Repeal the Secret Gross Earnings tax in Connecticut

Enough is enough. $3.54 a gallon for fuel oil? $4.04.9 for diesel fuel at the pumps? A major heating oil company goes under as its bank pulls its line of credit (obviously this bank had too much in sub prime loans to write off). How high will energy prices go in our state? My answer is the sky is the limit.
We also see there is absolutely no movement by our elected officials to repeal Connecticut's secret gross earnings tax on fuel. Why should they? What a windfall this tax is - a mere 7.52% on most fuels, millions of dollars going to the state, what is better than that? With no accountability. Might as well get all you can off of energy consumers.
Thus all consumers of energy in our state will continue to be crushed under the weight of excessively high electric rates, irrationally high gas prices and obscene diesel and home heating oil prices. An energy induced recession.
What is the solution? In Connecticut it is government just taxing us more and in turn out of control state spending for the special interest groups that rule our state. What is better than that!

This is the 2008 State Legislature?

I continue to be amazed at the lack of governing that comes out of Hartford each session. This session the Demoblicans have come up with a banning of all plastic grocery bags (stores could give away the cloth bags they are trying to sell to put your groceries in), banning of all bottled water, lower and free college tuition for illegal immigrant children, and the list goes on and on. What is the point?
Why don't we ban everything in the state and go back to a foraging, caveman existence in the state?
We still see no movement to repeal the secret Gross Earnings Tax on fuel, why bother when fuel prices continue to escalate and this brings yet even higher tax revenue to the state. We must as well slam taxpayers even more with this tax. Why bother trying to resolve the real issues of our state? Like corrupt union members being paid back sick days, pensions and the like (New Haven, is anyone listening?) by taxpayers. A poor transportation system and excessively high taxes to name a few. It is time for a change in state government before it is too late. Too bad this falls on deaf ears.

William F. Buckley Jr. -You Will Be Missed

I can still remember picking up my first issue of the National Review when I was a Freshman in High School. I was a member of the Political Science Club and back in 1972 I read my first issue of this great magazine. Yes I know I was 14 and digesting many concepts and ideas, but this magazine was incredible. A true conservative view, one that I agreed with and one that I treasured. The Legend of William F. Buckley Jr. is part of our history and part of why conservatives remain true to the basic principles of self reliance, less government and optimism about our great country and economy. There is still true conservatism that exists in our country and our world. It is a concept that will not fail, nor grow old. We can see that Liberalism has failed us miserably and will continue to fail us in the future.
William F. Buckley Jr. -You Will Be Missed by me and millions of others. May God grant you eternal peace.

The Democrats Economic Plan or Please Tax Me More.

It seems to me that the Democratic Party whether on a National or State level enjoys raising, creating, adding taxes. Taxes of all shapes and sizes, on all types of products, goods, services, basically anything they can get their hands on. The reason I bring this up is trying to understand the new Clinton economic plan. In my limited reading of it, it seems that corporations are obviously bad and will be punished, more governmental jobs will be created and yes we will see higher taxes. For some reason liberals hate seeing people successful in our economy.
This all ties into the liberal philospohy of dependency upon governemnt. We should only be allowed to make a certain amount of money in our economy while we must digest liberal wealth like the Kerry's, Kennedy's and let us not forget the Clinton's. It is ok for them to create and shield their wealth but not ok for my family to create our wealth.
Thus in November if you choose to vote for either Clinton or Obama good luck. Your taxes will be increased, your economic freedoms lessened, you will work harder. Sorry I will not vote for either and I am sure the majority of working voters will not either.

Does Connecticut really have two parties? Or are we governed by a Democratic/Republican Unified Party?

Does Connecticut really have two parties? Or are we governed by a Democratic/Republican Unified Party? Are all members of the General Assembly and the Governor now Demoblicans?

I was amazed after trying to figure out from the Governor's State of the Union speech what it all meant.

Here are some simple figures-since Fiscal year 2004 state spending has increased a mere $4.2 billion dollars. With this new budget it now increases spending by another mere $800 million dollars. We have increased spending in a four year period from $13.5 billion dollars to over $18.5 billion dollars for this year. For a state the size and population of Connecticut, why are we spending this much?

Over $3.5 billion has been the amount of surpluses since that time also. Thus we as taxpayers have been overtaxed a massive amount over the past 4 years. Yes Hartford a tax surplus means you are overtaxing us and to a large degree.

