Connecticut's Constant Corruption

Connecticut's experiment with socialism has failed miserably.  Corruption rules Connecticut.
Our state government and in particular the Connecticut Democrat Party enjoy taking our personal freedoms away along with nurturing their political nepotism, unyielding rule and abuse of power and laws. 
Connecticut continues to be last or near last in many economic and business categories.  This weeks failed socialist news items included Connecticut having the highest administrative costs of our road system in the country at a mere $32,508 per mile.  Our highway system is the 44th worse in the country while spending $200,000 per mile it controls according to a new report issued by the Reason Foundation.  It is always amusing when a report like this comes out our media does not report it nor is there any comment by the Connecticut Democrat Party on it.  It is business as usual for Connecticut's socialism.  The Connecticut Democrat Party want tolls now to apparently spend even more money to take care of the political operatives it has and continuing to provide horrific roads and bridges for Connecticut drivers.  Why are our road costs so high?  Where is the money going?  Why isn't there a forensic audit to find out?  
We also are viewing a massive scandal and misuse of Connecticut Taxpayers monies at the Connecticut Port Authority. Former Board Chairman Deputy Secretary of the State Scott Bates apparently used it as his own bank account hiring a friend for a no show $6500 a month job, hiring other friends and buying a board members daughter artwork for its offices.  Connecticut Taxpayers question must be is why is Bates still the Deputy Secretary of the State in Connecticut?  How is he not abusing that office?  Why should there be any trust now in the Secretary of State's office with a person like this being the Deputy Secretary of the State with no reprimand whatsoever?  It is again amusing when a report like this comes out our media does not report it nor is there any comment by the Connecticut Democrat Party on it.  It is business as usual for Connecticut's socialism. 
Ned Lamont claims transparency in his Administration.  Where is the transparency in these two issues?  Where is the justice?  Why is Connecticut Taxpayers monies wasted in this manner?
Connecticut has $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  It has some of the highest taxes in the country.  And we continue to see issues of corruption literally on a daily basis.
The money that has been wasted on these two issues could go to lowering taxes on Connecticut businesses and residents.  Instead we are force fed the same stale rhetoric.  The lies of the Connecticut Democrat Party are tiring.  We should not be a state with two sets of laws, one for the ruling political elite and one for the Connecticut Taxpayer who must foot this bill for constant corruption.

The Corruption of DECD

Connecticut's Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) needs to go.  In the realm of trying to create new businesses and attract new businesses it has done little to help Connecticut's chronic recession and debacle of an economy.  It has wasted a great deal of Connecticut's Taxpayers money over the years. 
Some of the new scandals and wastes of money include a Suffield firm that received $3.5 million dollars in loans and still went bankrupt and the new allegations this week that were reported by the Yankee Institute's Marc Fitch (https://yankeeinstitute.org/2019/08/13/the-fitch-files-whistleblower-complaint-alleges-decd-gave-second-loans-modifications-to-delinquent-borrowers/) about a DECD employees complaint about companies that were delinquent with loans kept getting new loans.  For example Connecticut Casket Company received over $850,000 in three loans even though they were delinquent on the first and second loans.  They also received an initial $100,000 grant in 2012.
Other examples are found in Fitch's article highlight the other illegal loans that were made since the businesses were delinquent in their initial loans and or did not meet the job creation requirements that the grant or loan stated.  Also a 2017 State audit found issues with excessively high fees paid to third-party lenders for loans. 
To me what is going on at the DECD is fraud.  You can't make these types of loans in our banking system.  I have tried to read and reread the DECD Annual Report and in some areas it defies economic logic as to what Connecticut is spending on supposed new job creation.  If Connecticut was not so anti business and a high tax state it would not have to bribe companies to stay and or relocate to Connecticut.  And what business in their right mind would want to relocate to Connecticut with all of its economic problems and high taxes it has?  The DECD has done little to improve the state's economy and the results are found in Connecticut's chronic last and or bottom ranking in most economic and business categories.
The Connecticut Democrat Party's constant pay-to-play rules of doing business in the state including a total lack of oversight at the DECD have been a constant factor in the ruining of our economy.  While the nation prospers Connecticut continues its constant march into economic oblivion. 
Supposedly business savvy Governor Ned Lamont should actually show some leadership by dismantling the DECD and lowering taxes to achieve economic stimulation and growth in Connecticut.  The DECD does not make economic sense for the state as it just wastes Connecticut Taxpayer's monies on a daily basis.  And maybe someone in our state legislature would be dynamic enough to order a full forensic audit of this agency and clean it up to close it down.  The money spent on this agency could go to lowering taxes on Connecticut businesses and the laws of supply and demand could actually be seen once again in Connecticut.

Economic Freedom In Connecticut?

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

Can Connecticut's Economy Be Repaired?

