Sema 4: Yet Another Lamont Connection

It is amazing how perfectly the Covid-19 virus crisis is playing out for the Governor.  It seems like the only companies that can help the state are ones that somehow have an affiliation with either the Governor, his wife, her hedge fund and or with their friends who just happen to be state employees and or affiliated with our state government.  There seems to be a great deal of profitability in the Covid-19 virus for Ned and Ann Lamont.
Meet Sema4.  It has two laboratories in Connecticut, one in Stamford and one in Branford.  It is partially funded by Connecticut Innovations and by Ann Lamont's hedge fund Oak HC/FT among others.   Sema4 as stated in their April 6, 2020 press release: "Sema4 is partnering with the state of Connecticut and regional healthcare providers to address the pressing need for high-throughput testing, including regular screening of medical personnel and other high-risk populations. Doctors in Connecticut and New York are able to order the test. Sema4 is processing samples in its state-of-the-art clinical laboratory, which can analyze 6,000 COVID-19 tests per week and return results within 24-48 hours." “With our proximity to the epicenter of the worst COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, we desperately need increased testing capacity and reliable results reported as quickly as possible,” said Josh Geballe, Chief Operating Officer for the State of Connecticut."  (this is the same Geballe who was the VP GM of Thermo Fisher Scientific after they bought out Core Informatics which he headed and the same company that received a large loan from the state in 2014) (https://sema4.com/home/media/sema4-launches-high-capacity-covid-19-testing-to-address-critical-need-across-connecticut-and-new-york/). Sema4 has also received $15 million dollars in loans from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development of which $12.2 million is forgiven if certain job criteria is met.
My question is this:  Is the only company in the country that the state of Connecticut can do business with for these Covid-19 tests?  For the Covid-19 crisis is the state of Connecticut only allowed to do business via no bid, secret contracts with companies that have an affiliation with either the Governor, his wife, her hedge fund and or with their friends who just happen to be employees and or affiliated with our state government?  Is the state overpaying for all of this work and what is the state actually getting for its money?  It is hard to get answers such as what is Connecticut getting for the $2 million dollar no bid contract it entered with the Boston Consulting Group?
Tony DeAngelo, who has been investigating these issues on his "Ten Minutes With Tony"  segment heard on the Lee Elci Show that broadcasts on 94.9 FM New London, Connecticut talked about this new Lamont connection among other troubling connections with them on his June 16 segment. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9CYa6rW4xE&feature=youtu.be).
There seems to be a massive disconnect with Ned Lamont and the ethical boundaries of his Governorship.  Profit seems to be the driving force of his administration at the expense of the Connecticut Taxpayer.  The same Connecticut Taxpayer who is now trapped in a state it can not leave freely and without some probable cause.  Freedom is now elusive in Connecticut due to the Lamont's and their entourage.  Lamont needs to resign.

Connect More Ned Lamont Dots With Connecticut Taxpayers Monies

Ned Lamont spent a lot of his own personal wealth to self fund his successful campaign for Governor.  By buying his seat with little money from the Connecticut Democrat Party one must assume that he needs to recoup some of his investment in his bought elected seat.  Through massive powers granted to him during the Covid-19 crisis, Lamont has been able to turn to his friends from several companies such as Thermo Fisher Scientific a company that purchased Core Informatic, Boston Consulting Group, 1Life Medical and Sema-4 to give State of Connecticut's business to without apparent bidding procedures in place.  It is interesting to note that Lamont's wife Ann who has a stake in Oak HC/FT Partners III, L.P. hedge fund invests in several of the above mentioned companies. 
Lamont seems to be fixated with contact tracing as one of the solutions to stop spreading Covid-19 in the state.  Even though tracing has mixed results and in theory takes personal information from individuals (illegally?) Lamont wants it along with apparent mandatory testing of our state residents.  Connecticut Taxpayers would be logical to assume that the state would be developing bidding contracts for these services from a variety of sources.  However under Lamont's sweeping executive powers that were enacted there does not seem to be any questioning of who he is picking for many "Covid-19" emergency services and items to be paid for by Connecticut Taxpayers.
These include a no bid Covid-19 test to be purchased from Thermo Fisher Scientific.  Josh Geballe who was appointed by Lamont as his Chief Operating Officer was the former CEO of Core Informatics and more recently was a Vice President/GM for Thermo Fisher Scientific before being appointed by Lamont.
1Life Medical is producing a medical app that has hot buttons for Covid-19 testing that Lamont wants to get for the state.  Oak HC/FT Partners III, L.P. hedge fund is a large investor in 1Life Medical.  This app is the go to for the state of New York at this time also.
There will be more to come.
There are still no answers as to why Boston Consulting Group received a no bid $2 million dollar Connecticut Taxpayer funded contract to do consulting for the state.  We do know through the contract that they have the right to gather any personal information they want about Connecticut residents for this consulting.  I would state that this sounds literally like identity theft to me that a company will be allowed to take our personal information like this without our consent.
What is ADVANCECT?  Why is it tax exempt?  Why does it host the Reopen CT Advisory Committee and not the state legislature?
Tony DeAngelo, who has been investigating these issues on his "Ten Minutes With Tony"  segment heard on the Lee Elci Show that broadcasts on 94.9 FM New London, Connecticut will be looking again at some of these and new founded issues with the Lamont economic ties during the Covid-19 crisis this coming Tuesday June 16. 
Ned Lamont and his wife are very smart.  They have been successful playing up, working with friends and making profits during the Covid-19 crisis with perfectly timed moves.  It is amazing to watch and to see all of this go unquestioned by our dormant and long forgotten state legislature along with a biased pro Democrat state media while the state economy collapses.  I personally feel the current corruption of the Lamont administration during the Covid-19 issue makes what former Governor John Rowland did look like child's play.  Why this continues to go unchecked is beyond any type of rational logic.  Then again there is nothing rational, logical and or ethical about or in our state government in my opinion in 2020. 


 

June 10, 2020-Do You Know Where Connecticut Sends Your Personal Information To?

Do you know where Connecticut sends your personal information to?  Do you know if this legal?  Were you told that your personal information would be used without your knowledge and your consent by Connecticut?
If one looks more closely to the secret signed agreement/contract between Executive Order Governor Ned Lamont and the Boston Consulting Group, there is an unreported provision regarding "identifier information" for "contact tracing". This provision allows this company to access without question or notification Connecticut residents personal information that includes:(from the contract)

Appendix A Page 6

Appendix A: Contract Terms

1. DEFINITIONS

Confidential Information:  Any name, number or other information that may be used, alone or in conjunction with any other information, to identify a specific individual including, but not limited to, such individual's name, date of birth, mother's maiden name, motor vehicle operator's license number, Social Security number, employee identification number, employer or taxpayer identification number, alien registration number, government passport number, health insurance identification number, demand deposit account number, savings account number, credit card number, debit card number or unique biometric data such as fingerprint, voice print, retina or iris image, or other unique physical representation. Without limiting the foregoing, Confidential Information shall also include any information that the  State classifies as “confidential” or “restricted.”  Confidential Information shall not include information that may be lawfully obtained from publicly available sources or from federal, state, or local government records which are lawfully made available to the general public. 

I am curious as to why we as Taxpayers and citizens of the state are not notified of this?   Since when is our personal information allowed to be given to a consulting group?   We still have not been given an explanation as to what the state is going to receive on this apparent open ended contract that apparently can be renewed through 2021 with this Boston Consulting Group.  Nor do we hear anything from our inoperative legislature (which in theory is our real government) during this crisis or on this contract. 
Moreover, it seems that this legislature failed to report the details of this contract, and this development is even more appalling as more than one legislator has sent an article linking to this contract to recipients on their mailing lists, thereby proving the contract information was in hand, (and unread).

My friend Tony De Angelo continues to discuss this and other Lamont profit issues and the web of Lamont ties to companies doing business with the state on his weekly segment "Ten Minutes With Tony" from June 9, 2020  that can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDVbvTcJ8xY&feature=youtu.be. Please listen to it as I highly recommend it.   The media seems to be continuing to ignore these issues.  I wonder why?