As an economist and a Republican I can not figure out how this budget actually showed fiscal restraint. It has showed the taxpayers of our state that we will see more of the same, high taxes, excessive governmental spending and a total disregard for taxpayers both on a personal and business level. More of the same. Welcome to Connecticutax led by a uniparty, the Demoblicans.

What is the National Debt and does anyone running for President care?

Hey do you have an extra $9 trillion dollars plus? Can I use it? If you are the Federal Government that is how much the National Debt is. I have a little clock on my blog site showing the debt increasing by the second due to rampant spending by our government. The government each year must borrow more and more money to finance it-9% of the budget is now borrowing for the debt and 8% of the budget is interest on the debt itself!
I am curious if any of the Presidential candidates care about it? I know on the Democratic side they are much more concrened about spending even more money than what we are spending now since the Democrats answer to everything is more spending. I am somewhat concerned to the thoughts of the Republican candidates on this subject since I see there is no restraint on the part either Democractic or Republican members of Congress (with the exception of Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona-who in my opinion should run for the Presidency).
Thus here is the challenge for the Republican nominee for President. Develop a plan to cut Federal spending, pay down the National debt and have government start living within its means.
Well I can dream can't I? Cut spending now.

Who am I going to vote for in the primary? Mitt Romney

Who am I going to vote for in the primary? Mitt Romney. I have spent a great deal of time debating who will I vote for in the upcoming Republican primary. I have read over a great deal of information on Ron Paul, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani. I see that each candidate has some strong points and some weak points. My concern is when election time comes in November I truly fear either a Clinton or Obama administration, with all of the problems that will be forthcoming from either candidate(higher taxes, weak foreign policy, poor economic decisions). Thus I must look at who can win in November for the Republicans. Again the more I have read about the candidates and in particular their economic platforms, I have decided to vote for Mitt Romney and see him as being the best candidate to lead our country in 2009. Romney's call for the elimination of the dreaded capital gains tax for certain taxpayers is essential for our long term growth and well being. He in my opinion, seems to represent the most dynamic economic candidate that we can offer our electorate. And in 2009, we will see that the economy will be the most important issue facing our country. We can ill afford a Democratic Tax and Spend President which will be forthcoming from either candidate. Their concept of change is more of the same, tax and spend to infinity. My change will come from my vote for Mitt Romney.

Look at what I have done! Please give me more! Connecticut's State Legislature

2008 is another election year. This year we will once again elect our State Legislature. We will continue to hear from now to election day incredible stories of how bad or how great everything is in our state. We will hear incredible stories (as seen in the recent mailings of our State Representatives and Senators) of all the great things that they have done for us, using of course our tax monies. When reading the cards that we mailed to my family at my expense, I wondered if I was living in the same Connecticut as they described.
There were incredible things done apparently in this past legislative session although they escaped my attention since I was very busy working two jobs to help support my ever growing state tax burden and the ever growing state budget. My family has had to cut back due to the excessive tax burden of Connecticut, high state college costs, higher energy prices, higher insurance costs and higher food costs. Has anyone in Hartford thought about cutting spending and in turn cutting taxes? Or does this concept not exist in our failed state legislature?
Thus the election of 2008 will again bring about the same group of mediocre state legislatures whose main concerns are the lobbyists that support them and give them power rather than those who elect them. A major overhaul and audit of the state budget is needed for Connecticut to survive. Again we as taxpayers deserve better.

Brother Can you spare me $500 billion dollars?

Brother Can you spare me $500 billion dollars? Give or take a few billion.
You see my family and I lived within our means. We did not buy a house we could not afford with no money down, with a no interest mortgage for five years, with no income verification, and with a high real estate commission. No, we are still in the same house trying to make ends meet.
We try not to overspend since we know we must pay our bills on time, and must save for the future. We know energy costs especially for heating oil have gone up 50% since last season thus we must budget for that also. We know what a budget is and that we must have enough income to offset our expenses each month. We do not live in a fantasy world that has been created in our economy by greedy mortgage/banking lenders, greedy real estate salespeople and uneducated and or greedy home buyers. The financial markets tried refining financial garbage and make a profit on it.
No we as a family live within our means.
I also resent the State of Connecticut spending $50 million of our tax money to bail many of these people out. Let the market correct itself and possibly let government regulators who are supposed to examine these mortgages do their job correctly.
The sub prime mess will cost our economy in my economic opinion $500 billion dollars or more. Taxpayers will be forced in some way (as seen in the Connecticut example) to subsidize this greed. I resent that. Greed over a poor investment decision will cost us all and many banks will walk away from this untouched. This debacle was not necessary.
Therefore, Brother Can you spare me $500 billion dollars? I really want my family's share. Now.