Can Connecticut's economy be repaired?
Is there any hope for Connecticut's economy?
What can be done to make Connecticut a vibrant economy again?
Depending on what point of view you take Connecticut is a vast economic wasteland or it is one of the most prosperous socialist economies in the country.
If you are a Democrat your non stop command economy demands and laws have help to create a socialists dream of gun control, an excessive minimum wage, high taxes, a taking away of personal freedoms along with rampant illegal immigration with a more than generous welfare system.  The legal system does not pertain to you or your party.  Laws are meant to be broken.  Political nepotism rules.
If you are a Republican you are thinking about moving out of state as fast as you can.  You are supposedly always in the minority and have no voice or say in state government.  The state economy remains near last or last in all economic development, job creation and business development categories.  The state media is a feeding system for the Democrat Party thus their non objective reporting on all economic issues.
There is not really much being offered to change Connecticut's economy.  Connecticut's legal Taxpayers and businesses realize they work only to support a bloated state government whose only concern is state management and union employees salaries, benefits and pensions.  They also realize there is little they can do to address Connecticut's growing $100 billion dollars plus short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities since the Democrat Party could care less about it.  They also realize they have literally become indentured servants to Connecticut's state government.
Thus what can be done?
At this point literally nothing unless there is balance in state government.  The Connecticut Democrat Party has been in control of the state house for 40 plus years and an almost equal time for the state senate.  It is their political rule that has brought the state to its economic knees.  It has been their corruption and pay to play schemes that have disrupted our economy and forced its citizens to leave.
Cut spending, cut taxes, we all know it falls on deaf ears.  But it is what is necessary to get Connecticut to become a free economic system once again.  Think about it if you dare to.

Connecticut's State Pension Crisis

Hidden in the economic debacle created by the Connecticut Democrat Party is the ongoing state pension crisis.  According to a new report released by the American Legislative Exchange Council Connecticut is dead last in total ratio pension funding in the country coming in at 20.28% of the money needed to fund the pensions, thus being underfunded by 80%. The unfunded pension liability amounts to $32,805 per person in the state and 45.13% of Connecticut’s gross state product according to this report.
Connecticut assigns a very high rate of return of 6.9% to its State Employee Retirement System and an even higher 8% rate of return for its Teachers Retirement System.  Both funds do not achieve this rate of return as far as I can research.  With limited information to review I see that the Teachers Retirement System is seriously underfunded and their rate of return is also seriously understated.  Therefore both funds are underfunded by $70 billion dollars.  This debt will only grow in the future and is a massive part of the states yearly budget in costs.  I estimate in the near future that due to the borrowing for these pensions along with the actual annual contributions the state makes to them and the pension payouts themselves, 20% or more of the state budget will account for employee pension costs.
Governor Lamont's solution like former Governor Malloy's solution is to push payments down the roads years from now and continue to estimate the same rates of return on the pension funds. Thus future generations will be bankrupted trying to pay for these pensions for a small minority of the workers of the state.
This current pension crisis should have been addressed in this legislative session.  Obviously it was not.  Where is the money going to come from in the future?  How is this sustainable?  What is coming next a new tax to pay for the state teacher and employee pensions? 
Pushing payments years from now to pay for the funds just exaggerates the issue.  Realistic rates of return along with self funding pensions should be immediately enacted.  Negotiations need to be implemented to restructure pensions to stop these massive costs from bankrupting Connecticut.  I think many legal citizens and legal taxpayers of the state are fed up with these ridiculous salaries, pensions and benefits that paid out yearly to suffice a ruling political elite of the state.
It is time to address Connecticut's state pension crisis today.

Connecticut Turnaround? Where?

Where is Connecticut's economic turnaround?
I am curious as I can't see what Governor Lamont sees nor what the Connecticut Democrat Party sees as far as an economic turnaround.
Where is the economic turnaround?
Is it in the higher taxes that will be going into effect on August 1st?
Is it in the banning of plastic shopping bags next year?
Is it in the higher business taxes that will be going into effect this year?
Is it in more businesses moving out of the state?
Is it in Connecticut being last and or near last in most economic and business categories in the country?
Is it in shoving tolls down the throats of Connecticut's drivers while raiding the Transportation fund and leaving our state roads and bridges in disrepair?
Is it in the time of recovery from one recession to another recession that Connecticut can never seem to get out of as compared to the rest of New England?
Is it in the amount of sanctuary cities Connecticut's Taxpayers have to support in the state?
Is it in the $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities the state has?
Is it in the net outflow of legal citizens moving out of Connecticut on a daily basis?
Where is Connecticut's economic turnaround?
Sorry I do not see it.
Governor Lamont is confused and offered nothing to rectify these issues in the unbalanced budget that he signed into law.  We are now in the ninth year of economic failure and counting due to the Connecticut Democrat Party.
We do not have an economic turnaround.  We have a great deal of economic misery instead.

