from state borders. Major world-class players such as  General Electric, Aetna, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, United Technologies, Raytheon Technologies, Carrier, Otis, Edible Arrangements, LEGO North America, Duracell, Stag Arms, Frontier Communications, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Edgewell Personal Care, Schick, Unilever, Bayer, Pfizer, UBS, RBS/NatWest, GE Capital, People’s United Bank, Bob’s Stores, Eastern Mountain Sports, Lord & Taylor, Stanley Tool, Subway, Odyssey Logistics, Rogers Corporation, Diageo North America, Pitney Bowes, Xerox, ESPN, WWE, Charter/Spectrum, Connecticut Sun, Norwich Navigators, and the Bridgeport Islanders are just a partial list of the businesses that have either severely peeled back operations or left the state entirely. When higher-paid private-sector jobholders are replaced by either low-paid workers or those requiring state subsidies, taxes increase and genuine economic activity decreases. This is a simple lesson that a high school Distributive Education student could easily learn, but such lessons have ostensibly been lost on politicians for at least a decade, without a care.

To give more color to the business-toxic climate of Connecticut, kindly bear in mind that Connecticut has one of the highest tax rates in the country as it taxes many different goods, services and occupations but still has between $100 and $150 billion dollars in short and term debt along with unfunded liabilities. Powerful economic development incentives granted under the OBBBA of 2025 are summarily ignored by politicians of both parties as they cower at the name of "Trump" who enacted these incentives and spitefully persist in the failed and costly and shady patterns of the past. Connecticut technically has yet to come out of the recession of 1991 as it has not and can not create new jobs in the private sector. The only new jobs that can be created are even more state taxpayer funded positions and unchecked, non-transparent, never to be paid back non jobs paid through surreptitious exempt organizations, funded by Connecticut Taxpayers and hand-picked by the corrupted and should-be abolished Connecticut Department of Community and Economic Development. This sick and sordid ecosystem has been the norm of Connecticut, and if such were indeed beneficial, we would not be seeing and living such poor results.

Is it somehow possible that somewhere in the not-too-distant future this false house of cards will implode? How can the state maintain this exorbitant spending on nothingness and survive economically? Is every one of the current and more than 74,000 state employees necessary? Has their productivity increased to the point that the state somehow, despite the real horrific, economic statistics that are posted year in and year out, are essential to the betterment of the state? Are Connecticut Taxpayers missing something? State officials seem much more worried to protect abortion, illegal immigrants, removing parental rights, mandating proper photo ID to return cans and bottles (but not to vote), and the further erosion and destruction of the remaining personal freedoms to legal state residents, but seemingly will not give one iota of thought to what would be necessary to fix the state economically.  

And how can it be possible not to raise taxes to support this mess? Will the remaining Connecticut Taxpayers sympathize with the state employee unions who claim high-income taxpayers do not pay enough? Or will many actually notice how many have moved to lower taxed states as they have been for years and follow?  How much more do they want the top 1% of taxpayers to pay? Does anyone consider if the handful of billionaires supporting the state will finally throw up their hands in disgust and leave? Does anyone in government ever even consider these very real possibilities?

The state election is fast approaching. And it is shaping up to be a repeat of the past 36 years of elections in the state. Does any established politician in the state recognize the seriousness of the state's economic problems? And are you really better off than you were 10 years ago? 4 years ago? 2 years ago, and or yesterday? For today and every day, for weeks, for months and for years, Connecticut's state government continues to implode. Wasted economic resources and tax dollars continue to be seen daily in our state economy.

 

As I have stated many times now, Rome did burn many years ago. Connecticut burns daily to the point of no economic return as I stated some ten years ago. And the fire has become much bigger. And virtually no one gets that. 

Who, or what will lead Connecticut from the abyss of fiscal oblivion? It is a question in search of an answer for over a decade, exacerbated by the fact that hitherto no one has been willing or able to provide such an answer. Again, I pray, May God save the once great State of Connecticut.

Why Is 40% The Biggest Number In Connecticut?

 In the alternative universe of the once-great State of Connecticut, omnipotent Democrat One Party Rule clutches to economic failure, destruction, and confusion much like to someone exiting a burning building would clutch to a bungee rope. As a continual model for failure, the political leadership of Connecticut arrogantly hails economic bankruptcy and skyrocketing crime as progressive triumphs as they trumpet their ” care” for their people. Concurrently, President Donald Trump is aggressively moving toward a campaign of business repatriations, border security, “drill baby, drill” energy independence, and the sharpest and best tax policy I have seen in decades. But for the dogged efforts of stalwart independent journalists on social channels, Connecticut residents would have never heard about Trump Accounts, enhanced Opportunity Zones, and enhanced tax breaks for business asset purchases. Any rational person would think that Connecticut Republicans should be championing and pounding on these issues and benefits daily. Instead, we see a wan, late-to-the-dance effort in the Legislature to push the “no tax on tips, overtime and Social Security” provisions of the Trump OBBBA Act of 2025, (without mentioning the ruinous word “Trump”) and done only by public outcry as my friend and colleague Tony De Angelo was mentioning this six months ago on the Lee Elci Show, WJJF - New London, CT . With no mention of any other serious matters of tax and economic policy, we see a series of dumb and unfunny videos performed by Republicans lending no focus nor seriousness to the critical matters and benefits at hand helpful to all Connecticut citizens. But apparently, none of that matters in the grand bizzarro world of the Nutmeg State, where Democrats spin fictions, Republicans try to add humor to weak or fruitless matters while much more serious things slide, and meanwhile, over 40% of the adult-voting population of the state flounders in a tunnel of non-representation and continued aggrievement.