The Wallingford Mayoral Election Heats Up!

Low and behold waiting for me in my mailbox this afternoon was Wallingford's independent (not Democrat any more) Mayoral candidate's flyer which sure looks almost like Mayor Dickinson's flyers. Imitation is the best form of flattery that one can receive. In trying to disect what the Trzcinski flyer slammed the Mayor on is interesting. Wallingford, like all communities in Connecticut is mandated to have reevealuation of property values. This increases the grand list for towns and shows in many cases how property values have gone up in a five and or ten year period. Guess what! The last property reevaluation in Wallingford (done at the peak of the real estate boom) showed property values dramatically up which in turn forces taxpayers to pay more in property taxes even though the mill rate has gone down. The flyer states that "For the average resident taxes have risen 88.6% since 1996!" Oh really? I feel I am an average taxpayer living in the same home for 23 years now. Since 1996 my taxes have gone up about 37% not 88.6%, that amounts to about 3.5% a year not 8.9% as the flyer states. I wonder where that figure came from?

Then there is also a mention of Community Lake ... since 1979. How critical is that for the town's future? Bringing back Community Lake is more of a luxury for tax payers than a necessity.

What about "The building on Rt.5 which has been in foreclosure since 1989?" There are several environmental cleanup issues at that location resulting in a stalled resolution to that problem.

What are the Lucille for Mayor solutions to all of these issues? I do not see any in her copy cat flyer I just received. It's easy enough to say we need long range strategic plans but what are they?

I think in Wallingford everything is going well because our community is governed by people who care and by a Conservative, non-egotistical Mayor who puts the town's needs first over any form of political glory (glory in my opinion just waiting for it to happen by the other two candidates). I have taken a second look at what's going on in Wallingford and I still like what I see. I will again vote for Mayor Bill Dickinson and the Republican candidates for Town Council and Board of Education. Real leadership for Wallingford.

Will Chris Dodd go home?

I am still confused why our illustrious Senator Dodd is running for the Presidency. I know somehow he has gotten elected for many years as both Representative and Senator, (with a great deal of help from weak and ineffective Republican candidates who have run against him) but really what has he done to help our state? I am still trying to figure out when was the last time he sponsored some sort of meaningful tax reform legislation and or spending cuts which could be passed onto working middle class citizens which inhabit our state. You see I am tired of Senator Dodd and his Democratic party’s redistribution of wealth programs. I am tired of a social welfare system has he has championed for years which has done nothing other than keep money out of the hands who truly need it and create generation after generation of welfare recipients. And I am really tired of his constant glorification of Latin and South American leaders who rape their countries and promote their form of dictatorship (in particular Castro).

Maybe it is time for Chris Dodd to come home, to forget about rewriting the history of his disgraced father and retire once and for all from public service. Connecticut would be so much better off without him.

Dickinson for Mayor in Wallingford

I love Wallingford. It is a community that its citizens are proud of. It is a town that many people want to move to because of its strong school system, low taxes, low electric rates, close location to both Hartford and New Haven, many stores and businesses. It is a community where we have seen a steady course continue through the administration of Mayor Bill Dickinson. The Mayor who has been in office for many years now has led Wallingford by example always putting the town's needs first over self glorification and personal gain. That is not say he is without his critics which are many. However, I believe that the majority of Wallingford voters wish for him to return for another two year term. I do not believe either of the other two candidates running for Mayor (Democrat and Independent) have the drive, knowledge or ability to lead Wallingford for the next two years. It is apparent to me that they are running weak campaigns and dwell on the Wooding property issue alone. There is little new thought or ideas being presented by both. This election a vote for Mayor Bill Dickinson and the Republican candidates for Town Council and Board of Education will continue the path of progress for our great town, Wallingford.

The Sub Prime Mess or Who's Mortgage Is It?