243 Years of Freedom July 4, 1776 - July 4, 2019

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated  Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Connecticut's New Unbalanced Budget

Connecticut has a new budget that is unbalanced.  The smoke and mirrors of the budget afforded the usual political patronage pay outs and once again disrespected and insulted the legal Connecticut Taxpayers of the state.
In homage to the ruling political ruling class was the usual sneaking in of the following:
$46 million dollars in new wage increases to state employees.
An addition $2 million dollars in raises to Legislative staff members.
An impossible real time sales tax to paid immediately by Connecticut businesses to the Department of Revenue.
A new mansion and exit tax for those leaving the state.
New taxes on dry cleaning, a new 1% additional restaurant tax and sales tax on many other services.
Budget revenue being stated in the non existent $450 million dollars in state union employee contract savings.  There has been no agreement to these give backs but yet were included as revenue in the new budget.
Estimated growth in tax revenues over 5% in the budget when they is no indication this will be forthcoming given the poor economic climate of Connecticut.
A raid of the special Transportation budget  to de-fund it.
And the entire budget was a given a whole 24 hours to be voted on.  Over $44 billion dollars worth  of spending to be read and analyzed in 24 hours to decide the economic conditions for Connecticut for the next two years.  In 24 hours.
The Connecticut Democrat Party budget once again makes a mockery of the state budget process and is hostile and unfair to legal Connecticut Taxpayers.  It is an insult to our economic intelligence.
Sickening is another good word for this budget.
In a few months with a battle to ram tolls down our throats we will be hearing the familiar cry of lower than expected tax revenues along with a rapidly approaching $1 billion dollars budget deficit thus taxes will need to go up as fast as possible to cover this new deficit. 
And the $100 billion dollars plus in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities will continue to grow along with the unrelenting increases in state employee union and management salaries, benefits and pensions for 2019-20. 
The economic crisis continues unabated here in Connecticut thanks to our economically irrational and illiterate Governor Lamont and the Omnipotent Connecticut Democrat Party.
The legal Connecticut Taxpayer is damned.

No Tolls For Connecticut

There should be no tolls in Connecticut.
The different costly studies and economically irrational plans have not stated how these tolls will  relieve congestion on our highways nor work to repair and fix the decaying highway and bridge system in Connecticut.  The toll plan is a fools dream, a commuters nightmare, an economic shock due to the higher costs of living in Connecticut that would be created from it and another economic insult to legal Connecticut Taxpayers.
There are many questions unanswered with the push for tolls.
These include the following:
How much will it actually cost to build these tolls?
How many tolls will there actually be?  This number changes on a daily basis.
How much will the tolls actually cost and what is the theoretical discount for Connecticut drivers since supposedly our state highways have at all times 40% out of state drivers traveling on them?
What are the costs to actually run the toll program?
How much revenue will actually be brought in from the tolls?
What happens if revenues are low for the tolls?  How much do the tolls go up to per mile?
Where does the money from tolls go to?  Trains?  State employee salaries, benefits and pensions?  Will any money actually go to repair the crumbling state road and bridge system? (I personally doubt it)
Why has the Special Transportation Fund been drained each year since it was implemented?  This years budget was no different.
Tolls will do the following:
Increase the costs of living in Connecticut as the costs of tolls will be passed on to all goods and services being offered, sold and delivered in the state.
Increase the costs of driving in Connecticut.
Create a new union bureaucracy with even more political patronage jobs with high salaries, benefits and pensions to run this program.
Toll monies will naturally be diverted from the repair of the crumbling state road and bridge system and be lumped into the general fund.
State jobs will open up mysteriously for all Democrat State Representatives and Senators who lose their election bids for voting for tolls in 2020 growing the states massive management and union payrolls which will further expand the state pension crisis.
Connecticut can ill afford tolls on top of the massive taxes Connecticut taxpayers must pay to work, operate a business and live in the state.
It is a bad economic idea that is being shoved down the throats of legal Connecticut Taxpayers. 
No Tolls for Connecticut.  It will make Connecticut dead last in all economic categories in our country.  It is a horrific plan.  End it today.

What's Another $460,000,000.00 For Connecticut Taxpayers?