You may wonder why I used the figure of 40%. Forty percent is the figure of Connecticut residents that voted for Donald Trump in 2024. 40% of Connecticut residents voted for safe communities, lower taxes, (only) two sexes, cheaper energy, and financial empowerment. 40% of Nutmeggers voted against boys in girls sports and legal immigration. But close to 100% of the Connecticut State Legislature really does not give a care about any of that 40%. Presumably, it is because 40% of the population aligns themselves with a horrible individual wanting them to live free and prosper and start stock index accounts for their children. Could this selective ignorance be generated in fear, jealousy, or shame? I submit to my readers that it is a form of all three of the above.Therefore, the operative question then becomes: If 40% of the voting population of Connecticut wants and believes the policies of President Trump, why is there never an effort to seek out and develop another 11% of what would be these unwashed masses?

Imagine a Country on fire. Imagine a state like Connecticut on fire. Can you imagine if President Trump was actually allowed to govern without his two hands tied behind his back all the time?  Can you imagine if the Democrat Party, who is currently in the minority on a federal level, actually tried to govern with the President rather than spew their never-ending hatred for the man on a daily basis? Can you imagine what would happen if our stoic Connecticut Republican party acted like Republicans and applied themselves to sound economic and tax principles and policies rather than a new generation of “Ned Lamont Goes To Nashville” videos? It really would be the dawn of the Golden Age of America.

The key to victory, especially in Connecticut, in the November election, is to reinforce that 40% of Connecticut Trump voters and cultivate 11% more. The gags and the videos are useless. Policies will drive this election. And the many successful policies of President Trump should primarily be communicated to voters on a daily basis. True Republican policy changes have historically created an avenue of positive change for our society and economy that will fuel economic expansion overall. Instead of making gags, this should be the Republican Job #1, every day, in every way.

The campaign for state offices should not be an automatic write off for the Republicans, yet this election is starting off as it has normally for many years now. As a gross insult to the 40% of state voters affirming the Trump principles, over thirty state office seats were unopposed by Republicans in 2024. This gap  facilitates the plan of the corrupt Democrat Party to ram “emergency legislation” down the throats of Connecticut Taxpayers while crying that such egregious conduct is necessary because the Republicans hold up critical pieces of legislation such as earmarks to Democrat political cronies, biased public education policies, and much more bad legislation. It is the same rhetoric that the Connecticut Democrat Party throws out without a bit of questioning by the obedient state run and paid-for media. But operatively, Connecticut never gets out of its "emergencies" and or its ongoing "crises". It is still in a horrific economic recession with no economic growth. It is one of the highest cost of living states in the country with high state and local taxes, high insurance costs, high electric rates, and high transportation costs. It continues to have a poor business outlook unless you are Ned and Annie Lamont or you fall high up on the Great Administrative State Food Chain. But these issues just never get addressed and have not been addressed for 36 years as Connecticut still is stuck in a perpetual economic recession that it can never extricate itself from.

Of course, anything Connecticut has tried has skidded right to failure. Therefore, what would be lost if Connecticut Republicans led the charge to a bold and different approach? Why couldn’t Trump-like policies that attack some of the many issues that are impacting Connecticut be part of the campaign in the upcoming election? Why couldn't economic issues be front and center of this campaign. For example, are there any solutions whatsoever being offered to the crushing Connecticut state debt? Why does Connecticut spend so much and still have so much debt? Why are people continuing to leave Connecticut, especially young college graduates? How many more Stanley Black And Decker’s will be lost due to the endemic and inept business practices of Connecticut and its leaders? Isn't the "affordability" crisis a making of poor economic policies by the Democrat Party with years of gross fiscal mismanagement? Isn’t “affordability” a direct coefficient of “energy prices?” Has any Connecticut politician ever mentioned that critical coefficient to you? I am happy that you now know.

A logical economic and social plan can end Connecticut's Democrat Party omnipotent one-party rule. A promotion of strict economic policies of cutting state spending, a Citizen-DOGE like state office to eliminate fraud and waste in state government, full Freedom-of-Information of all entities, cuts in both personal and business taxes, a real anti-drug program to get drugs off the streets and eliminate the profitability of illegal sales, a legal system that takes hardened criminals off the streets and makes the entire state safe, and lastly the end of financial support for those illegal immigrants that crowd the state with deportations would dramatically create a bright future for Nutmeggers present and future.  A strong platform would gain traction in the state and show leadership that is sorely lacking in the state with the incoherent Democrat failed programs that are force fed to the masses and create a rebranding of Republicans which they have never had in any recollection of memory.

Just remember that 40% of Connecticut voters have no representation in the state, and elected office holders do not acknowledge that. Just remember that state spending increased in a 35-year period by over three hundred percentage points with roughly the same amount of population. Just remember, the cure-all issues of the Connecticut state income tax have increased over the years, and the state still has never-ending debt and unfunded liabilities. Maybe just maybe voters could have real alternatives this election and finally change the state's direction. For if not, look forward to another eight-year reign of a self-dealing fatuous King and the constant destructive pandering of his connected winners over losers.

 

The Greatest Foe of Affordability Is The Connecticut Government And Its Ruling Elite

 What is the root cause of this American “affordability crisis” we hear so much about these days? The truth lies in something no Democrat wants you to know. The affordability crisis started in the 2020 election of the incompetent and incontinent President Joe Biden in a highly suspect election that laid bare the very integrity of our democratic processes. After this election rigging, decent Americans were horrified by seeing four years of reckless spending sprees, incompetent DEI personnel picks, economic bungling, the shutdown of the Keystone Pipeline and the arrogant and reckless policy of open borders. All these grievous and sickening errors ignited an inflationary inferno that scorched the pockets of everyday families, as groceries, gas, and housing became luxuries only the elite could afford without a second thought. After his 2024 election, President Donald J. Trump set his mind to undo this economic disaster, as the irrational and insane fight bitterly every day against him while he deals with the affordability crisis they themselves created.

But what exactly is this concept of “Affordability”? Affordability is defined as “able to be afforded: having a cost that is not too high.” For Connecticut taxpayers, the definition of affordability seems to be a constantly moving target as interpreted by the delusional ruling elite. Before President Trump was elected in 2024 we listened daily to the nonsensical blather of hopeless functional incompetents such as Karinne Jean-Pierre and Kamala Harris tell us that “Bidenomics is working” or “Inflation is under control” while it is more than evident the affordability conditions then were far worse than now. But as readers of my column know, the rules of fact and common sense do not apply to the delusional ruling elite.