Ned Lamont:Profits Over Connecticut Taxpayers

There is a great deal of money to be made during a crisis.  The Covid-19 crisis has brought about many great opportunities to profit if one has both the political connections along with immunity from the law.  It has been profits over people since March 17 and before here in Connecticut.  For that is the date of the great closing of Connecticut as dictated by Ned Lamont.  This was the date that was the final closing date for many businesses in Connecticut that will never reopen again.  Don't worry, some food was provided by Lamont but it had to be gotten from large supermarket chains and warehouses.  It apparently was much safer to shop there than your local store and for only "essential" items.  Many Mom and Pop stores, small restaurants and service companies will never open again.  Many are still trying to survive and are struggling under the draconian conditions placed upon them through Lamont's Executive Orders.  Phased reopening conditions that in some cases defy both common and economic logic.  Do all restrictions end when Lamont's daughter gets married?
Did Lamont or the Boston Consulting Group ever wonder what would happen to those customers of restaurants (they are not guests) who are eating outside when a sudden rain shower passes through?  Why are they not allowed to go inside the restaurant and finish their meal?  Are their germs different from being outside than inside?  Has Boston Consulting Group determined this somehow?  Obviously Lamont and the Boston Consulting Group have little like or need for the Connecticut restaurant industry even though restaurant customers get to pay a higher state sales tax for the privilege of eating prepared food out.  7.35% versus 6.35%.  Do we get something extra from the state for paying that 1% extra in sales tax?  As can be seen during this crisis the restaurant industry seems not to be necessary in Connecticut in either providing jobs, personal or business income, and or tax revenues.  Apparently we can just forgot about them especially the small ones.  Your life's work and savings can be eliminated with one mere Lamont Executive Order.
Lamont seems to be fixated with a long, gradual and economically painful reopening to the remaining businesses and industries in Connecticut.  You now need certification to reopen.  The Boston Consulting Group with its no bid Taxpayer funded contract wants a long and gradual reopening to the state so that more profits can be forthcoming to select groups with political ties to Connecticut especially themselves.
Testing for Covid-19 and Contact tracing is a given in the long run under the state's reopening and I am sure it will be forced upon Connecticut's Taxpayers as a way to supposedly stop the already stopped Covid-19 virus.  The state's numbers on the virus are way down and the bulks of deaths were sadly found in nursing homes with elderly people.  Little is said about this other than Lamont wants all the employees and patients of nursing and assisted living homes to be tested.  And then what?  A slow death to those who have it?  Or profits to companies that have ties to the state and the Lamonts?  They may include the Boston Consulting Group, One Medical, Core Infomatics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Oak HC/PT Partners III or others.   Since the state bidding process for these tests and procedures is either secret and or does not exist Connecticut Taxpayers will never find out who gets what. 
Ned Lamont continues to place profits over the Connecticut Taxpayer.  The state seems to be his own new toy to pay back business friends and his own family with profits from the never ending Covid-19 virus.  A virus that has destroyed the state economy while bringing home the cash to the select political elite few.
I am so tired of Connecticut's government constantly ripping off the Connecticut Taxpayer.  The economic rape never ends, as those in state government, the so-called media, all benefiting from these arrangements stand by in virtual silence.  

Connect The Connecticut Dots (With Connecticut Taxpayers Monies)

Connect the dots is a game played with Connecticut Taxpayers Monies.  Ned Lamont continues unchecked with daily Executive Orders to stop the spread of Covid-19 while allowing a small mix of businesses to open including the casinos along with hair salons and barbers.  Social distancing of six feet and masks is still required if you need to shop however if you wish to protest on the state highways it is apparently not required.  I wonder if Lamont will clarify that in a new and upcoming Executive Order?
As of June 3 we still do not understand how Boston Consulting Group has received a $2 million dollar no bid state contract for consulting apparently their process that will dictate to the state to reopen.  We do not know who are the actual consultants are nor what they will be doing for their $2 million dollars.  Why is Boston Consulting Group the experts on reopening Connecticut? Could it perhaps be that there is a financial benefit to the Lamont family by the employment of this firm?  You might see some areas of concern as you read further.

We also we are seeing that Thermo Fisher Scientific a company that purchased Core Informatics seems to be gaining a no bid state contract for Covid-19 tests that we are assuming will be mandatory for everyone in Connecticut.  It is interesting to see that Josh Geballe who was appointed by Lamont as his Chief Operating Officer was the former CEO of Core Informatics and more recently was a Vice President/GM for Thermo Fisher Scientific before being appointed by Lamont.  Is it possible that Gabelle still owns Thermo Fisher Scientific shares and incentives while he is employed in oversight to the state?  Is it also possible that one of Ann Lamont's Oak HC/FT hedge funds now owns shares in Thermo Fisher Scientific since the funds were largely responsible for the Core Informatics acquisition at great profit?  Are there no other companies in the country that they get these tests from except from this political connection? Please bear in mind that all of the above are legitimate questions, none whatsoever of which have ever been asked by any media source, legislator, or department head of this state to date as far as I am aware of.   In addition Lamont's wife Ann is part owner/investor in Oak HC/FT Partners III, L.P. fund that is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, a haven for secrecy of financial matters.  This fund was seeded with close to $800 million dollars shortly after the time of the porous Ethics Commission opinion that was issued by the state concerning the possibility of the Lamont's financial dealings while he is Governor.  This same limited partnership invests $156 million dollars in "1Life Medical" that is involved in producing a medical app that has hot buttons for Covid-19 testing.  This was done on February 4, 2020 immediately prior to the onset of the pandemic.  It is amazing how perfectly timed this investment was.
It is also interesting to see the similarities between the 1Life Medical website and the Boston Consulting Group websites.  They look very alike.  It is even more intriguing to note that "One Medical" (dba 1Life Medical) is the go to firm for Covid-19 testing in the State of New York. 

Is it possible that these companies are profiting from Connecticut due to their connections?  Does the longer a shutdown exists in Connecticut and New York, the more "One Medical"and the Lamont's profit from testing?  These are all legitimate questions needing immediate answers for the benefit of all citizens.

Tony DeAngelo, who has been investigating these issues on his "Ten Minutes With Tony"  segment heard on the Lee Elci Show that broadcasts on 94.9 FM New London, Connecticut on today's  Tuesday June 2 offering. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HD5g-hgtvMM&feature=youtu.be). Tony has done a powerful job in exposing a massive connect the dots of what amounts to being strong profits for some state players financed by Connecticut Taxpayers via the Lamont Administration.  Further, one also has to question the formation of the ADVANCE CT Foundation that also receives its tax exemption at the absolutely perfect moment in February, 2020 so that possible covert transactions could occur.  Tony does an excellent job in bringing this issue out from a professional's view.  I highly suggest you listen to this segment.

Therefore we see that our state officials play connect the dots as a game with Connecticut Taxpayers Monies.  We also see that some of the dots may be tethered to tentacles.  And Connecticut Taxpayers still can not get answers as to what is truly going on with these companies, their contracts, the Lamonts and their investments and with Connecticut Taxpayers Monies.