What is $460,000,000.00 for Connecticut Taxpayers?  In the excesses of a $43,200,000,000.00 bloated new Connecticut state budget that is filled with political fat and nepotism not much.
For the $460,000,000.00 is the "supposed savings" that has yet to have been agreed upon by the state labor unions but yet has been included as a line item in the budget.
Therefore the state budget is already out of balance because we as Connecticut taxpayers know there will never be any state labor savings anywhere near approaching $460,000,000.00.  And Connecticut Taxpayers will hear the familiar story in a few months that the budget is out-of-balance, we need higher taxes and to cut services for those who truly need it like the elderly and our special needs citizens of the state.  The pork will never be cut to balance the budget as that gravy train of political nepotism and patronage is the hallmark of the Connecticut Democrat Party. 
As an economist and a Connecticut Taxpayer how is it legal to create a budget that includes $460,000,000.00 of savings that has not even been accepted yet?  What is being cut to achieve this $460,000,000.00 of savings?  Over what time frame does this $460,000,000.00 take place in is it one month?  A year?  Twenty years? 
As a reminder to Governor Lamont and the Connecticut Democrat Party, Connecticut has a $100,000,000,000.00 short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  This is a massive debt that has not been nor seems ever to be addressed by the Connecticut Democrat Party.  What is the plan to pay this off? 
The new state budget is out of balance.  It is a financial time bomb waiting to happen.  There never is thoughts of cutting spending or lowering taxes when budget time comes.
And the State Legislature has less than 24 hours to read and vote on the budget.  This is not fair to the Connecticut Taxpayers.  It is a sickening excess of political bias against the Connecticut Taxpayer.  it seems that the Connecticut Democrat Party despises the legal Connecticut Taxpayer.
Why? 

Want To Save $100,000. Move Out Of Connecticut.

There are many ways to save money.  One way for Connecticut Taxpayers to save money is by moving out of state.
Young couples starting out can save a great deal of money by moving out of state. 
For example a young couple buying a $250,000 house in Connecticut depending on which town it is in will pay anywhere from $4500 to $7500 in property taxes along with $400 to $800 in property taxes on their cars.  If they bought that same house in South Carolina, Florida or Tennessee their property taxes would be from $1000 to $2000 and depending on the state no property taxes on their cars.  Florida has no state income tax thus the couple would save an additional $6000 to $10,000 a year depending on their income levels.  Thus in a ten year period or less a young couple by moving out of Connecticut can save $100,000 or more depending on which state they move to.  In a 30 year time frame the couple has potential savings of $300,000 or more by moving out.
A couple retiring may move out of state also to save money.  There is little financial incentive to stay in Connecticut since retirees will be paying the same amount of property taxes as if you were working along with state income taxes on your pensions (if you have one) and social security.  The savings on your property taxes alone by moving out of the state could be $100,000 in a ten year or less time period also.
As much as the current state budget which again raises taxes on many items and income is painted as yet another cure all for Connecticut's government spending and nepotism problems it is creating more and more examples of what I have just stated to occur.  More and more people will move out of Connecticut to save money.  Connecticut continues to have a net migration out of the state that will only accelerate with this current Taxpayer be damned budget that was passed.  The current Connecticut tax system is an entrapment that has created a serfdom in the state.  We as Taxpayers are serfs in the political serfdom that has been created to benefit those in political power.  Connecticut Taxpayers work for our state government to maintain its excesses.
Governor Lamont seems to be following in the Weicker and Malloy footsteps of lying to get elected and raise spending and taxes.  He is a political puppet of the Connecticut Democrat Party especially its economically irrational progressive wing.
If you want to save money and have a better quality of life move out of Connecticut.  I know many who have and will do in the future.  it is obvious that our state government is only concerned about their ruling class not its legal working citizens.

What Connecticut Taxpayers Must Deal With Now

Connecticut Taxpayers have woken up this morning to face another new chilling economic reality thanks to the brutal and omnipotent one party rule of the Connecticut Democrat Party.
They are going to be paying much, much higher taxes.
Connecticut Taxpayers will now be paying a 10 cent per bag tax on plastic bags when shopping.
Connecticut Taxpayers will now be paying a .05% payroll tax for paid medical and family leave even though they may never use it.
Connecticut Taxpayers will now be paying sales taxes on all sorts of services and goods that were previously tax exempt.
Connecticut Taxpayers who own pass through entity companies will now be paying a new massive tax on their earnings.
Connecticut Taxpayers will now be paying for much higher salaries and benefits for state workers.
Connecticut Taxpayers will now be paying to house, feed and give state benefits to illegal immigrants in the state as a sanctuary state law goes forward.
Connecticut Taxpayers who have businesses will be forced to pay a $15 minimum wage which will drive up the cost of living in Connecticut, eliminate profits and reduce entry level jobs.
Connecticut Taxpayers will possibly now be paying tolls in the near future as they get rammed down their throats by the Connecticut Democrat Party.
The Connecticut Democrat Party offered no cuts in any spending in this budget.
The Connecticut Democrat Party offered no solutions to the $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.
The Connecticut Democrat Party offered to push down the road the funding of their high cost mandated teachers pensions to 2033 with massive negative economic implications for future Connecticut Taxpayers.
The Connecticut Democrat Party once again did not allow meaningful budget negotiations with the Connecticut Republican Party.
And once again most of the legislature did not and will not be able to read the actual budget before voting on it next week.  Nor will any Connecticut Taxpayer like myself be allowed to read it either.
And so it goes.
Connecticut's economy will further its decline as a bottom five states in the country in economic development and friendliness.
Connecticut's economy will further its decline as one of the highest five states in the country for taxes.
I really wonder why the Connecticut Democrat Party still governs in 2019?
Because in reality they can not lead or govern at all.  They again have failed the Connecticut Taxpayer.  The Connecticut Democrat Party loves to lie to the Connecticut Taxpayer over and over again.
RIP The Connecticut Taxpayer.