But let’s drill down on Connecticut affordability. Does affordability in Connecticut mean that the Democrat Connecticut state government dictates to its legal and illegal citizens what they can and cannot have? Does affordability mean that the Democrat Connecticut state government builds housing and then dictates how much rent can be charged? Does affordability mean that the Democrat Connecticut state government can control all zoning in the state (as seen in HB 8002), and you, dear citizen, can screw off? Does affordability mean that the Democrat Connecticut state government will start running state-run grocery stores? Does affordability mean that the Democrat Connecticut state government will now insure all drivers in the state, since car insurance has increased dramatically due to the massive amount of car thefts and road takeovers over the past five years, and insurance companies no longer want the risks of insuring a lawless state? Does affordability mean that the Democrat Connecticut state government continues to use Connecticut taxpayers’ money to pick and choose economic winners via its non-transparent and malignant Department of Community and Economic Development ("DECD") or its taxpayer-paid penny stock "boiler room" operation known as "Connecticut Innovations?"

Like their incompetent predecessors in the Biden regime, the concept of Connecticut’s “affordability” is a vague construct by the Connecticut Democrat Party, their state-run media and attendant state-paid media image consultants. Here are some real economic facts showing that Connecticut is not affordable to work and live in: The first problem area is naturally, taxes. The state has one of the highest state and local property taxes in the country. High state sales tax, user and license fees, and excessive business taxes in every way, shape, and form continue to burden Connecticut taxpayers to the point of no return. I have stated numerous times: why does a state as small as Connecticut spend over $26 billion a year in its budget? Needless to say, no one on the state food chain would dare admit that a reduction of state spending would increase affordability for citizens because preservation of their bureaucracy takes precedence over the citizen, (and why has that not sunken in by now?)

But let’s move down the line. Please look at what Connecticut taxpayers pay for state employee salaries, benefits, and pensions, as it should astound any working person in the state. The state spends a mere $6 billion a year in pension payments; that does not consider the future unfunded liabilities of the state pension system. Connecticut already has $100 to $150 billion in short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities. What is the plan to pay off this debt? There is none, and never has been one as just about everyone in political land chortles about the need for the “fiscal guardrails”, which “fiscal guardrails” do not take into account this bulbous and unsustainable amount of legacy debts and liabilities.

But what about fuel? The ruling elite does not care. For the sake of all things green energy, Connecticut gets to pay one of the highest electric rates in the country. Part of this high cost of electricity is an economically insane public benefits charge that costs Connecticut electricity consumers a mere $1 billion plus per year. This public benefits charge is a slush fund that is doing little, if anything, to reduce the cost of electricity in the state. The ruling elite runs from cheap and simple fuel options such as natural gas. But the ruling elite has solutions! Like wind power. This pathetic sea mammal and bird killing industry is the biggest con job ever sold to the American taxpayer. After four decades and literally trillions in subsidies, tax credits, and mandates, wind power limped its way to producing a laughable 10.5% of U.S. electricity in 2024, and that’s the cherry-picked “nameplate” fantasy number. In the real world, thanks to its pathetic 35–42% average capacity factor (meaning the blades are spinning uselessly or standing dead still most of the time), wind actually delivered less than 5% of America’s total primary energy needs. Https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3 https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/economic-aspects/energy-subsi

dies. But who cares? Your elites know better than you.

 

Affordability in Connecticut starts at the state government level. Republican candidates for Governor need to make this their main platform in 2026 in addition to dealing with the malignant Lamont-based corruption. Why is the state spending so much money on salaries, benefits, and pensions? Why is the $100 to $150 billion in short- and long-term debt and unfunded liabilities not being addressed? Why not create a state DOGE to begin clearing out the fraud, inefficiencies, and wasteful spending that take place in a $26 billion budget? And from Day 1 of their term, state that they want all department heads and agencies to cut their budgets by 10-15% in Year One, followed by 5% cuts for the next three years. Couple that with a 1% decrease in the state income and corporate taxes each year for the next four years. Force government officials to find savings in their departments. And do it without the traditional stoic bitching and complaining that it cannot be done—because it can be done and has been done in numerous other states. Connecticut taxpayers want results for a change, not the same stale political rhetoric. And it is quite achievable. My friend and colleague Tony De Angelo did an excellent job discussing the need for candidates to be serious in this regard and to quickly adopt the Gasoline driven Trump Energy Policy on his December 4 THIRTY WITH TONY. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyn17QSx-XE . But I have doubts if any standing incumbent or candidate from either party can actualize these fundamental factors, let alone grasp them. These folks cannot even grasp that once fuel prices come down, so do all prices, because everything (everything) is made with fuels.

Connecticut needs to address these issues from the top down- yesterday. Connecticut has a bloated, economically inefficient, and non-transparent state government that needs to be pared down and seen through. Connecticut needs a leader that will reform the consuming mess that has become the state workforce, root out corruption, force the state to take a course in Management-101 and dedicate their loyalty to the taxpayer (the shock of all that is). Because Connecticut taxpayers must stand on their heads to find ways to save money just to survive in the state. Connecticut government and its ruling elites must be no longer permitted to do so.

The World Is a Volatile Place. (But Connecticut Is Always The Place With The Steadiest Of Habits)

 It was the week that it was. The Middle East. Russia vs. Ukraine. Musk and Trump. Tariffs. Harvard. The revocation of student visas. President Joe Biden was non compos mentis while in office. Volatility. Unpredictability. Danger! It is all a reminder that the only constant in the 21st Century world, is change, and tomorrow is always another day.