Connecticut's Government Profit Maze Funded By Connecticut's Taxpayers

I continue to be amazed at the complexities of Connecticut's state government under the rule of Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Democrat Party.  50 Executive Orders and growing.  Profits apparently will come at the expense of the Connecticut Taxpayer due to Covid-19 while the state has $145 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities that is being ignored.  Trying to understand the unclear and draconian guidelines that the secret Reopen Connecticut Committee came up with is a massive task (https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Office-of-the-Governor/News/20200526-Governors-Reopen-Report.pdf?la=en).  The report forces unrealistic costs on businesses need to take on in order to reopen.  It also is apparent that mandatory testing is essential.   They are also stressing in the report that they are trying "to build trust in reopening plan" (p.41).  How?  Why should  "Wearing a mask is the new normal" (p.40) be forced upon us?   Studies are showing wearing masks cause more harm than good.  Why should Connecticut Taxpayers build trust in a horrific plan to micromanage their lives developed in secret by a bunch of millionaires (some who may profit from Covid-19)?  Their guidelines should be viewed as a bunch of illogical rules and illegal rhetoric that once again eliminates more personal freedoms in the state.  If you read this secret report that seems to be hidden from the public view you will become possibly sick from it due to its content. 
We still do not get any answers nor know what the Boston Consulting Group will be doing to help the state in their "advisory role" for their $2 million dollar Connecticut Taxpayer funded contract?
Nor do we see as Connecticut Taxpayers why the former Connecticut Economic Resource Center is now known as a non profit entity called Advance CT that works with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).  Connecticut Taxpayers have helped to finance Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and its massive waste in spending.  Are we now going to subsidize Advance CT?  For example (DECD) "was cited by state auditors for forgiving or modifying state loans to companies totaling $23.6 million and awarding $16 million in excess assistance through the First Five Plus program" (https://yankeeinstitute.org/2020/03/04/decd-dished-out-39-million-in-excess-loans-and-improper-loan-forgiveness-to-companies/).   The First Five program has been an enormous waste of Connecticut Taxpayers monies since its inception and has created few jobs.
Lamont's wife Ann is the Executive Managing member of Oak HC/FT Management Company, LLC (Oak HC/FT) and certain general partnerships for private investment funds managed by them.   Will any of their companies they invest in receive state contracts from this crisis and profit by them? 
Is is also interesting to note that Ned Lamont's Chief of Staff Josh Gabelle was the former Chief Executive Officer of Core Informatics that was sold to Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2017.  However back in 2014 Core Informatics received a massive state contract with $3 million dollars in a state grant by Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).  (http://www.branfordseven.com/business/branford-based-core-informatics-in-line-for-3-million-in-state-funding/article_ebcc794e-b611-11e3-a0d6-0017a43b2370.html). Gabelle was the head of Core Infomatics at that time.   Thermo Fisher Scientific is working on Covid-19 testing and Lamont wants to get tests from them apparently for the state (https://ctmirror.org/2020/05/05/no-surge-yet-for-covid-19-testing-governor-says-its-coming/).  
Confusing?  Of course.  It is meant to be that way.  For more clarity please listen to Tony DeAngelo, who has been investigating these issues on his next "Ten Minutes With Tony"  segment heard on the Lee Elci Show that broadcasts on 94.9 FM New London, Connecticut this coming Tuesday June 2.
Connecticut's profit maze seems to be funded by Connecticut Taxpayers.  Ned Lamont seems to be unable to make a decision unless it can somehow be profited from.  Ned Lamont in true Democrat Party fashion does not want to waste a crisis and its profitability.  Ned Lamont is destroying Connecticut by his actions.

Who Is Running Connecticut? Part 2 Of Not Ned Lamont

I am still wondering who is running Connecticut?  I really do not know who is running the state?
Is it Indra Nooyr former CEO of Pepsi who was chosen as Co-Chair of the Reopen Connecticut Committee?  Is she a true "Missionary for CT" as is claimed and has been stated about her.  Is she is a savior to the state even though I am still very confused as to her legal residence?  Is her legal residence Connecticut or Florida as has been recorded in real estate papers from her condo in Miami Beach, Florida?  Tony DeAngelo, who is the Owner of Paragon Trust and a radio commentator with his segment "Ten Minutes With Tony"  heard on on the Lee Elci Show that broadcasts on 94.9 FM New London, Connecticut shared on his Tuesday May 26th segment the homestead issue with Florida and how it contradicts her supposed Connecticut residency?  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-UVE9WPs04&feature=youtu.be)
If we look at residency for elected officials here in Connecticut how do we know that our elected  government officials and department heads are complying with residency rules and laws and filing resident taxes?  Why are we allowing non Connecticut residents who are very wealthy and non elected such as the Reopen Connecticut Committee and Boston Consulting Group to make decisions that impact our state so severely?  Who made this decision?  Ned Lamont?
Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Democrat Party continue to avoid answering these questions that are being asked on these individuals.  Ten years of job creation have been wiped out in one month by our Governor.   And Connecticut's economy continues to be destroyed because of Lamont's constantly changing and never ending maze of decrees and guidelines that ultimately will cause much more physical and economic harm than good to the Taxpayers and legal Connecticut business owners that remain standing after this debacle. 
What will towns and cities do on August 1 when property tax revenues drop dramatically?   What will the state do when sales tax and corporate tax revenues drop severely over the coming months?  Just raises taxes as usual?  Where has there been any shared sacrifice by Ned Lamont?  He still is taking his full salary and benefits.  Where has there been any shared sacrifice by any Democrat elected official in the state at this time?  There has been none.  Only the Connecticut Taxpayer must sacrifice to continue this charade called state government to operate until its bitter end. 
Free Connecticut from Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Democrat Party.  Their lies have become too large to continue to be ignored.

Who Is Running Connecticut? Not Ned Lamont.

This past week was a somewhat very difficult reopening for some Connecticut businesses who were allowed to reopen.   Some Connecticut businesses have not been allowed to reopen yet and some have gone out of business for good.   It also was another week of non-resident Connecticut rule in Connecticut.  The Reopen Connecticut Advisory Committee has supposedly disbanded by the Governor's orders to be replaced apparently by the Boston Consulting Group.  The Boston Consulting Group will advise the state as to how they should reopen through its generous $2 million dollar no bid state contract it received by Ned Lamont.
The co-chair of ill fated and secret 50 member Reopen Connecticut Advisory Committee is an interesting example of a lack of transparency in our government.  For example, Indra Nooyr former CEO of Pepsi was chosen as Co-Chair of this Committee.  I wonder why?  In a state of over 3,500,000 people was she the best choice?   Her family has a home in Greenwich.  Does being a resident of Greenwich qualify one to be in this position?   She and her husband apparently own a luxury condo in Miami, Florida that is for sale (https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2675-S-Bayshore-Dr-PH-1-Miami-FL-33133/2090024211_zpid/).  The issue of this residence was brought to my attention by Tony DeAngelo, who is the Owner of Paragon Trust Company and also is a radio commentator with his segment "Ten Minutes With Tony"  heard on on the Lee Elci Show that broadcasts on 94.9 FM New London, Connecticut.  I wonder if her Florida address is her permanent residence for tax purposes so as to avoid paying our high taxes in Connecticut? We do not know if she is a full time or part time resident of the state.  Since tax records are not public knowledge we have no way of knowing where she pays her taxes since she has multiple residences.  
Is the Boston Consulting Group a Connecticut based corporation?  No it is not.  I have been asked by many people as to why was it chosen for leading the efforts to reopen Connecticut?  Was it political favoritism?  Was it a new example of Ned Lamont's pay to play here in Connecticut?   How did this consulting group become an expert on the Covid-19 virus and the subsequent reopening procedures for Connecticut and other states?  What are their qualifications for this?  In reading their charts and position papers one should become very concerned as to what these "experts" write about.  Quoted from this article (https://www.bcg.com/en-us/publications/2020/lessons-from-asia-economic-recovery-post-covid-19.aspx) "It is a fallacy that in Western economies such dynamic application of the balance between transparency and privacy is not possible. In Europe and the US, telecom carriers already share (anonymized) data to track people’s movements. In a certain NYC park, an unauthorized gathering of people was detected using this data. However, care is in order: if the balance shifts too far, it will be incredibly harmful. Citizens’ trust will be further broken, and they will take actions (such as leaving the phone at home or not reporting symptoms) to avoid being detected—a disaster for containment efforts."  Note their statement "they will take actions (such as leaving the phone home.."   Are they advocating that all of our movements need to be followed by our government?  It seems like that to me.  Is Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Democrat Party afraid where we might assemble?  Is Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Democrat Party afraid of civil disobedience?  Is Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Democrat Party afraid we might start questioning the lack of transparency in who is really running our state?  These are major issues that need to be addressed before one cent of Taxpayer's Monies are given to the Boston Consulting Group.
Ned Lamont needs to stop treating the citizens of Connecticut as his personal puppets on a string.   He is an indecisive Governor who seems to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of both his actions and constant changes he makes to his executive orders.  He needs to be transparent.  And more importantly he needs to resign.  We need democracy to be restored in Connecticut today before it is too late.