As an instructor of Economics for 25 years now, many students of mine have asked me to comment on the current problems faced in the Sub Prime Mortgage market. To try to understand what a sub prime mortgage is, we may view it in a variety of ways. First it is a mortgage given to a consumer who may have a poor credit record, not much if any money for a downpayment on a home. Many who may have unreported income (under the table income) may be qualified for this type of mortgage along with those who wish to make a major refinancing by combining all loans into the mortgage (for example $50,000 credit card bills, $200,000 remaining on a mortgage a jumbo mortgage of $250,000-but the house has only been valued for $225,000.). After the mortgage company makes the loan they are then rebundled and resold in the aftermarket usually to a fund or investment firm in many cases in an overseas market.
So what happens now is after paying on a mortgage with 0% interest for one, two or however many years all of the sudden the consumer sees a greater interest rate along with a much higher mortgage payment each month. Property taxes also shoot up. Energy prices shoot up. People lose their jobs. Income in some cases is not even verified. Real estate values have started to decline (in my economic opinion they were overvalued to begin with) and guess what-that home worth $225,000 is now only worth $175,000 and the consumer still owes $250,000 on it.
I think that you may be able to start seeing the problems that are happening. Each segment of the market is starting to blame the other. Economic education was not even thought about in educating consumers whether or not they could realistically afford that mortgage.
Now the problem is how to resolve it. It can only be resolved through the basic laws of supply and demand in both the real estate market and the credit markets. People will lose their homes and mortgage companies will be going out of business, it is the reality of the situation. Political answers such as throwing more money into this market will do nothing to resolve it. If it is too good to be true than it is should be the result of this fiasco. Realtors, mortgage companies and consumers who have signed for these loans all should share the blame. You can also interject the word greed in this equation also. Sub primes will be gone soon enough and logic will return to this market.

Our crumbling highways, oh well!

For many years now I have discussed in my economics classes-where is the tax money going in our state to fund and repair our road and highway system on both a state and federal level? The disaster in Minnesota (which naturally is now a political field day for the Democrats since higher taxes are their answer for everything) sheds light as to the problems we have here in Connecticut with our aging and crumbling highway/road system. The state levies a great deal of taxes of gasoline and diesel in our state, with the money apparently just going into a general fund and then some of those taxes being redistributed through the DOT. Obviously if anyone drives to work one can see first hand how bad our highways are whether it is I-91, 95 or 84 (or how about the storm drain waste of money in Waterbury?). The costs of upkeep are somehow considered in a budget (although how I can't figure it out) and it seems to me a handful of projects on occasion are completed usually after a long period of time and overbudgetted. If one travels I-95 you see the daily mess of the Q-Bridge through East Haven. I can only imagine what a mess it will be when they try to rebuild the Bridge itself.
Is there any solution? Obviously the cry will be greater taxes to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure because there just seems never to be enough money appropriated for the politics of our highway/road system. However, higher taxes will not solve the problem. Maybe here in our state politics could be put aside for a little while and we could force accountability so that we do not see a bridge fall here. Maybe taxpayers and users of our highway/road system deserve better. Maybe state officials could actually do the job they a re paid to do. What a concept.

The Failed Connecticut State Legislature

Ethics violations, corruption, greed, graft, waste, over taxation. I feel these words describe the Connecticut State Legislature. As evidence by these ruling elite, taxpayers have seen the waste of our hard earned tax dollars throughout this session. Why was nothing accomplished in this session? Why are taxpayers no longer represented in our State Legislature?
Nothing was accomplished for any of us who work for a living here in Connecticut. We are still the highest taxed states in the country. We have one of the highest gasoline and diesel taxes in the country and the beauty of it is that the money does not even go to maintain our crumbling and failed highway system in the state.
If a person breaks a law whether they are Democrat or Republican shouldn't they be punished? In this assembly they have placed themselves above the law. Ethics violations in both parties is now the norm with no repercussions for the violators. And the list goes on and on.
Taxpayers need to analyze what happened in this legislative process and view how poorly we are represented in Hartford. In my opinion we have no representation in Hartford. I again call upon a recall election immediately in order to clean out these inept politicians and also a referendum on the state budget allowing those who are paying for this mockery to be able to vote whether we accept it or not. Our state legislature is broken beyond repair and needs to be fixed immediately. Why do taxpayers need to continue to pay for this ineptness called state government?

Are Both Parties For Real?

With the two proposals for a new state budget, I as a taxpayer am wondering are both parties for real? If you have a constitutional amendment to cap state spending, then why do both parties ignore it? Why are taxes being raised so much (even though the Democrats claim a small drop in the income tax rate-most will be paying more in the long run)? Is the concept of fiscal restraint unknown by both parties?
The two state budget tax and spending proposals are shocking, outrageous and ill timed-do any of our elected officials realize we are already the highest taxed state in the country? Our tax freedom day is now May 20th, the longest in the country!
I would really like to know when Connecticut will have Taxation with Representation again. What a pathetic government.