 However, year after year things never seem to show any positive change in Connecticut. You know, Connecticut! The Land of Steady Habits. And ask any decent law-abiding taxpaying citizen in Connecticut as to what these steady habits are and they will pick from the following list. Fraud. Concealment. Incompetence. Crime. Redundancy. Reading pornographic texts for children into the General Assembly record while Democrat elected officials make videos dancing and gagging like fools. Elitists using a “budget emergency” to launder investment cash to the UCONN Foundation via a specious tax credit. (June 5, 2025 THIRTY WITH TONY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8wCu_v35EQ (THE SHOW! DOES ANYONE HERE HAVE A HEART? THIRTY WITH TONY 6 5 2025) Drag Queens in Libraries. Drunken lawmaking. Drunk driving legislators applying for “accelerated rehabilitation.”  Followed by their perfunctory “repentance” and “turning the page”. Assaults on the home via corrupted zoning or gross mismanagement of rampant crime. National embarrassment.

THE SHOW! DOES ANYONE HERE HAVE A HEART? THIRTY WITH TONY 6 5 2025

Like we said: Steady habits. So steady that you can time a metronome to all of it.

But nothing characterizes “steady” in Connecticut like the formulation of the state budget. When the budget is assembled (calling it “crafted” would be an insult to the term) these same legitimate citizens can bank on higher taxes, more unfunded mandates, more non-budgetary bills being codified into disastrous laws therein, more reckless spending in the crumbling cities with no accountability, bogus “utility price cuts” and other impending disasters on the way to manifestation.

Per terms of the concept, this budgetary disaster is the steadiest habit of all.

Perhaps you like to talk about the budget in greater detail? Not much new to report other than once again we will await as to how the socialist-driven state Democrat party will now save us from ourselves again as they have every year for the past three decades. This year’s whopper of a budget increases state spending to $55.8 billion dollars for the next two years. As is par for the course, the state budget increases yearly while there never is a mention from any politician of any party of the $100 to $150 billion dollars in short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities that the state has on its corrupted books. Who will pay this debt? When collapse comes, will property taxes triple as state aid crumbles? Is that the idea so that more trash new dimension slums of the future could be built in place of houses? Will your child’s school close? Will there be no police and fire services even if you hate police and firefighters and you need them at a point in your life? This is the cold hard reality of the world we now live in, a reality that no legislator has even given lip service to for many years running.

But these issues are not important. Other things are much more critical. With no eye towards consolidation or efficiencies and tax savings, this new budget magically increases redundant spending for the usual social services, domestic violence issues, drug addiction, education, municipal aid, and as usual pork barrel grants, gimmies, and freebies that the Connecticut Democrat Party loves in their never-ending quest to continually be re-elected and buy out the vote.  Also, Connecticut Taxpayers see no tax reductions. The idea is that you will pay more and more taxes . If you question this continuing path to disaster, you will be labeled a right-wing fanatic or a racist along with several other things. (For after all, Connecticut habits must remain steady).

Of course, the budget itself is not written for the common person. For who are you to demand fiscal accountability, anyway? For those sad souls that have read either the entire 279-page version of this monstrosity of fiscal gibberish or parts of it, you are to be commended. For those who do not have time since you are working many hours to pay your Connecticut state and municipal taxes here are some highlights for you to assist you in going insane, as not one dollar of spending was cut:

(https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/opm/budget/2026_2027_biennial_budget/governors_budget_2627_final_webversion.pdf )

Page 54: General Fund Debt outstanding is $1,682,162,437 and Interest on that is $853,058,397 for a total of $2,535,220,834. Looking at that in real terms, almost 8% of the budget is just General Fund Debt and interest alone. 

Page 68: Department of Economic and Community Development (“DECD”) budget for two years is over $560 million dollars in order to continue its inept and malfeasant “economic development” legacy of the “First Five”, Sema4, ADVANCE CT, Digital Currency Group and the (happily derailed) “Artificial Intelligence Bill” embraced 30-4 by the state senate this past May. Due to intentionally garbled records and disclosure, it is entirely unascertainable as to how much this department has wasted in your taxpayer dollars in no interest loans/bad loans/non repayable loans, “Ned Deals,” “Ned Deals We Have Not Found Out About Yet” and other crony-driven disasters.  Even with all this spending, Connecticut is last and or near last in most economic categories. Why does this sieve and debacle of an economic development agency continue year after year? To suffice political nepotism? Now move to Page 85: Same failed agency has a budgeted estimated cost of fringe benefits is over $7.7 million dollars. Why? It is inarguable that over a half billion dollars of taxpayers’ monies is wasted here, as Connecticut would still be dead last in all economic categories had not one dollar been spent by the DECD. Also keep in mind that the state would have had all of the funds not so wasted in the treasury in this case.

But wait! There’s More!! Help is supposedly now on the way for you, Mr. and Mrs Vassal, with "cuts in your electric bill" as somehow SB-4 "AN ACT CONCERNING ENERGY AFFORDABILITY, ACCESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY. To improve service and reduce costs for electricity ratepayers in the state.", does this trick. In reading and rereading this bill from an economic point of view, I really cannot see how it will save more than a few dollars of one's electric bill nor do I understand why the Republican minority voted in favor of it. The gist of this bill is to use state bonds to pay down some of the public benefits portion of your electric bill. Could any elected official tell me from where does state bond money come from other than the Connecticut Taxpayer or any foolish investor purchasing a Connecticut bond that is in danger of default? Thus, the burden of these "public benefits" changes paid by the Connecticut Taxpayer and ratepayer is the continuing due tribute for the massive amount of bonding the state embarks upon year in and year out. How does address the shortages of electricity in the state due to the incredible amount of "green" energy mandates that the state requires from its remaining two electric companies? The bill vaguely addresses bringing more natural gas into the state to produce electricity and allowing the evil nuclear energy segment of energy to have some new and limited capabilities. That said, who will be the great minds, leaders, and fiscal engineers who will marshal these bold new sources right to your wall switch in your home? Hint: You will not see these players sitting on the state bench, even if you look all of the way down (and even into the stands).