Why Can't Connecticut's Government Cut Spending?

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

More Connecticut Taxes-More,More,More

More Connecticut Taxes.
More, more, more.
It is a consistent theme in Connecticut.
The Connecticut Democrat Party likes to raise taxes since 1991.  They have been successful in raising them year in and year out.
The Connecticut Democrat Party likes to spend money for their political ruling class to keep them in power forever.
The Connecticut Democrat Party is not concerned in the least with the $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities the state currently has.
The Connecticut Democrat Party is not concerned at all with raising the minimum wage which will in effect force more businesses out of Connecticut.
The Connecticut Democrat Party does not worry about the costs of state employee union and management salaries, benefits and pensions.
The Connecticut Democrat Party are above rules and laws that govern our state-laws are meant to be broken and disregarded by them especially when election time comes.
More Connecticut Taxes.
More, more, more.
It is a consistent theme in Connecticut.
Ned Lamont in his brief time in office has also shown is a true  and loyal member of the Connecticut Democrat Party by lying during his campaign and his lack of decision making as Governor.
Ned Lamont obviously felt by investing $50 million dollars plus of his own money in all of the elections he has run he is entitled to do whatever he wants and the legal Connecticut voter and taxpayer be damned.
This entire legislative session could have been about cutting spending, cutting taxes, addressing the $100 billion dollar debt crisis and reforming state employee union and management salaries, benefits and pensions.  This was not even looked at.  Instead it was the chronic theme and new, higher taxes along with tolls will once again solve Connecticut's issues.
It doesn't and has not for years.
More Connecticut Taxes.
More, more, more.
Start voting with your feet-there are many other states better run than the oppressive and omnipotent one party rule of what was used to be "The Constitution State".   RIP Connecticut.

The Connecticut Democrat Party Wants These New Taxes

The Connecticut House Republicans listed the possible new taxes that have been considered by the Connecticut Democrat Party led Finance Committee in 2019.  They equal roughly over $2 billion dollars more in new and higher taxes over the next two years.  This comes after the $5 billion dollars in new and higher taxes by Democrat Dan Malloy wrote into law during his failed administration.
The taxes include the following:
A new 2% Tax on Capital Gains
Property Tax Credit – Removed Scheduled Expansion
Tax for Rideshare
Increase in Sales Tax on Meals
10% Tax Increase on Alcohol
Increase Tax rate on Movies 6% to 6.35%
Eliminate 5 year, $500 credit for STEM college graduates
Tax interior design services
Tax dry-cleaning and laundry services, incl. coin-operated
Tax parking
Tax on digital downloads from 1.0% to standard 6.35% rate
Tax Safety apparel
Maintain current 10% business surcharge set to expire in tax year 2019
Tax E-Cigarettes liquid at 75% wholesale
Increase Minimum Markup on Cigarettes
Increased Sales due to Ecig Excise
Maintain Hospital User Fee at FY 2019 level of $900 million
Implement recommendation of ambulatory surgical center tax study
Surcharge on Plastic Bags of 10 cents
Increase annual filing fee for LLC’s and LLP’s from $20 to $100
Eliminate increased exemption for social security income
Eliminate exemption for pension and annuity income
Eliminate the sales tax free week
Tax legal services
Tax on accounting services
Tax on architectural services
Tax on engineering services
Tax on real estate activities and agents/brokers
Tax on veterinary services
Tax on barber shops and beauty salons
Tax on massage therapists and electrology services
Tax on sports/recreation instruction and industries
Tax on horse boarding and training
Tax on travel arrangement and scenic transportation
Tax on services to buildings and dwellings
Tax on waste collection
Tax on Renovation and repair of residential property
Tax on Repair or maintenance of vessels
Tax on Winter boat storage
Tax on Increase tax on boats from 2.99% to standard 6.35% rate
Tax Increase hotel occupancy tax from 15% to 17%
Tax on Trade-ins for vehicles
Tax on Non-prescription drugs
Tax on Text books, college & professional schools
Tax on Newspapers and magazines
Tax on Connecticut credit unions
Tax on Campground rentals
Tax on Bicycle helmets
Tax on child car seats
Tax on vegetable seeds
A new 25 cent deposit on wine and liquor glass bottles
A new Add 5 cent bottle deposit to nips
A new tax on payroll to fund state-run Family Medical Leave
These new taxes show the incredible disrespect the Connecticut Democrat Party has for Connecticut Taxpayers.
These new taxes show the incredible lack of economic knowledge the Connecticut Democrat Party has for Connecticut's miserable economy.  More taxes have not resolved Connecticut's economic problems.
These new taxes show how the $5 billion dollars in new and higher taxes the Connecticut Democrat Party shoved down the throats of Connecticut Taxpayers during the past eight years did nothing to help solve chronic budget deficits and long term debt.
Connecticut still has $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities that this budget does not address.  And these new taxes will not address them either.
The final budget will probably write into law some of these new miracle taxes along with increases in base taxes.
And Connecticut will continue to be last in all economic and business categories for the next four years.  More of the same stale rhetoric brought to you by the failed Connecticut Democrat Party.
 