The New Government Of Connecticut

Connecticut has a new government.   It is a non elected government.  It does not have to answer to Connecticut Taxpayers.  It gets paid a great deal of Connecticut Taxpayers monies to operate without any transparency nor any accountability.  It has replaced what was formerly our Legislative branch of Connecticut government being the State House of Representatives and the State Senate.  It can dictate to Connecticut businesses when and how they can open.  It can dictate the penalties and fines that can be expected for not following their guidelines and rules.  It can replace these guidelines and rules for the Connecticut State Constitution.  It can constantly change at a minutes notice opening rules and dates for Connecticut's businesses with no repercussions or questioning by anyone.  It can decree those individuals who were voted into office non essential and having no longer any say in Connecticut's government. 
Indra Nooyi was appointed co-chair of the Reopen Connecticut Committee that was created to reopen the state.  She was the former CEO of Pepsi Co.  Why was she appointed?  Does she have ties to the Boston Consulting Group?  It is very interesting that on this same committee that there was no members of the general public chosen.  No public comment was allowed to this group.  No transparency.  Everyone was handpicked by Ned Lamont.  Now the surprise of Ned Lamont to disband this committee quickly and have it replaced now by the Boston Consulting Group with a large Connecticut Taxpayer funded contract. 
The Boston Consulting Group you may or may not know has been embroiled in controversy most recently with its work with Isabel dos Santos, the daughter of the former president of Angola, who became a billionaire allegedly by plundering state coffers through various shell companies including a Swiss Jewelery firm named De Grisogono (https://corpwatch.org/article/bcg-mckinsey-pwc-consultants-implicated-angola-corruption-scandal). 
The Boston Consulting Group was given a non bid and undisclosed contract to basically carry out the reopening of Connecticut.  The same graphics and articles written by them  seem to be seen with six other states; New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Delaware.  These states including Connecticut have formed a a regional consortium to reduce competition when purchasing personal protective equipment for use.  It is very interesting to see each state use the Boston Consulting Group graphics when talking about reopening their states and following their guidelines.
I wonder how did Boston Consulting group become an expert on Covid-19?  I wonder how did Boston Consulting group become an expert on Connecticut's economy?  Was it through their political connections with the Democrat Party nationwide?  Was it through their contributions to the Democrat Party?   What value are they offering for $2 million dollars?  Can this be explained somehow?  Why were they chosen?  Can anyone in our state government respond to this?  Why hasn't our state media investigated this?
Ned Lamont is indeed over his head as Governor of Connecticut.  To rely upon a political consulting group to decide the economic future of the state is sickening and will impact our economy for future generations.  This contract and Lamont's actions during this crisis needed to be investigated immediately.  We are no longer safe with Ned Lamont and the Boston Consulting Group in charge of Connecticut.  Stop lying to us Governor Lamont once and for all and resign.

The Brutal Reopening Of Connecticut Small Businesses on May 20, 2020

May 20, 2020.
That is the official day that has been decreed by Executive Order by our ruler Ned Lamont and his secret non public/non transparent consulting group and committee to start a four part process to reopen Connecticut.  A day that could live in the history of Connecticut as to one of the most economically damaging days to the remaining small businesses that will reopen.  We are also looking three more draconian steps on three possible dates in the future that will possibly reopen most of the rest of state. 
In trying to understand and comprehend the series of decrees, new laws and rules that govern business here in the state, one can see that large businesses will have a much easier time to reopen than small businesses.  Small businesses at this time when they least can afford it will be incurring much higher costs of operations to try to do business next week.
A realistic example is the plight of small restaurants in the state.  They are now allowed to serve a limited number of customers in outdoor seating next Wednesday.  How is this defined?  Since zoning laws and regulations differs from town to city depending on where you are located, some restaurants will have greater difficulty in setting up outdoor seating than others.  Looking at several local restaurants here in Wallingford they will have limited outdoor seating due to their location.  How is the dining experience enjoyable if you have to eat outside on a cold evening?  How is the dining experience enjoyable if you are not allowed to talk to people at the restaurant that you wish to talk to? How is the dining experience enjoyable if you must wear masks and only take them off when you are eating?  Obviously if you healthy enough to want to eat at a restaurant the logic behind the masks becomes irrational.  Also I fail to see how restaurants will be profitable at this time offering what amounts to in some cases operating at 5% capacity.  Constant cleaning of all areas at these outdoor venues will also supposedly lead to a safe dining experience.  I wonder who foots the bill for all these new cleaning procedures, cleaning materials, cleaning wipes (that can not be found anywhere), etc?  I can see many small restaurants closing for good over the next few weeks.  Our government does not understand the economics of the restaurant industry in this state.  Take out and to go meals are limited in profitability and in demand.
The new push for fool proof temperature checking is also another illogical and irrational expense for small businesses.  Are the thousands of these new and improved thermometers being distributed fool proof?  Will they work in conjunction with the new 5G secret technology?  What happens if someone traditionally has a low temperature below 98.6? What happens if someone traditionally has a high temperature above 100.4?  Who has decided these measures since the Connecticut Public Health Commissioner was fired and a "new" individual has been selected?  Is Ned Lamont now an expert of a person's temperature?
We have seen over the past sixty days a constant changing of the rules in doing business in the state.  We see that Connecticut deems large box chains, package stores, and medical marijuana stores essential to the state economy.  Small businesses were not deemed essential since March 17, 2020.  The economic logic to this continues to be irrational.
The non transparent Reopen Connecticut Advisory Committee along with a no bid $2 million dollar contract to the Democrat Party friendly Boston Consulting Group are now making all the decisions to reopen the state on their terms with little to no input from Connecticut Taxpayers.  The excessive demands and costs that they are placing on the remaining small Connecticut businesses who are fighting for their economic survival is sickening.   How will they survive?  Our state media who completely backs Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Democrat Party refuse any investigative reporting on what has been massive violations of our state constitution.  Where is our State Senate and House of Representatives who supposedly "represent" us with an occasional email or press release telling us of yet even new laws that we must live by?  The have been silent and non existent with the exception of Republican State Senator Rob Sampson and Republican State Representative Craig Fishbein. They have abandoned with ease their constitutional responsibility to represent us in Connecticut.
A brutal state economy with high taxes and regulations coupled with overreaching reopening laws has sealed the fate of Connecticut's small businesses.  Is there absolutely no mercy on small businesses in Connecticut?  Why did this happen?  Why?

Is There A Plan To Reopen Connecticut?

How has anything that Connecticut has done since March 17 made us more healthy from Covid-19?  I really wonder.  We need to reopen Connecticut's economy now so we do not go into a protracted never ending economic depression.  For every day the state is shut down as it has been for the past 54 days since March 17 there has been a massive loss of economic activity that is now contributing to a 20% plus unemployment rate as of May 8, a roughly $2.5 billion dollar budget deficit for the fiscal year, and a permanent loss of small businesses in the state.  This means that the Connecticut worker and taxpayer will have a great deal of difficulty in finding a new job in the future and will be looking at tax increases that will probably be very large in the near future.  How does someone unemployed with limited benefits and cash pay their taxes?  How does a business that has been forced to shut down come up with the money to pay its taxes especially their upcoming local property taxes?
The piecemeal approach to the virus has been very costly to the state and has eliminated many personal freedoms.   Ned Lamont who is ruling Connecticut by numerous executive orders without any legislative input has created a quagmire of economically illogical laws and rules that will do little for the state's economic health and well being.  For example why delay the opening of camp grounds in the state until June 11?  How is this date picked out of the air like that?  Is Lamont trying to stop groups of people getting together on Memorial Day Weekend?  This is now going to cause private campgrounds to lose even more revenue.  Being outside at a campground is one of the easiest way to practice social distancing. 
Why has Lamont created a private Commission to develop a plan to reopen the state that must report its findings by May 20.  Why is this plan taking so long?  Why is this Commission not transparent? 
There have been many things that Lamont could have done since March 17 to stabilize the state economy.  He needs to understand that Connecticut Taxpayers continue to face exceptional financial issues due to the state shutdown of the economy. 
He should implemented a 10% cut in all non essential, non virus state spending.  This could have saved the state roughly $1 billion dollars for the remainder of the current fiscal year.  These cuts would have also included a politically unpopular 10% cut in all State Commissioners salaries and benefits and also include a similar 10% in all State non union management salaries and benefits.
He could have frozen all state union workers and retirees wages and benefits forgoing their 3.5% scheduled pay increase on July 1.  These simple pay cuts and freezes could have saved the state an estimated $425 million dollars over the next two fiscal years.  The SEBAC state employee union agreement needs to be reopened as it is economically unsustainable given the shut down of the state economy.  Ned Lamont also could have led by example by foregoing his salary at this time.  After all how much of his own personal money did he spend on his campaign to win the Governorship?  The cuts in pay would show those who are unemployed in the state due to the state's mandates to the shut the economy and eliminate their jobs that the state was serious in addressing both their plight and the loss of tax revenues that is occurring. 
Small stores and businesses should be able to reopen immediately.  How is there no risk in shopping at a large store as compared to shopping at a small store?  A small coffee shop should be able to be open for people to walk into in the morning and get their coffee.  At some point these small shops and especially restaurants need to reopen or they will closed forever.   For some it is already too late and they will be permanently closed.   What happens when the unemployment checks stop in six months?  What are the unemployed going to do for money to live on?   Does our state have an unlimited supply of money with $145 billion dollars already in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities?  Won't their ability to borrow more money come with much higher interest costs and downgrades in debt grading?
Connecticut Taxpayers need to contact their State Representatives, State Senators and their Governor immediately to demand that the state economy opens again.  We still are governed by a rule of laws and a state constitution contrary to the Lamont decrees.  Contact the Governors office at 860-566-4840 or 800-406-1527 and express your frustrations with his inaction and executive orders.  We as a state can not wait any longer.  The time is now Covid-19 or not to move on and reopen.  We all can take precautions to safeguard our health and those around us.  We have an educated society here in Connecticut.  We are not stupid as our government seems to think we are when it comes to our health. 