The new overspending by this $55.8 billion dollars budget is an incredible power grab by the Connecticut Democrat Party with little opposition by the Republicans. Since the outcome was a foregone conclusion, a great stand for principle and sanity for the woe-begotten taxpayer could have been made if every Republican had walked out of the chamber refusing to consent to this budgetary and faux legislative farce in the least way.  But principles, courage, clarity, and boldness in Connecticut always take a back seat every year to “collegiality and bipartisanship.” And as the steadiest habit of all, the collegial and bipartisan results are always worse than those of the last budget.

Once again, the Connecticut Taxpayer is damned by elitist power brokers and state-serving bureaucrats who care not one iota for those who actually work for a living in the state. And these days, they no longer even bother to hide this grievous fact.

Connecticut: The Power Failure Looking For A Place For a Blackout

 Taxes. Energy. These are important aspects of our economy. They are the lifeblood of any business or municipality And if you live, work or own a business in Connecticut you must wonder why taxes and energy costs are so screwed up in the state. 

Sadly, it has never been any different. As just one example, the primary electric utility for the state (now Eversource) has featured the “convertible legislator” for years and years. This is the legislator or legislative family member who is employed in a prima-facie/incestuous/conflicted status by both a utility and the legislature. This is a criminally punishable offense in many right-thinking states, but not here. Ostensibly there has never been an outcry about this sordid practice as both political parties have had members financially benefiting from this lucrative arrangement. So why should any of them complain?

But you will complain in silence. For years Connecticut's Democrat Party has helped to hammer socialistic taxes and energy policies that have damaged Connecticut's economy. For the record, there was an 28% increase in commercial bankruptcies for 2024, the highest in ten years (https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/business-bankruptcies-spike-in-ct-as-uncertainty-hovers-over-economy). Why did this happen? It is a good guess that excessive state taxes and state regulations have forced companies to the point of no return to cease doing business in the state. It is a further good guess that a weak and non-urgent attitude on the part of the sitting state GOP by not demanding both the establishment of the President’s Pennsylvania Gas pipeline along with the removal of the illogical and nonsensical DEEP Commissioner, Katie Dykes, reinforces an acquiescence to continued failed energy policy. And as sprinkling on this sundae of failure, how many Republicans are calling for the extension of the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts, which if not passed will be the death knell for any Connecticut business anywhere. In addition, how many Republicans are advocating for the 100% expensing of capital goods that President Trump is now doing? Seeing this muddled and conflicted posture concerning tax, economic and business energy policy, the only businesses that would dare to come to Connecticut would be those enticed by a juicy Connecticut Department of Economic Development taxpayer-funded secret bribe. And how much more will the remaining Connecticut Taxpayers spend to continue to prop up a failing state economy through various state agencies devoted to "improving" the economy?

Why does Connecticut have such high taxes? Connecticut ranks as one of the top five highest taxed states in the country. "Connecticut‘s tax system ranks 47th overall on the 2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index. Connecticut’s tax code includes all major tax types, and the state has historically ranked among the bottom ten on the Index. Connecticut has one of the most complex and least neutral individual income tax systems in the nation, featuring seven tax brackets with a top marginal rate of 6.99 percent and a recapture provision that eliminates the benefit of lower brackets, effectively taxing all income at the taxpayer’s highest marginal rate. Additionally, tax brackets and the personal exemption are not adjusted for inflation." (https://taxfoundation.org/statetaxindex/states/connecticut/)  And what does Connecticut have to show for these high taxes and where does this money go? To add insult to injury, why can’t such a small state have one, simple flat percentage rate for all types of taxes? This concept is poison to sitting legislators who are addicted to all types of spending and crony-feeding, plus added tax complications create projects for a lot of their contributors and buddies.

While we travel up and down the harbor of failure, Connecticut has a massive state employee system that seems to have no worry for accountability. State employee wages continue to increase and the ability to measure productivity is nonexistent. A type of a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for Connecticut would be helpful in both finding waste in Connecticut's massive state budget and in turn lowering taxes for all. However, we may wait decades for any one legislator to call for the trimming of the state workforce and administration budgets with the serial funding of redundant and unaccountable nonprofits, for after all, favors must be returned.

The failure game in the state is exacerbated with an at all costs "green energy" program that has increased electricity costs to one of the highest in the country, thus placing an enormous burden on both customers and businesses. Even with many homeowners installing the cure-all solar panels on their homes, electric rates continue to rise to economically punishing levels. What is the solution to higher electric rates? You got it! More Legislation! One of the many economically incoherent Connecticut Democrat Party solutions to this problem can be found in Senate Bill 1531 "AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC UTILITY TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY."  This bill if passed would eliminate any utility company from wanting to do business in the state. Found in the bill: "(5) prohibit certain mergers of utility companies, (6) prohibit a utility company from owning both gas and electric utilities" (https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=1531). Thus, by eliminating competition completely and any incentive to do business in the state somehow energy costs will go down. The state only has two utilities currently, does the state want just one run by the state itself? Who will control said utility? The Democrats? Would the Democrats turn off the power on their political enemies? Of course, the bill itself makes no sense. But then again what the Connecticut State Legislature does each session makes less and less sense for the past 35 years.

There are many free markets solutions that Connecticut could embrace to lower the costs of living in the state. But they would involve dismantling the current political bureaucracy and hierarchy driven by the omnipotent one-party rulers in the state. The state's Republican Party has been non-existent and impact-less with its solutions to these problems and/or have not expressed clearly enough with their own alternatives even with many marketable ideas handed to them. Connecticut's state government still picks its winners and losers daily through their failed economic programs and agencies with little to no result and or accountability to Connecticut Taxpayers.

As the Connecticut Democrat Party continues to rape and pillage the Connecticut Taxpayer incessantly with its failed policies, taxes and energy policies need to be revamped and changed. Rather than the daily bashing of President Trump, legislators could look at his administrations energy policies to see something different that might actually work in reducing costs and creating economic stimulation for the state. But again, if that were to happen the political elite of Connecticut would be toppled and we know that is not acceptable to such elite.