Can Connecticut Cut State Spending?

The Connecticut Democrat Party seems to have a habitual spending problem.  It can not, will not, must not nor it seems it ever will cut spending in Hartford.  Spending each budget year must go up it can never go down.  Tax revenues in the state continue to be unreliable as the net migration moving out continues daily along with businesses leaving the state thus lowering revenue.  The few new jobs that are being developed are at much lower wages than previous jobs (for example the Amazon warehouse jobs). The progressive/socialist wing of the Connecticut Democrat Party seems to believe that higher taxes will make the state more fair and equitable to those in need.  There is no mention by these same progressive/socialists of the Connecticut Democrat Party as to the excessive tax burden that the Connecticut working middle class must pay year in and year out.
The Connecticut Democrat Party new pitch is an additional 2% tax increase on Capital Gains.  The claim is that these wealthy citizens who receive Capital Gains can afford to pay more in taxes since they are wealthy.  How does the Connecticut Democrat Party define wealth?  Unknown to anyone but themselves.  The net impact of this yet new tax besides all of the other taxes they have proposed is to continue the net migration of population out of the state and to see yet even more businesses moving out of state.  It seems to be a never ending cycle.
High taxes negate economic growth.  However for the protected individuals of the Connecticut Democrat Party this scenario does not exist since they feed off the Connecticut Taxpayers never ending supply of money.  Wealth formation is gained through the Connecticut Democrat Party and their deals and subsidies to those politically connected with them.  Rules and laws do not apply to them.
Cutting the bloat of Connecticut state government would have been the first step in the road to economic recovery for the state.  Why couldn't Governor Lamont instruct the "exceptional" newly appointed state commissioners that all received raises in their salaries to find a way to do more with less money by cutting spending in their agencies by 10%.  This would have been a serious step in restoring the state's finances.  But instead Connecticut Taxpayers are force fed the same stale rhetoric of new and higher taxes along with now tolls will once again solve all of the state's fiscal issues.
New taxes and tolls does not improve Connecticut.
It has not and it will not.
Cutting state spending fails always on deaf ears. 
Connecticut Taxpayers must again be the serfs and economic slaves to the Connecticut Democrat Party.
Cut spending.  No Tolls.  Connecticut Taxpayers have had enough.

Another Connecticut Tax For Drivers-Another Connecticut Double Taxation

Connecticut Democrats in their quest to tax any conceivable economically productive activity to obtain tax revenue are looking at a proposal to tax vehicles when you trade them in when purchasing a new vehicle.  Thus when you purchase a new or used vehicle in Connecticut you pay a 6.35% sales tax and now when you sell and trade in your vehicle you will pay again sales tax.  Thus another double taxation for Connecticut Taxpayers.   The purpose of this tax is to raise depending on the analysis $250 to $300 million dollars in new tax revenue.  The revenue will be used obviously to increase spending on state management and union salaries, benefits and pensions.  An example of this increase was seen this past week when an 11% pay increase was voted in for all newly unionized tax attorneys that were formerly managers who work for the State Attorney Generals Office.  Another example of where this revenue might go is towards the pay increases that were received by all of the newly appointed State Commissioners.  Yet another example of where this new revenue may go is to the State Union employees and their upcoming longevity payments on July 1. 
The costs of this new car tax will make drivers think twice on trading in their vehicles and will probably add anywhere from $635 to $2000 on the costs of purchasing a new vehicle in the state.  It will in both the short and long run decrease car and truck sales in the state while further increasing the costs of driving in Connecticut which are already influenced by high gasoline taxes, property taxes on the vehicles you own and the possibility of one of the highest amount of toils and toll rates in the country.
All this while Connecticut continues to remain at the bottom or last in all economic categories in the country with net migration and loss of population on a yearly basis.  All this while Connecticut has $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  All this while there has been no conversation in the state legislature to cut spending of any sort this session.
Thus we will see yet another Connecticut tax for drivers that is yet another Connecticut double taxation.  All this while Connecticut falls further into a never ending cycle of an economic recession fast approaching an economic depression.