Pork-Please let me spend more and more and more

Pork, pork and more pork. I see things have not changed in Congress. Under the “New” Democratic leadership, a mockery has made of the current Iraq bill which will allows an incredible amount of non related Iraq spending to take place. So much for the elimination of pork barrel spending. This bill adds a mere $30 billion plus to non war related activities to help buy the votes to pass it. Thus you as taxpayers are seeing the great lie of the Democratic party. Even though they campaigned to eliminate pork barrel spending it is just more of the same. Any kind of spin can be placed on this, Democrats will try to manipulate this bill to their advantage and again nothing changes. How can taxpayers have any faith in a Congress which is so out of control and clueless to the real problems of our country? Again we need term limitations, both the House and Senate need to be four year terms, each limited to two terms. You may serve for eight years and move on. This would bring in fresh and new ideas to both bodies of Congress and hopefully eliminate the fraud that takes place each day they are in session. I conclude by asking what has Ted Kennedy really done in over 40 years as a Senator? He is the greatest argument for term limitations that I know of. And the waste and pork continues ad infinitum.

Connecticut's Energy Induced Recession

Connecticut's State Department of Public Utility Control truly amazes me. Whatever any utility wants in the state gets from this supposed balanced commission. With yesterdays United Illuminating ruling of an incredible 50% increase in rates, we can see from an economic point of view that Connecticut will be going into an energy induced recession from this ruling. The comedy of the whole situation is that Connecticut's do nothing legislature has help create this mess by forcing both UI and Northeast Utilities out of the generating business for electricity. Thus by buying electricity on the open market, this deregulation has forced prices through the roof. It has not have the intended impact of our feel good legislature thought it would have. I give UI credit for its total disregard for its customers by asking for and receiving this astronomical increase. I am sure that UI's management staff will receive its annual performance bonuses, stock options and the like.
Thus Connecticut will be going into an energy induced recession. The blame for it can be equally shared by the electric companies, the Connecticut Legislature and last but not least the Connecticut DPUC. Consumers will be doing without to pay for their incredibly high electric bills, businesses will be moving out of our state due to high electric costs and sadly the same stale politicians in Hartford who supposedly represent us will be back yet again in 2008 saying what a great job they did.
I just hope that the last person who leaves Connecticut will turn out the lights once and for all.

I thought Iraq was a free country?

I thought Iraq was a free country? I guess I am mistaken after looking at new commission report which was developed by a group of experts(?)and their findings. I have always wondered why influential individuals seem to lose their common sense when acting in a group or committee. In this case the report makes no sense to me what so ever nor can be applied to the conflict. We as a nation need to remember that many terrorists wish to murder us all and eliminate our freedom. We must realize that terrorism loves to embrace our economic system to fund its activities. Yet their hatred of us is ironic. 9/11 still remains in our history due to the murders of many innocent US citizens whose only crime was that they went to work that day. Negotiating with terrorists is not an option.

Terrorists have a great hate of themselves and others in our world. That is why they wish to continue their terrorist activities. Our American freedom has been fought for since before 1776 and will continue to be fought for in the future. How many people throughout our world crave freedom? And are willing to give their lives for it? Iraq is a developing free democracy in the Middle East. And one day with our help it will remain free. It is a lesson that other countries should understand.

No thanks but I won't vote for Lamont

I am still confused by the current Connecticut Senate election. I really need to know who Ned Lamont is. No, I am not going to vote for him or support him, but I really can’t see how he could possibly represent my family or anyone else in Connecticut. As far as I can see the reason why he won the primary by a slim amount of votes is because he is anti-war candidate. Joe Liebermann lost because he has taken a view point that we need to finish what we started in Iraq and allow those people freedom.
Does this mean that all people in Connecticut are anti-war? I don’t think so.
Trying to understand Lamont’s other stances becomes more difficult. He is in favor of many liberal causes which in my opinion have failed our economy miserably. He is very wealthy and here we have just another example of a multi millionaire liberal trying to dictate to our state what we can and can not have. I guess the economic system is ok when he was trying to make his fortune and now that he has it the hell with it.
I believe that there are many voters like me here in Connecticut, who are middle class and conservative in our beliefs and life styles who dislike this candidate for all of his liberal stances. We are tired of the ranting and raving of how bad things are and the excessive costs of the liberal fixes that a candidate like Lamont wants.
Ned Lamont reminds me of Lowell Weicker – an opportunist with an ego that does not seem to be satisfied. No, I will not vote for Ned Lamont, nor do I feel a majority of Connecticut residents will either.