The Economic Hole Of No Return For Connecticut?

Can Connecticut come back economically in 2020?  Or in 2021?  How about the election year of 2022?  Will this be the virus that seals our economic fate here in Connecticut once and for all?  The economic hole of no return for the state?  An economic recession that we can never come out of?
We are told constantly to stay home and stay safe.  When will be allowed out of our homes to resume normal economic activity?  Pick a date and pick a restriction according to our by the decree Governor and his non elected officials and advisory boards.
Connecticut seems to be a wanna be New York tagging along with their Governor to try to figure out what to do economically.  Connecticut in my opinion is much different than New York especially economically.  Although many Connecticut residents work in New York City,  Fairfield county is only one part of our state greatly different than for example Windham county.  With very few virus cases why was Windham county completely shut down economically?   An economic shutdown for the entire state was not necessary if there was some logical planning taken place by the Lamont Administration so as not to treat the state exactly the same.  One must remind the Governor that our state is just not Fairfield county with its gold coast along with its economically challenged cities such as Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven.  Connecticut has many defined rural areas and family run farms that are always an after thought to our state and are usually forgotten about.  Now since they have been shut down we see their economic problems.  For example our dairy industry must face massive losses.  Will they will survive in the long run?  I guess the Governor did not realize that cows produce milk daily and there has been an enormous amount of milk thrown out since his mandated shutdown.  The wasted milk also means a massive loss of revenue for these farms.  What is the plan for these farms if any to help them? 
Connecticut now has about a 20% to 22% unemployment rate due to the shut down.  One in five in the work force is out of work.  Down the road we will see the state's unemployment fund be completely depleted.  How much federal taxpayer monies will dumped into this fund?  How much higher will the state unemployment tax go up to for the remaining businesses left in the state to pay for unemployment benefits?  What was the economic logic in leaving large retail stores open while small retail stores were forced to close?   And how many of these same stores will reopen in the future?  
Connecticut's restaurant industry has been completely overhauled with massive restrictions placed upon them.  Their future is unknown and will be challenged if they are no longer allowed to operate at full capacity due to social distancing decrees.  Many will close for good in the short and long run.
Connecticut still has $145 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  The state budget is now massively out of balance due to the downturn in tax revenues.  Connecticut wants more federal tax monies to help them out even though our Congressional delegation has spent the last four years condemning all things President Trump.  Now they demand immediate action by him while billions of state dollars have been squandered over the years.
Connecticut's lack of emergency planning and years of fiscal mismanagement have come to an ugly head in 2020.  Lamont and his crew are starting their usual chant of raising taxes yet again to get the state out of this new and foreboding economic hole of no return.  And as usual there was no immediate action by Lamont in March to suspend collective bargaining in the state and cut state management and commissioners salaries (including his) along with other non essential state spending.  No short term plan other than "Stay home, stay safe". 
The virus has killed people in our state there is no denying it nor should it be taken lightly.  The stresses of losing family members is great especially with limited and or a lack of a funeral.  However people continue die from many other health related problems in the state daily.  Drug abuse and drug overdoses continue (although not spoken about in our controlled media).   We sadly can not control and or prevent deaths from occurring in our society. 
With the economic actions of the Lamont administration since March we may have been "safe at home"  but with some rational common sense our economic system could have continued in some capacity to have avoided a second great depression from taking place in our state as we see today.   Ned Lamont was supposedly such a successful business owner prior to being Governor.  Sadly he lacks any type of economic savvy or economic logic as Governor.  And he and his administration will forever be known as placing Connecticut into the economic hole of no return. 

Part Two: Economic Consequences of Government Decisions-What Date Do We Open?

I ask again, what date do we reopen our state economy?  There are economic consequences to any governmental decision.  We can see this on a constant basis in Connecticut.  Governor Lamont's decision to shut down Connecticut's economy is having enormous repercussions to the state and its citizens.
Those signing up for new unemployment claims is at an all time high with over 402,000 new claims being filed in the past few weeks with more being processed.  These claims equal levels not seen since the Great Depression of 1929-1933.  We are seeing now in Connecticut an estimated 18 to 20% unemployment rate or roughly one in five workers are now out of work due to this shutdown.
Obviously high unemployment rates create massive economic issues for Connecticut.  These economic issues include a massive downturn in tax revenues being collected, a massive cost in paying out unemployment benefits, and a massive increase in the state debt which is currently $140 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  How much higher will it go?  In my opinion we will see an additional $5 to $15 billion dollars in debt be added due to this shutdown.  We also see a massive budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 due to the the lack of tax revenue coming in.  Governor Lamont has simply said he is glad we have a rainy day fund of approximately $2.5 billion dollars.  How far is that going to go during this crisis?  When and how will it ever be replaced in the future if we have a long term economic contraction in the state?  Why hasn't Governor Lamont instituted cuts in state spending for all non essential non virus related spending?  Federal funds for the virus being sent to Connecticut will not cover all the state monies being spent at this time. 
We know now the new commission appointed by Governor Lamont has until May 20th just to submit a report to him on how to reopen the economy.  I find it interesting that Indra Nooyl who was the former CEO of Pepsi is co-chairing this committee.  I would think that her background in private industry would allow her to move quickly and come up with this report in far less time than on May 20th.  As a former CEO of Pepsi would she move this slowly to resolve a problem of this magnitude in her former company?  I also find it very interesting that no elected State Representatives or Senators were picked for this committee.  In reviewing the individuals on this committee and their backgrounds  I really do not see many new ideas and policies being generated from them nor do I see how this type of committee follows our state constitution?  How is this legal?  I thought we had an elected Representative Republic/Democracy form of government where we elected individuals to represent us?   However as we see in a crisis the state seems to avoid the state constitution and laws our state was founded on.  We as taxpayers must accept now the decrees of this committee now as the rule of law to govern our economic lives here in the future.  Why?   
What an economic mess.  
I leave you with this thought:
We would not have been the United States of America for 246 years if we allowed fear and shame to prevent our individual rights and freedoms that our guaranteed by the Bills of Rights and the Constitution. 

Part One: Economic Consequences of Government Decisions-What Date Do We Open?

What date do we reopen our state economy?  There are economic consequences to any governmental decision.  We can see this on a daily basis in Connecticut.  Arguments on both sides of the spectrum have been seen with the actions of shutting down Connecticut's economy because of Covid 19 and when and or how it will ever reopen again.  And Connecticut is not a surrogate city of New York either contrary to what our Governor wants us to believe.
Another week passes, another week and yet another week of the shutdown with a constant shuffling of dates.of possibly reopening the state  Decisions need to be made quickly.  Those essential decisions are not being made except for Governor Lamont's complex decree after decree after someone suggests to him to change this or that. 
Is this effective leadership and government?
Connecticut even though it has an elected government seems to be relying upon a private sector decision making team for educational decisions and now on how to reopen the economy.
A new team of public officials and others were appointed by Lamont with the task of reopening the economy.  I wonder if they are going to be paid?  When are they going to meet?  Will their meetings be televised? Our taxpayers allowed to voice their opinions to them? Will they have any transparency? The list is long as far as the individuals chosen with various business and health care backgrounds along with several state officials.  Do they truly represent a cross section of the state economy?  How come there was not someone who recently signed up for unemployment and now has to wait six weeks for their check chosen?  How about a small business owner who was shut out of the state program to help them survive during the state mandated shutdown and is on the verge of bankruptcy now?  None of those people get chosen.  The task force decision should be immediate and with a decisive reopening date.  For with every day Connecticut's economy continues in this lockdown our state economic turmoil and road to bankruptcy continues.  Bankruptcies will be forthcoming, businesses shut down for good and a massive continuing unemployment with little prospects of finding replacement jobs since who will want to operate a business in this type of state command economy.  Taxes for sure will be going up for Fiscal Year 20-21 we can count on it.  There has been absolutely no cutting of state management and commissioner salaries at this time.  There is no asking state unions to forgo their pay raises effective July 1.  There is no shared sacrifice from those in government power making these draconian economic decisions for others who are now fast approaching the point of no economic return and economic failure. 
If one looks at Connecticut we can see that certain parts of the state such as Windham and Tolland counties have few cases and deaths from the virus.  The economic question is why are they completely shut down?  As we see with common sense flu precautions that can be followed that part of our state could be reopened quickly and allow for people to work again and businesses to operate.
The backbone of Connecticut's economy is small business and industry.  Politicians really do not understand that especially our Governor.  It is gets boring to hear all of the supposed promises that are being made to these small business owners who in many cases are the true risk takers that have made our economy successful since our country was formed.  They are now long forgotten in the state due to the elitists who run our state in 2020.
I leave you with this thought:
There is no sound louder than an economic hostage set free from government decree and rule.  We have been bullied too long in Connecticut.  