The Double Taxation Of Tolls

Tolls create a double taxation for Connecticut Taxpayers and businesses.  Toll taxes will only be passed on to consumers who are already paying toll taxes.
Here is an example.  A heating oil company must deliver oil to its customers.  For a heating oil company located in Meriden they must drive to the storage areas of New Haven to obtain their heating oil wholesale.  The drive to New Haven will entail them driving on I-91 and possibly I-95 depending on what exit they use to pick up the oil.  The tolls round trip for this may range from $4 to $8 depending upon time of day and what the state will actually charge for the tolls.  If this company must pick up heating oil on an average of 500 times per year this will increase their costs by $2000 to $4000 per year.  The heating oil in some cases will have to be transferred to other trucks and then sent out for delivery.  Based on scheduling and the needs of its customers the heating oil company will then route its truck or trucks to deliver their product.  Tolls because of their locations will be encountered by the heating oil company delivering to their customers.  Based on the number of deliveries this now adds an additional $2000 to their costs yearly depending upon time of day and what the state will actually charge for the tolls.  Taking a high end figure the heating oil company now has an additional $6000 in new costs yearly in the form of the toll taxes that have been implemented.
The heating oil company also must add an additional sales tax to the cost of their deliveries which is 6.35% that is passed to their customers due to this new tax.  The costs of tolls adds an additional five cents per gallon to the price of the heating oil.  Also the state has passed a "green tax" of roughly ten cents a gallon to heating oil to penalize them for supposedly being a non clean fuel.
The customer comes home from work from his or her job.  Their commute from Meriden to Milford now costs them an additional $20 a week or $80 per month due to the toll tax they must now pay.  They have received the bill for their heating oil delivery of 200 gallons.  Last month before the tolls and new taxes on heating oil they paid $2 a gallon or $400 for 200 gallons.  This delivery cost them $457.31, 200 gallons at $2.15 per gallon/$430 for the heating oil plus $27.31 for state sales tax on the bill.  Because of the supply and demand for heating oil the prices will fluctuate.  The customer now must come up with an additional $57.31 per month for the heating oil.  They also must come up with an additional $80 per month for the costs of the tolls.  The customer will not be getting a raise this year either due to the additional state taxes that the business they work for has to pay.
The customer must now cut costs a minimum of $137.31 per month due to the increased costs of tolls and heating oil.  However the costs at the grocery have increased dramatically also due to the new toll tax as all shipments to Connecticut have gone up with some trucking companies refusing to deliver to Connecticut due to its high taxes and tolls and also some trucking companies in the state have gone out of business since they can not make a profit here any more due to the high tolls and taxes.
The customer must now figure out a way to cut back to pay what they estimate is the additional 25% more they are paying at the grocery stores weekly for their food.  The customer figures now they have to come up with an additional $400 a month more between the toll tax and higher costs for all consumer goods they must purchase to live here in Connecticut.  They have no alternative but to eliminate their 401K contributions at work.  They have no alternative to lower their thermostats in their houses to try to save on heating oil.  They no longer spend any money on any form of entertainment or eating out.
After a year of tolls and increased prices Connecticut's economy is in a massive recession with huge budget deficits since toll revenues are not coming in at what was estimated and most non discretionary consumer spending has stopped thus lowering state sales tax revenue.  The Connecticut Democrat Party thus decides to raise tolls even higher and all other taxes even higher to make up for the shortfalls.  By the way the rest of New England is experiencing economic expansion and prosperity at this same time due to its lower taxes.
The economic example that I have described will become economic reality if toll taxes are passed.  Tolls are a form of double taxation. I urge you to contact your State Senators and State Representatives to express your concerns and opposition to tolls in Connecticut.  No tolls are needed and will damage even more a damaged state economy.  Enough is enough.

Connecticut: No Tolls Today, No Tolls Tomorrow, No Tolls Ever

No tolls.
Not today, not tomorrow nor ever in Connecticut.
The Connecticut Democrat Party is trying to manipulate the debate on tolls.  But in my opinion they are losing.  The reason is that there is a massive amount of legal Connecticut Taxpayers who see the scam that these new tolls are and will become.
The new tolls program has no transparency.  Trying to get any information on them is limited and not readily given out to the public.  We are just told that they are needed, shut up and accept them.  Just like the state income tax in 1991.
The new tolls are needed to provide $100 billion dollars in transportation spending according to Governor Lamont.  Where does he develop this figure from?  What projects are being added and or repaired?  How many years will it take to achieve $100 billion dollars in toll revenue after expenses?  Ten years? Thirty years?  100 years?  Doesn't Connecticut already have $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities?  Is that economic issue going to be addressed or does it now mean we will have $200 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities?
The new tolls will cost how much to implement?  Connecticut already is at the top in the country for administrative costs to maintain our crumbling road and bridge system thus I will assume this will be the same for the costs of tolls.
The new tolls will cost Connecticut drivers how much per mile?  This figure changes daily it seems.  Will there be congestion tolling?  At what times?  What roads?  With 53 plus tolls being proposed it seems to me there will be massive shifts of costs everywhere and at all times while driving.  Thus you will never know how much it will cost to drive.
 Connecticut already has a massive amount of taxes that Connecticut drivers pay already.  A secret 8.1% gross earnings tax on fuel which equals roughly 18.8-cents per gallon of tax, along with a 25- cent gallon tax equals 43.8-cents per gallon of taxes that drivers pay for each gallon of gas they buy. The 25-cent per gallon tax alone takes in over $505 million dollars in revenue for the state.  Then add all the other state taxes one pays for motor oils, tires and maintenance of their vehicles and you have an enormous cost to operate a vehicle in Connecticut.
Tolls if implemented will only go up rapidly and often.  Bridges and roads will not be repaired.  Toll money will be funneled somewhere in the non-transparent spending schemes of the Connecticut Democrat Party.  The lies will begin just as they did for the state income tax when that was seen as an epic economic failure contributing to the economic downfall of Connecticut.  It is logical to assume that the Connecticut state government has massive spending problems.  Tolls will not solve it.  Cut spending dramatically on management and union salaries, benefits and pensions.  Cut all state agencies budgets by 10 to 15%.  Have these supposedly exceptional Commissioners find a way to save Connecticut Taxpayers monies.  This all falls on deaf ears.
No tolls today, no tolls tomorrow and no tolls ever.