As we discussed last week there are two classes of people in Connecticut playing in a huge macabre game. Them vs. you. And as far as you are concerned, what a mess they have created for you in this rigged macabre game, with no way out.

The Energy Of Incompetence, Confusion, And Failure

I am totally confused by energy policies. However, this confusion does not exist on a national level. President Donald Trump made a campaign promise to unleash the fossil fuel “Liquid Gold” present under the feet of every American with his program of “Frack, Burn, and Drill Baby, Drill.” The late Dr. Henry Kissinger told us all half a century ago that those that control energy control the world. Cheap and plentiful energy is critically necessary for a strong America and for developments in business and artificial intelligence and in industry. A more plentiful energy supply suppresses wars because countries like Russia fuel destruction by selling oil at absurdly soaring prices. Any object in our home, office, workspace, or driveway is somehow composed of fuel or by using fuel. It is a no-brainer. It is simple beans. But these dirt simple concepts are far too weighty for the astute souls in the Connecticut legislature who primarily through idiocy (and sometimes aided and abetted by weak and deferential pushback) continually figure out ways for Connecticut Residents to starve, freeze and go broke in trying to concoct fictional energy policies that will do nothing other than throw precious taxpayer capital into the sea, ground and air.  

In my estimation, the biggest problem in Connecticut is the State Legislature attempts to think and craft policy where solutions are pre-made, time tested, and easily executed. Nowhere is this sad fact more critical in the Connecticut Legislature’s attempts to deal with energy. Like parrots, legislators repeat the terms “Climate Change” and “Green Energy” not knowing (or even understanding) the consequences of their inane statements and postings. Wind Turbines kill sea mammals. Disposed electric car batteries are huge environmental disasters. The mining of e-car minerals kills and maims children of color in Africa. The wildfires in California were made much worse by combusting e-cars where the fires could not be extinguished. Did you know that? You never heard any of that from the state-run media. But you heard plenty of that from me and from my friend and colleague Tony De Angelo on The Lee Elci Show on WJJF 94.9 and on THIRTY WITH TONY for over a year. But why didn’t the state-run media tell you? Because it is their job to window-dress for the powers that be as knowing the truth on a global scale would render said powers inoperative, once, and for all.

However, what actually represents “green energy” and why have we spent the massive amount of taxpayers’ monies in Connecticut to achieve either absolutely nothing (or negative) in Connecticut is horrifically unclear. Disgustingly, Connecticut residents and businesses pay some of the highest electric rates in the country. In Connecticut, the Omnipotent (and grossly incompetent) Connecticut Democrat Party, has continually raised electric rates through insane green energy policies, green energy taxes and the rationing of electricity shamefacedly feel that they need to give everyone “a break” since consumers are starting to understand their insane electric bills. Democrats are now pushing the Utopian "Ratepayers First Act,” a desperation effort to undue the massive damage their party created over the past twenty years with their economically incoherent forced increases in electric rates and green energy at all costs. Apparent/Anointed electric rate expert, Democrat State Senator Norm Needleman, from Essex, made this ridiculous statement: "Certainly the aspects of accountability and making sure that the performance that the utilities provide in exchange for an exclusive monopoly to provide us not only distribution but transmission of electricity — that is something that is very complicated. But other than adding condescending and inane commentary, he further added these nonsensical statements: “This bill is an open book. There are no specific things that we’re going to talk about at this moment. We’re going to listen to all the bills that are coming in, and they’re coming in at a rate much higher and faster than the energy committee has ever seen. We’re going to listen to ideas from across the spectrum, —that’s Republicans and Democrats, that’s cities and rural areas, that’s everybody that we can hear from.”  (https://www.senatedems.ct.gov/senate-democrats-prioritize-ratepayers-in-new-energy-legislation). Since when have these astute and esteemed souls ever listened to either the people who actually pay for the electricity and/or the Republican Party and/or the fine Conservative minds of all ages present in the state? Needleman, in my opinion reinforces Democrat incompetence and obfuscation with the typical late night dump of this Democrat bill with his statement of "This bill is an open book,” meaning that there will be a great deal of pork and political payments and cutting and amending for the sake of all of “them” and not “you” (In case you missed this, the categories of “them” and “you” are the two real races in the racial divide that is present in Connecticut).

 But wait! There is more! Connecticut Senate Bill SB1105 is another gibberish-type feel-good bill that will  "(1) prohibit certain mergers of utility companies, (2) prohibit a utility company from owning both gas and electric utilities, (3) incentivize the adoption of grid-enhancing and energy-efficient technologies and prohibit a public utility company from imposing any fees that would disincentivize the adoption of such technologies, (4) repeal any provision providing a right of first refusal to acquire property by a utility company, and (5) prohibit deceptive fees to utility end use customers." (https://legiscan.com/CT/bill/SB01105/2025). Is this a bill apparently to somehow undue the economic damages of the feel-good Public Benefits aspect of your bill which is the cost of supporting state-authorized energy programs that do little for either increasing the supply of energy or lowering costs. And pray tell, why do we never see a bill prohibiting and penalizing Legislators and those connected with the Legislators from receiving compensation from the utilities their body regulates? That would be way too simple to just enact and enforce a common-sense law that has been flouted for years by both parties? As we all know, Connecticut has one of the most complex electric bills to read and understand in the country mirroring the disjointed, incompetent, hard-to-follow and unclear Connecticut Democrat Party Green Energy policies that have failed the state dramatically.