Easter Covid-19 Thoughts

Happy Easter!  One of the holiest days of the year will be this Sunday April 12th.  Church services are now online and we are not allowed to worship in person due to Covid-19.  Family gatherings for the most part have been cancelled and lives have been turned upside down.  Even though we are not allowed to worship in free physical assembly we will still practice in spirit.   One must not forget our First Amendment rights of Freedom of Religion and Assembly as stated by the United States Constitution during this crisis.
In writing my columns I try to look at the economic implications of political decisions.  I have studied economics and the economy both nationally and world wide since I was in High School.  I have taught Economics and Business classes for thirty eight years now and have seen and taught about many economic crises in the classroom during that time frame.  A consistent theme that I have seen in these different crises has been the intervention by our government in trying to create a positive outcome to the economic issue.  Worldwide free governments also try to do the same.  Each time government tries to influence the free market system that we have in our economy we see usually poor results.  For those who can remember the "energy crisis" of 1973-74, we saw several different unsuccessful programs implemented to try to end the crisis.  The net result of those price controls, limiting how much gas you could buy at one time and the suppression of the normal laws of supply and demand helped to prolong the crisis at that time.  We saw a similar problem with the "energy crisis" of 1979-80 also due to government policies.  In 2020 we have had little to no supply issues with regards to energy and relatively stable prices with the exception of high electric prices here in Connecticut and California due to these states regulations causing prices to escalate well beyond the national average.
The "housing/mortgage/financial crisis" of 2008-09 was also a similar situation with massive government interventions.  Mortgage derivatives were created that bundled mortgages with different rates of return and risk.  Our government wanted those who could not afford houses to buy them thus creating buyers programs for that group of people.  Poor mortgage decisions were made, housing prices bubbled and the net result was a massive downturn in our economy.
In 2020 we now face another economic crisis due to the Covid-19 virus as our economy has literally been shut down.  Connecticut has been especially hard hit with over 300,000 unemployment claims being filed over the past three weeks.  With Governor Lamont's new executive order shutting Connecticut down until May 20th now, more claims will be filed. Who will pay for these unemployed workers benefits?  Federal monies will pay for some of the claims however it will not be enough.  What is the plan to fund these claims?
Businesses that have been ordered shut down by the state have been offered several limited funding plans both on a state and federal level.  Some of the bridge loans will be forgiven other loans will have little or no interest charged on them.  This is a stop gap measure to keep them operational until they are allowed to open again.  The volume of those applying for these loans has overwhelmed the state system and caused delays in the loan process.
For those who pay property taxes in the state they are now offered a 90 day extension to pay them at a 3% rate of interest.  It will still be very difficult for businesses to pay property taxes and or any other taxes either with these loans and with no revenues coming in. 
There are many other state mandates that will have economic implications in the long run such as delays in rent payments, mortgage payments, loan and tax payments.  Connecticut's economy took the longest to supposedly come out of the last recession (and was not fully recovered either) and it will take even longer to come out of this crisis.  It will take longer due to the high tax burden that we have in the state along with the massive governmental regulations that has been imposed on businesses here in Connecticut.
Our elected state officials daily tell us of new economic help programs and new regulations that have been imposed on us to stop the spread of Covid-19.  Even though it seems like certain parts of our state have not been impacted as much as Fairfield and New Haven counties the entire state must follow these shutdowns.  We are also seeing a leveling off of cases and deaths which is great.  The question still remains is what and how will Connecticut reopen its economy?  Connecticut's economy is valued at roughly $275 billion dollars yearly with a massive state debt to Gross Domestic Product ratio of 19.5%.  Connecticut's short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities is in excess of $140 billion dollars.  If more than have of the states businesses close for good due to this crisis our state economy value will drop to roughly $140 billion dollars or less in my opinion.  The drop will cause tax revenues to decline, a massive job loss creating high unemployment rates possibly of 20% or more and enormous debt/bankruptcies to occur.  In my opinion this is what needs to be addressed immediately through a non partisan non government task force to plan how to open the state's economy as fast as possible and as safely as possible.
State Commissioners and officials have not offered and or discussed any cuts in their salaries and benefits or any cuts in state budgets during this crisis.  Connecticut state unions are scheduled to get a 3.5% pay increase on July 1, no word as to suspending this raise due to our economic crisis.  I wonder how the state will pay for these raises with a massive loss of tax revenues?  I wonder how much the state budget deficit will be for Fiscal year 2019-2020?  2 to 4 billion dollars or more?  Is there a concept of shared sacrifice in our state government when it comes to an economic crisis?
I personally do not take lightly the 448 state residents who died as of today (4/11) from Covid-19.  Nor do I take lightly the 1200 state residents (including a family member) who died in 2019 from drug overdoses.   I also understand the nature of this fast moving virus is different than drug overdoses however I really wonder if Connecticut really had any type of plan for a state wide health emergency like this?  Does Connecticut have a plan for a war/nuclear attack type of emergency?  Why has Connecticut's Commissioner of Public Health not been in the forefront of this health crisis rather than being unseen, unheard and unquoted?  Where is her guidance and leadership in this crisis?  Are the statistics being used to report the cases and deaths accurate?  Or are they skewed to increase federal funding?
I wonder if Connecticut will have a Commission created to investigate how this health crisis was handled?
Hopefully this health crisis will be over soon.  And hopefully one day Connecticut will be a right-to-work state with less or no debt, less state union influence, a two party system that has checks and balances, a state government that is not filled with political nepotism, a state government that follows the state constitution and a vibrant business environment.  I just wonder if this will happen in my lifetime?

Coronavirus Thoughts Week 3

"We are fighting for survival" This is the statement I heard from an employee and a restaurant owner this past week.  Both restaurants are still open with limited hours and a minimal crew.  Some restaurants in Connecticut will never open again due to the governmental decree of two weeks ago closing them to the extent of only allowing take out and delivery service to stop the spread of Covid-19.  Many businesses besides restaurants have closed and or are on limited hours to stop the spread of Covid-19 with thousands of Connecticut workers having signed up for unemployment benefits due to these closures.  This is placing a massive economic strain on the limited amount of money in the state's poorly run Unemployment Compensation system.  Many small Connecticut businesses applied for the state's new no interest Recovery Bridge Loan Program.  More than 4000 applications flooded Connecticut's feeble Department of Economic and Community Development system thus they are now unable to accept more applications due to the overload.  Supposedly Round 2 of these loans should be coming at some point.  I will believe it when I see it. 
"We are fighting for survival" This statement echoes in my ears constantly. 
Fox News reported after $2 trillion dollar Coronavirus relief bill was passed that there was a great deal of special interest group/lobbyists "pork" (spending that is unnecessary and unrelated to the bill) spending that was found in it.  I have found it very difficult to actually view the bill and what it contains.  Our Congress obviously wishing to hide the bill from the public so there would be no Taxpayers questioning it and the "pork" in it.
Here is a brief summary of the "pork" in the bill.
$10,804,687,000 for international development.
The African Development Fund (ADF) $513,900,000, the African Development Bank (AfDB) $7,286,587,008, and the International Development Association (IDA)$3,004,200,000.
$350,000,000 for refugee resettlement.
$93,000,000 Congress ($25 million of which is for "salaries and expenses" unknown as to how it will be allocated).
$75,000,000 for PBS stations.
$75,000,000 for the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities.
$75,000,000 National Endowment for the Humanities.
$50,000,000 for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
$25,000,000 for the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.
$7,500,000 for the Smithsonian Institution.
Why are we allowing this much non related Coronavirus spending to take place in this bill?  The bulk of these spending add-ons were made by Democrat Party members of the United States House and Senate led by Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.  How does this non related Coronavirus spending help people who have the virus and businesses impacted by the virus?  The silence is deafening by Senators Murphy and Blumenthal and our illustrious Democrat members of the House in responding to these pork questions.  Billions of Taxpayers dollars are being spent on totally non related Covid-19 matters.  Why?  To me we are seeing of the complete ineptness and disregard that our Congress especially the Democrat Party has in the time of a crisis to the people it supposedly represents.  And if you are questioning what they are doing with this non related Covid-19 spending you are labeled an obstructionist, anti-American, insensitive, etc.  I wonder what steps Africa is taking currently to help our country in this crisis with the amount of aid they just received?  The $11 billion dollars that was given to these African entities could buy a great deal of food, shelter, surgical masks and ventilators for our country.  Just a stupid thought on my part.
"We are fighting for survival" Words that should be heard.
And we are somehow supposed to trust our government on a federal or state level in the time of a crisis?    I really think we need a new Congress.  With the exception of a few brave individuals this Congress does not represent American Taxpayers in any way shape or form.  It only represents the special interest groups that put them into office.  The swamp called Congress needs to be drained.
"We are fighting for survival" This statement has become deafening to me. 
I will repeat from last week's column.
Do not fear.
We will overcome this crisis as we have the others.  All will be well in our country. 
Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
Words to live by.

