Connecticut's New Year-2021

 Happy New Year.  It is now 2021.  Unfortunately Connecticut's New Year seems to be replicating 2020 already.  Supposedly a new General Assembly will be sworn in on Wednesday in a safe and protected environment (obviously the same environment that Connecticut Taxpayers must do their grocery shopping in at large chains).  Thus they will apparently be wearing their masks (N-95 type?), take Covid-19 tests supplied by a Lamont hedge fund invested company, only walking one way up and down their outdoor aisles and have their temperatures checked possibly hourly in order to assemble.  Could they possibly meet and address the massive economic problems the state has since Ned Lamont locked down the state in March?  Could they possibly cut state spending to address the massive downturn in tax revenues and yet again another budget deficit? Could they possibly overturn and eliminate the new .05% Payroll Tax on a hypothetical Family Leave Act/Law/Decree giveaway that may go into effect in 2022?  Could they make Connecticut Taxpayers safe from theft and thieves who seem to be running rampant in the state due to the lack of enforcement of laws by our Police especially with car thefts and car break ins?  Could they address the 25% State Unemployment rate?  Could they state in writing what are all the incredible new jobs that unemployed state residents are going to be training for?  Could they eliminate the upcoming 17 cents gasoline tax that Lamont has signed on to?  Could they tell Connecticut Taxpayers what is the plan to pay off $150 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with Connecticut's unfunded liabilities?  Could they tell Connecticut Taxpayers what is the plan and time frame to fully reopen Connecticut's destroyed economy?  Could they explain to Connecticut Taxpayers why the Lamont's family hedge fund invested companies and those individuals/businesses who have ties and connections to the Connecticut Democrat Party have received and are continuing to receive no bid Connecticut Taxpayer funded contracts?  Could they make these same contracts public knowledge and post them daily on the Connecticut Taxpayer funded state website in their entirety for public knowledge?  

2021 to me seems a great deal the same as did 2020 here in Connecticut.  We still have a corrupted secret executive order government.  We still have high taxes, high unemployment, a horrific business environment, massive debt and a net migration of population out of the state.  I think Connecticut Taxpayers should get some answers and accountability out of our new General Assembly.  I think however we will get more of the same failed General Assembly that used to meet in 2020 and has been meeting since 1991.  Free Connecticut from this tyranny called government in 2021.

Connecticut's Desolation-Destruction-Despondency-Depression-Despair-Discouragement-Dejection

Desolation. Destruction.  Despondency.  Depression.  Despair.  Discouragement.  Dejection.

Do any of these words remind you of the new Ned Lamont Connecticut Democrat Party ruled Connecticut economy?  An economy ruled by a de facto consultant Board of non elected unknowns whose only concern seems to be the profit that can be derived by a select few politically connected companies and individuals in the state.  A state that apparently will never open again until every man, woman and child is tested for Covid-19 and then vaccinated for it (whether or not the vaccine works or not and or is deadly to many) all driven by a company that has been Lamont based invested in.  All in the name of supposed safety and health.

Desolation. Destruction.  Despondency.  Depression.  Despair.  Discouragement.  Dejection.

Do any of these words remind you of the new Ned Lamont Connecticut Democrat Party ruled Connecticut economy?  An economy where thousands of businesses have shut down permanently and or are on the verge of bankruptcy.  An economy that has a staggering unemployment rate of 22% and rising with few if any new jobs on the horizon due to the near collapse of the restaurant and travel industries.  

Desolation. Destruction.  Despondency.  Depression.  Despair.  Discouragement.  Dejection.

Do any of these words remind you of the new Ned Lamont Connecticut Democrat Party ruled Connecticut economy?  An economy that ranks near bottom in most economic development and business friendly categories.  What business in their right mind would want to relocate to Connecticut given its horrific conditions?  $150 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities is now the norm and acceptable to our state officials?

Desolation. Destruction.  Despondency.  Depression.  Despair.  Discouragement.  Dejection.

Do any of these words remind you of the new Ned Lamont Connecticut Democrat Party ruled Connecticut economy?  An economy where debate and questioning what the Governor does seems to be no longer allowed and a martial law atmosphere prevails that is based on fear.  Does every man, woman and child in Connecticut have Covid-19? They don't but it sure seems like it to me.  If one case is reported why is that the lead story in our biased media?  

Fear rules our state.  Never an encouraging word spoken by our supposed Governor.  Nor any type of coherent plan spoken and or debated to re open Connecticut completely as soon as possible.  No metrics and or the supposed metrics change to suit the Governor's needs and or wants.  Nothing at all.  Why has this happened?  And when will the opposition begin?  When?  

This should be the only campaign issue in Connecticut in November-but will our Governor allow the election to occur?  I really wonder. 

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.

The Economic Costs Of Connecticut's New Tolls

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