I also wonder where all the electricity in Connecticut will come from with the new cash tax cash cow of data/AI centers that are being coveted by the political elite? Will the state tell households to reduce their energy consumption so that these centers can be built and have enough power for them? How about rotating blackouts for single family homes? Or maybe more destruction and sea mammal murders at Connecticut's shorelines and seas as has been exhibited in the horrific, $300 million dollar and growing New London State Pier project that will provide apparently "free" electricity by the hideous wind farms that still have not produced one kilowatt of "Green" energy after $300 dollars of Connecticut taxpayers spent?  But who cares if we rape the environment? What are the actual safeguards to the ocean ecosystem? Perhaps these questions are obviated as no one in his or her right mind would make an investment in a Connecticut Data Center, anyway. But no matter, "Green" energy is essential, no matter what the cost and or destruction to the environment that is supposedly "saving". And almost one year after Tony De Angelo cried on the Lee Elci show for a “Natural Gas First” energy policy for Connecticut the CT State Senate has finally agreed to campaign for its use rather than to timidly “studying” such use as a year of destruction and waste intervened? What more incoherent gibberish, politicking and incompetence will be force fed to the Connecticut Taxpayer in 2025?

It will be interesting to see how the 2025 Connecticut Legislative session progresses and how little change electric consumers will see.  It should be obvious to all that the Connecticut Democrat Party has created the electricity crisis in the state and now it is entirely incapable of solving the failure it has created.

But so what? It is just another day in the race to the economic bottom for Connecticut and its economic slaves who support this disarray, turmoil, and incompetence.

Brother Can You Spare Me $16.35? -Connecticut's Yet Even Higher Minimum Wage

Can you spare me $16.35? If you are one of the individuals who are working in Connecticut and receiving minimum wage, you received an hourly wage increase from $15.69 to $16.35 on January 1, 2025. This is an increase of sixty-six cents per hour or an increase of roughly 4%. I am sure that if you receive such an increase, you will not feel any more financially empowered than you did at the moment before you received it, but please have no concerns as the people making this law change hold you in the same minimal regard as they did before the increase was signed into law.

Currently the state's minimum wage is the fifth highest in the country. In addition, Connecticut's cost of living is one of the highest in the country, and it is fast coming to the point where even long-time state-aggrandizing publications and organizations can no longer hide the wretched economic damage taking place. With respect to the minimum wage, the state wage ratings are found in a recent report issued by the state- CBIA (https://www.cbia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/EAP_CBIA-Foundation_0824.pdf) This very same report ranked Connecticut as the ninth highest cost of living state in the country. This very same report also stated that Connecticut is ranked 47th as one of the worst states in the country in the Business Tax Climate analysis. But let’s not stop there! A fail-safe indicator of positive economic activity is moving van rentals! Here, Connecticut does not disappoint as one of the leading move-out states in another report from the state-supportive Hartford Business Journal. https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/ct-remains-in-bottom-10-of-u-haul-growth-index-in-2024?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Developer%20to%20buy%20downtown%20Waterbury%20building%20for%20apt%20%20conversion%20%7C%20Hospital%20fined%20%24153K%20for%20terminating%20labor%2C%20delivery%20services&utm_campaign=HBJ%20Today%20010225. Suffice it to say that when even the most loyal business bulwarks can no longer hide the effects of excessive state mandated regulations, public sector inefficiency, high taxes, and a needlessly difficult state tax system, it’s evident that the Kingdom of His Royal Con Man, King Ned Lamont The Unaccountable, is deeply in trouble.

But let us return to that poor wage worker we spoke about earlier. Can one live on a minimum wage job of 40 hours a week at $16.35 an hour? How could they, given Connecticut’s excessively high taxes, excessively high housing/rent prices, excessively high electric rates, excessively high transportation/driving costs and excessively high food costs made even higher by patently idiotic energy policies? Your minimum wage job paying the royal sum of net $654 will not go far in the state. Could there possibly be a direct correlation between high state minimum wages and high costs of living? Regardless of the pandering of Connecticut Demo-Communist state legislators who prattle on about higher minimum wages resulting in greater economic prosperity, it never dawns on these taxpayer-dependent souls that those paying these high minimum wages and the consumers who purchase products, goods and or services from these unduly burdened businesses are now forced to pay higher prices across the board.  

And it is a cycle without end. Since economically failing states like Connecticut do their best to nurture a permanently dependent underclass, these businesses must continue to pay even higher wages for decent workers since states like Connecticut place a greater premium on those who are economically nonproductive but politically valuable to ensure political power. But if a Connecticut business is silly enough to continue in operation, it must increase costs to survive since it is in business to make a profit, contrary to what the Connecticut Democrat Party may think. And the workers who the Demo-Communist legislators claim to benefit from the minimum wage increase are now seeing their job options becoming more limited as struggling businesses are turning to robotics, artificial intelligence, and self-service cashiers to help save money. Or, the goods and intellectual capital of productive and valuable business people are in transport in one of those coveted moving vans headed out of state. The real world understands that money is always finite and must be earned and regenerated. And what dumb politicians often fail to realize is that the most powerful voting landslides are made by one's feet. So, if you are a lower-wage worker now confronted with job loss, please do not hesitate to thank Connecticut Demo-Communist legislators who destroyed the economy while claiming to save it.

However, if you are a purposed state Democrat and you want to come full circle in destroying the state economy, why stop with just forced wage increases? Because by now, you have learned the value of handing out “free money” in exchange for instilling fear and defeat and exerting Communistic control upon the masses. The Covid-19 pandemic was a new Gold Standard in “re-imagining” the role of government fostering non productivity by the draconian shutting down of the economy. Businesses collapsed and jobs were forever lost. During this time, many workers decided it was more economically advantageous to stay home and receive handouts from the government rather than go back to work, while an extremely valuable older generation of workers decided that they had enough of the bureaucracy upon the businesses and government decrees and either retired or rented one of the moving vans spoken of earlier to head out of state. Regrettably, the painful reality of what is wrong with the Connecticut economy is simply and brutally evident for those who are willing to see.