Coronavirus Thoughts Week 2

The current United States statistics of Covid-19, the Chinese flu strain is 26,900 cases with 348 deaths.  That is roughly at 1.3% death rate.  Since it is difficult to obtain pure data on this virus from any source it seems that many of the deaths are older people who may have had some medical issues prior to getting the virus.
Connecticut has taken many extreme steps to combat the virus including closing many businesses and limiting what certain businesses can do such as restaurants take out/drive thru only, etc.   A decree of what can be deemed essential businesses remaining open during this crisis is supposedly coming forth today Sunday 3/22/2020.  This will continue to cause economic destruction in our state economy.  Governor Lamont is going to use the state's $250 million dollar rainy day fund that in my opinion will be woefully inadequate for this crisis while the state's ability to borrow money becomes less and less as the state has over $140 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities already.  The new budget deficit due to the massive amount of unemployment claims along with a downturn in sales tax revenues (including the ten cent plastic bag tax) will be enormous.  I can see a $3 to $5 billion dollar budget deficit for the end of this fiscal year along with the new fiscal year of 20-21.  It is interesting to note that Governor Lamont has not requested any cuts in state spending from any agencies to put all efforts into saving the state economy.   We have spent an enormous amount of time and money in lobbying for tolls especially for trucks.  It is interesting to see how badly we need trucks at this time to transport our essential goods to our remaining economy.  Governor Lamont has also given towns and cities to pass their own budgets without public input and set their own tax rates.  How this is constitutional is beyond me?
Obviously Connecticut's economy may get worse first before getting better.  It seems to be extreme in my opinion and is taking away a great deal of our personal freedoms.  
I will repeat from last week's column.
Do not fear.
We will overcome this crisis as we have the others.  All will be well in our country.
Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
Words to live by.

My Thoughts On The Coronavirus

Fear is a strong emotion that has been prevalent in our economy due to the outbreak of a Coronavirus this one named Covid-19.
Fear has brought about a massive downturn in our stock markets eliminating well over $5 trillion dollars of wealth on paper. 
Fear has brought about panic buying of food supplies fresh and frozen along with all cleaning materials, paper towels, napkins and toilet paper.  Black markets have opened up for cleaning supplies, hand sanitizers and paper products with massively inflated prices for these necessities.
Fear seems to be a constant in our media when talking about this virus.  News articles describe many different sensationalized scenarios of what it going on with the virus and how many will become infected and die from it.
Safety precautions have shut down sporting events at all levels, closed public schools, colleges and universities along with many businesses asking their employees to work from home.  Public gatherings are being limited 250 people or less.  Churches have cancelled services.  Draconian measures that in some cases violate our personal freedoms that are guaranteed by the Constitution.
There is an economic cost to all these closings and changes.  Small businesses will be impacted severely.  Those businesses that depend on these schools and businesses for their product or service will be impacted.  Their employees may have their hours cut or be laid off.  Many of these employees may work two or three jobs just to pay for their rent and living expenses.  What are they going to do now with less income? Unemployment may increase in the short run and some businesses may close and never open up again.  Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will probably go down for this quarter and the next and recover in the 3rd quarter. 
Economically it seems to depend upon the next two weeks and how better or worse the situation becomes.  My thoughts are things are going to improve for a variety of reasons including that we in our country do care about our personal hygiene as compared to other countries.  It is important to remember the small businesses in our local communities as they the backbone of our economy.  They need our support at this time.
There is a website that offers real time statistics for the Covid-19 virus worldometers.info/coronavirus.  As of 11:15am Sunday 3/15/20 Worldwide there have been 162,651 cases reported with 6,069 deaths and 76,219 recoveries from the virus (people who have gotten better and have not died).
These are interesting statistics that do not seem to be reported in our media.  The website also shows how many cases that have occurred in each country.  As a reminder the flu kills more people in our country than this virus does at this time.  Is this possibly an overreaction? 
We should not be fearful at this time as we have lived through many of these types of viruses over the years.  We do need to take proper precautions in our personal hygiene.  We also need to recognize that faith will carry us through this crisis as it has carried our country through the the thousands of crises that we have had since 1776.  Maybe this virus is a wake up call to those who do not have faith in the Lord in our society.  Maybe it is a wake up call for elected officials to lead for a change rather than make political every crisis that happens in our society especially here in Connecticut.
Do not fear.
We will overcome this crisis as we have the others.  All will be well in our country.
Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
Words to live by.

What's Another $41.2 Million Dollars To Connecticut Taxpayers

Connecticut Taxpayers were beaten up again this week. The Yankee Institute for Public Policy reported on two massive losses for Connecticut Taxpayers which added up to $41.2 million dollars in lost money.
First was a state audit that found the problematic Department of Economic and Community Development forgave or modified state loans to companies totaling $23.6 million and awarding $16 million in excess assistance through the ill fated First Five Plus program.  There seems to be a constant theme in the Department of Economic and Community Development of a lack of oversight, whistle blower complaints and most importantly a massive waste of Connecticut Taxpayers monies in trying to create a handful of what seems to be jobs that are non existent and or politically connected.  Why this Department still operates is beyond me.
The second waste of Connecticut Taxpayers monies occurred when the Department of Corrections in an audited example of 678 cases by 10 employees that they did not have 659 out of 678 approved union leave forms on file, accounting for 5,164 hours of paid time off.  For two employees the result was in 230 and 404 days of consecutive leave in each case.  The total waste to Connecticut Taxpayers was a mere $2.2 million dollars.  Apparently the Department of Corrections does not wish to follow rules and laws in granting this union leave. 
These two audited examples account for a mere $41.2 million dollars in wasted monies.  And I will continue to remind you that Connecticut has $140 billion dollars worth of short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities that is ignored on a daily basis by the Connecticut Democrat Party.  It seems to follow a very familiar pattern here in Connecticut state unions are given anything they want disregarding rules and laws while political connected corporate welfare marches on unabated and unchecked.
Thus Connecticut Taxpayers monies continue to be wasted.  State audits and auditors are ignored.  Laws and rules governing state agencies are ignored.  The waste seems to be endless in our state government.  And the lack of respect shown to Connecticut Taxpayers by the Connecticut Democrat Party continues. 
Here is a thought.  The $41.2 million dollars is probably a small portion of the massive amount of waste that occurs daily in state government.  The $41.2 million dollars that was wasted in these two examples could have fixed and repaired a great deal of our roads and bridges in the state (without tolls). 
How much waste of Connecticut Taxpayers monies is taking place on a daily basis?  $1 billion dollars a year?  $2 billion dollars a year?  Pick a number?  Who knows?  A full forensic audit of our entire state government is needed immediately. 
We do know that the Connecticut Democrat Party does seem to care nor worry about laws or audits in the state when it comes to accounting for Connecticut Taxpayers monies.  The waste continues day in and day out, year in and year out.  It is never ending.