Where Do Connecticut Taxpayers Get Their Money From To Pay Their Taxes?

In the current harsh one party rule of the Connecticut Democrat Party that we are seeing in this current legislative session I really wonder if they know where Connecticut Taxpayers get their money from to pay their taxes?
As simplistic as this question is I think the Connecticut Democrat Party needs to understand where Connecticut Taxpayers get their money from and why it is not unlimited in nature.  Legal Connecticut Taxpayers may either own their own business and or work for a company and earn income.  This income is taxed in many ways with Federal income taxes, social security and medicare taxes automatically being taken out each pay period.  Also here in Connecticut a state income tax is levied and automatically taken out each pay period.  The state income tax has increased dramatically since its inception in 1991.  New for this session is an additional family leave tax of .05% to pay for a supposed twelve weeks of your pay to take care of a defined family member.  If you never use this leave you will not got any money back for what you payed into it nor has it been explained how this figure was developed or how it is sustainable to fund the program.
Connecticut has state taxes besides the income tax that are numerous.  We have state sales taxes, state use taxes, state excise taxes, state fees, state business taxes, state business licensing fees, state fuel taxes, state unemployment compensation taxes and other miscellaneous state taxes and fees that are assessed for far ranging areas and entities.
On a local level Connecticut has one of the highest property taxes in the country with wide ranging mill rates from town to town, city to city.  Connecticut Taxpayers must pay a local property tax on their home or condo, their vehicles, boats, trailers and campers.
If one adds up all of these taxes and you are a middle income earning couple you and your spouse will probably being paying 40% to 50% of your income for federal, state and local taxes here in Connecticut.  With all of the new taxes and tolls that are going to be passed this session this will increase our tax burden upwards to 48% to 58% of your income for federal, state and local taxes.  This means that you get to keep only 42 to 52 cents of each dollar you earn here in Connecticut.
Therefore I ask again if the Connecticut Democrat Party knows where Connecticut Taxpayers get their money from to pay their taxes?  If taxes and tolls are going to raised upwards of $2.5 billion dollars where will Connecticut Taxpayers get this additional money from?  Obviously Connecticut's economy will contract even more than has in the past as Connecticut Taxpayers reduce their consumer spending, their driving to avoid tolls, lower and or eliminate their savings and investments due to these massive tax increases.  Connecticut businesses will be eliminating jobs due to the higher minimum wage, costs of higher transportation due to tolls and higher taxes.  This should help cement Connecticut's place in the country as having the highest tax rates, the highest costs of living, the highest costs of doing business and the longest recessions of any other state.  And I can  guarantee you that Connecticut will continue to have budget deficits in the future and the roads and bridges will not be fixed or repaired either.  And nothing will be done to address Connecticut's $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.
Connecticut Taxpayers have little alternative other to try to work more hours at their jobs, try to find part time jobs to earn more income to pay for all these new taxes and tolls.  Connecticut businesses have little alternative other than to eliminate jobs, reduce wages and or move to a low tax state such as Florida, South Carolina or Tennessee.  When this occurs it will create a massive ripple effect of fewer jobs and much lower tax revenues for Connecticut thereby increasing Connecticut's $100 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  This economic fact is lost on the economic ignorance of the Connecticut Democrat Party.
We can conclude that Connecticut Taxpayers will no longer be able to afford to pay their taxes in both the short and long run.  
We can also conclude that Connecticut businesses will no longer be able to operate and earn a profit  along with trying to pay higher taxes in both the short and long run.
We can also conclude that Connecticut's economy will be in a massive recession in both the short and long run.  
We can also conclude that Connecticut Democrat Party could care less about Connecticut.