In closing, Connecticut should be doing everything it can to make it easier for businesses to operate in the state in 2025. instead, this new legislative session that is upon us will be the same festival of twisted and delusional rhetoric that has been heard for decades.  We will see the usual statements that higher taxes, more regulations, more state run redundancy, more program spending, higher wages and benefits for state taxpayer funded union employees, weak GOP push back, and more failed economic promises will all work to keep Connecticut at the bottom of all economic categories while keeping it at one of the highest taxed states in the country.  Moreover, always be sure to thank your Demo-Communist legislature when you check out at a local fast-food restaurant and your eyes explode at the price of the meal. And please send your state representative a thank you card after waiting in an excessively long store line waiting for a self-service kiosk to open since no more cashiers work in the grocery store anymore. Or send these dear elected official a Christmas card after you spend three hours on the phone to get a plumber to come to your house to fix a water leak. Our economy should be flourishing and vibrant for all people of any color and creed, and not just the ruling self-interested political elite who continue their destruction of both businesses and their workers in their Brave New Failed Democrat Economy they have built for decades. 

Removal of the dysfunctional, redundant, and inept characters that have played an economically poisonous game of musical chairs must quickly happen in Connecticut. The future of the state depends upon it.

The Chaos and Confusion of The Connecticut Electric and Energy Policy Jungle

Welcome to Connecticut! The state with one of the most expensive, nonsensical, impractical, irrational, and laughable energy and energy policies in the country. Therefore, suffice it to say that Electric bills are extremely expensive in Connecticut especially if one has Eversource Energy. Lately it has been discovered by many individuals that Eversource includes a "Public Benefits" charge in its monthly billing. You, as a poor slob ratepayer may wonder what a "Public Benefits " charge is doing on your electric bill? Unfortunately, you pitifully ignorant consumer, you are just now realizing that your electric bill today is a very secretive example of governmental market interference burdening the cost of a critically needed commodity.

In review of the psychodrama entitled “How Many Ways Can Connecticut Screw Up Your Light Bill”, you will note that your Eversource bill now has four areas of division, 1) Generation and Supply, or the costs to produce the electricity you use, 2) Transmission, being the costs to actually deliver the electricity from generator to electric substations, 3) Local Power, or the costs of getting the electricity from these substations to your home or business, and finally 4) Public Benefits, being a Democrat created term for hidden confiscatory state taxes that pay for state mandates such as renewable energy investments that you never were given opportunity to vote on along with welfare benefits that help to pay for people who can't afford these incredibly high energy costs in the state and other similar programs. The cost of Public Benefits is 27.8% of your bill, or over one quarter of it. As an example, if you have a $400 monthly bill, $111.20 of it has absolutely nothing to do with the electricity you are using. It should be referred to as a state excise “gouging tax” that gets doled out to yet another bureaucracy in Connecticut providing absolutely no benefit to you.

Needless to say, when Democrats run amok in Connecticut the operative question then becomes what constructive and aggressive actions will state Republicans push back with? Sadly, the usual answer is not much. A press conference held at the Legislative Office Building on August 8 found Republicans calling for the usual lukewarm mix of using ARPA funds and contrived surpluses as a band-aid fix. Regulatory changes were also mentioned. Some moderately constructive suggestions to date have come from Republican State Senator Rob Sampson who has been vocal in his opposition to this "tax". and has over the past two years introduced different "policy proposals" that would help to lower astronomical electric bills. (Sen. Sampson: CT’s Energy Crisis is the Last Straw - Connecticut Senate Republicans). However, to a man or to a woman, no state Republican in Connecticut has ever even hinted at the most critical medicine needed to truly fix state energy policy, being the embracing of the Trump energy proposals, calling for the elimination of the farcical and horrific green energy and wind power debacle, and the immediate infusion of the use of natural gas of which my friend and colleague Tony De Angelo commented that Republicans are just now whispering about, where they should have been screaming for its introduction and infusion six months ago.

But even so, more problems are afoot. The regulatory environment for electric companies is farcical and obstructive in Connecticut. I have always believed such was developed as a veneer to help nurture high and politically correct electric rates for the state. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (“PURA”) is responsible for regulating the rates and services for Eversource Energy. If one looks back at the decisions that PURA has made over the years for Eversource there is no appearance of any effective questioning of rates, expenses, mandates or accountability, nor do Eversource customers have any say whatsoever in the process of rate hearing and or rate increases. Why is this so? Is it because of prominent legislators from both parties being employed, highly compensated, and/or connected to Eversource or related clandestinely operating nonprofits in conflicted arrangements criminal in several better-thinking states? (https://www.advancect.org/our-organization/board-of-directors). But now, public awareness is at an all-time high with Eversource stating there will be a $48 a month increase in the Public Benefits section of customers' bills as supply rates will go down from 14.71 cents to 8.99 cents per kilowatt-hour. (https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/eversource-rates-increasing-in-july/). The announced increase is a mere $8 a month for average customers. However, what is not noted is the Public Benefits part of your bill for the next ten months for an average $400 monthly bill is an astounding 39% of the bill itself! But I have no concerns. That projection is only for a mere ten months!

Of course, there is the usual blame game along with the typical stale political and economic rhetoric over this rate increase that is echoed by both political sides. However, Eversource is mandated and burdened by the state to create clean energy at any cost. Eversource needs to earn a profit to stay in business. Democrats scream about electric rate increases while not understanding any of the economic consequences of their decayed and rancid clean energy and “public good” decrees and fiats that do much more harm than good for the state's economy. But due to this rudderless mess, Connecticut ratepayers get to pay one of the highest electric costs in the country.

But somehow, with this rudderless mess starting from King Ned Lamont the Unaccountable and his Democrat Party henchman and stooges, the electric rate increases, the excessive taxes on electricity and the unattainable desire not to use or even suggest the use of fossil fuels, will all be forgotten. And this is standard operating procedure in a state that has massive, short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities of anywhere from $125 to $150 billion dollars, along with the monumental and prodigious cost of living and cost of doing business in the state. This rate increase along with many other examples of Democrat Party interference and lack of pushback in the economy are the cancer that has helped create the economic conundrum that Connecticut is known for today.
Effective policy, and not oratory, pandering, and bloviating, is what is needed in 2024 for the state.