The Failures Of More Taxes In Connecticut

It is economically irrational to believe that new and or increased taxes will resolve any existing problems in the state of Connecticut.
For example, tolls and the supposed revenue that will be gained from them will repair the state's road and highway system.  There is already in place a fund and specific taxes that should be used for this but is moved in to the state's general fund for spending elsewhere.  Tolls will only raise the cost of living in Connecticut.
Another example is a 35% excise tax on all ammunition sold in Connecticut in order to deter the use of guns and thus reduce violence, crime and murders in the state.  There are many fallacies to this tax as in my opinion and the opinion of many others all the tax will do is penalize law abiding citizens who hunt and use guns for target shooting, etc. in a legal manner.  A hardened criminal will continue to obtain guns and ammunition in usually illegal manners in order to rob someone, rob a business and or murder someone.  Since Connecticut has created more and more laws to encourage illegal actions and behaviors it should be no surprise that there has been a massive increase in crime over the past few years.  The death penalty has been eliminated in the state thus that law gets criminals off the hook and they are now supported for the rest of their lives by legal Connecticut Taxpayers in prison.  For the most part these criminals are not reformed by being sentenced to life in prison.  And what happened to the right of those individuals who they hurt, maimed and or killed?  Obviously their rights do not matter to the Connecticut Democrat Party.  Nor will a 35% tax on ammunition deter criminals either, it is just another failure of Connecticut's Utopian liberalism when it comes to treating those violent criminals that roam our state especially our decaying cities.
More, new and or higher taxes serve no purpose other than to fuel the wasteful spending that we see in Hartford on a daily basis.
More, new and or higher taxes serve no purpose other than to keep a ruling Connecticut Democrat elite in power.
More, new and or higher taxes serve no purpose other than to keep Connecticut in an economic recession that the state can never get out of.
More, new and or higher taxes serve no purpose other than to keep a bloated bureaucracy operational to suffice the needs of a failed political nepotism system that is constantly propped up by these taxes.
More, new and or higher taxes fail Connecticut on a daily basis.
Enough is enough.

Connecticut Still Needs To Cut Spending

No Tolls was heard loud and clear by a bunch of scared and frightened Connecticut Democrat legislators who feared for their political lives this past week in Hartford.  The Connecticut Republican Party at the same time decided enough was enough and broke out of their political hibernation and decided they would read each word of the political pork toll bill in session and stage a 30 hour filibuster on the bill to stop it.  The Connecticut Democrat Party became outraged by this action realizing that a majority of legal taxpayers in the state were against tolls.  They expected to ram these new "user fee tax tolls" with ease as they rammed massive tax increases on the state for years now.  The new toll bill would in my opinion quickly spiral into massive tolls on all vehicles with a high per mile "user fee tax tolls" implemented on all drivers in the state.  The money from these "user fee tax tolls" we all know would not go to fix and or repair our bridges, roads and highways, it would find its way into the general fund.  Therefore we would continue to see massive budget deficits each year, an increasing $140 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities and no repairs done to the road system.
It is ironic that the state actually has a transportation fund that if it wasn't raided yearly by the Connecticut Democrat Party would pay for the upkeep and repairs to our bridge and road system.  It is also ironic that if the state cut spending across the board from 2 to 5% there would be more than enough money to pay for the upkeep and repairs to our bridge and road system.  It is also ironic that Governor Lamont illegally held up municipal aid to our towns and cities in order to get his failed tolls system passed.  Now the money gets freed up nine months late in violation of the passed state budget and the state constitution.  Sickening to say the least.
Connecticut really needs to cuts its spending.  It can no longer afford its overpaid Commissioners and political high and mid level managers any more.  There is no checks and balances in our government that oversee wasteful and fraudulent state spending, corporate welfare and or failed state programs that do nothing for the state except waste legal Connecticut Taxpayers monies.   Programs remain funded that offer nothing to the state.  Political expedient state funded programs especially in the University system remain paid in full with no results except for keeping politcal appointments in a Taxpayer funded job for life.
Governor Lamont unfortunately really can not led the state as shown by his constant lies about tolls.  How he ever made it in business is beyond me and many other legal Connecticut Taxpayers.  And now is the time for the Connecticut Republican Party since they are awake to present on a daily basis areas to cut state spending, improve state government efficiencies and develop a plan to address the $140 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  The time is now with this minor victory over tolls.
Make no mistake tolls will continue to be offered as the only alternative to repair the roads by the Connecticut Democrat Party.  And make no mistake that if the state actually were to cut its wasteful and fraudulent spending, bridges and roads would be fixed while taxes would go down in both the short and long run along with a lowering of the state's massive debt.
It can be done.   Connecticut can cut its spending and needs to start today.

Why Cut Connecticut State Spending?

Why cut Connecticut state spending?
I mean why?
Why is it necessary?
Connecticut has only $140 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  A staggering figure for a state as small as Connecticut.  If the state does not spend its bloated budget for seven years straight it would pay off this debt but would not have one cent to feed the political trough known as our state government.
Connecticut continues to lag behind the rest of the country in economic development, economic growth, job creation, new business development and business friendliness along with having the highest property taxes and state taxes in the country.  It continues to be a bottom five rank in most if not all economic categories.
Why cut Connecticut state spending?
I mean why?
Why is it necessary?
This short legislative session is more of the same increases in taxes, increases in spending along with new laws to take away legal Connecticut residents freedoms.  The biggest new tax, a socialist's dream is the full implementation of tolls first for trucks and then for cars.  The new toll tax will further cement Connecticut's economic nightmare of more population losses, more businesses moving out of state, more taxes and a much higher cost of living for the legal working middle class.  The new toll tax should make Connecticut rank 50 out of 50 in all economic categories in the near future while doing nothing at all to repair or maintain the road system in the state. More lies by the Connecticut Democrat Party in the face of massive opposition to this new toll tax.
There is a simplistic solution to Connecticut's economic debt and chronic budget deficits.
Cut spending.
It is a simplistic approach that never is spoken in Hartford.  An across the board cut in salaries, benefits and all state agencies budgets from 2% to 10%.  There is no longer any justification for the excessive salaries, benefits and pensions that are being paid out to state commissioners and state union and management workers.  As a taxpayer I can not see either efficiencies nor the value of overpaying these state workers?  Have they streamlined any processes?  Have they found ways to save money in their departments?  Will any procedures be developed to make their departments more user friendly to Connecticut Taxpayers?  Why are their budgets increased yearly?  What are the economic justifications?
Instead we have more of the same inefficient, bloated state bureaucracy and political nepotism in place in our state government.
Cutting state spending and making state spending more efficient is critical to getting Connecticut back on track economically.  However with the bunch of political losers and hacks who govern us we will never see it.   Cutting state spending and making state spending more efficient would start to attract new businesses without state government corporate welfare that is so well known in Connecticut and does nothing to create jobs or tax revenues.
Connecticut Taxpayers need to demand cuts in spending in the areas that I stated earlier.  It will be the only way for Connecticut to survive economically.  By the way, NO TOLLS either.  That is another lie force fed to us by the Connecticut Democrat Party.
Cut state spending today.

Connecticut's Constant Debt

Lost is the euphoric conversations about the economic greatness of tolls is Connecticut's $140 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities especially pension liabilities.  This $140 billion dollars of debt seems always to be ignored by the ruling elite of the Connecticut Democrat Party and by our biased state media.  This current economically unsustainable budget has already $96 million dollars in deficits and we still can not get an answer from any elected official as to where and what the supposed $500 million dollars in cuts are coming from that were part of this current budget to help balance it.
I guess our state government is just based on lies.
Lies about tolls.
Lies about how much revenue will come from the banning of plastic bags and its tax.
Lies about the highest income earning Connecticut Taxpayers and the taxes they pay since they are moving out of state on a daily basis.
Lies about the net migration of population moving out of state and the economic impact it is having on the state.
Lies about about cutting spending.
Lies about how the last three largest tax increases in the state history over the past ten years still can not either address the $140 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities and or balance the current budget.  All we have seen is the debt grow even higher and higher with no end in sight.
There is a simple politically unpopular solution to Connecticut's economic mess.  Cut state spending.  Cut the bloated salaries of the state commissioners and their budgets.  Cut the ridiculous grandfathered pensions of a chosen few.  Do more with less money as Connecticut Taxpayers must do on a daily basis to survive in this state.
Connecticut has constant debt that continues to erode our state's economic health and well being.  Any way the Connecticut Democrat Party tries to sugarcoat it the problem is visible and horrific for the state.
However the upcoming short session of the state legislature will feature the desperate need for tolls and probably new and or higher taxes to address the budget deficit. 
I guess our state government is just based on lies.  Nothing really changes in Connecticut does it?