News Flash: Connecticut Has A Bad And Incompetent Government

 Something is very obvious in Connecticut. Connecticut has a bad and incompetent government. Bad in the sense that it no longer represents its constituents. It no longer represents right versus wrong, truth versus lie, and fact versus fiction. It has produced many different incoherent, blabbering pieces of rhetoric to keep up a fictional lie of how well Connecticut is governed by the Connecticut Democrat Party. And the tipping point has been reached for Connecticut Taxpayers who are now seeing through the charade.

Connecticut has had bad government for many years, but ever since the devastation and oppression of the Covid-19 regime, the acceleration from bad to abysmal has become much more acute. Finger pointing has been perfected to an art form in the state by the Democrat Party. But have no fear. The Democrat Party takes no responsibility for the issues that are facing Connecticut in 2025, but of course, it never has.

The Horrors of Bad Government in Connecticut include (but are not limited to),

Excessively high local and state taxes inhibiting economic growth and economic and personal freedoms.

Excessively high insurance costs for auto insurance due to the rampant thefts and hijackings of vehicles, especially by repeat offenders along with the horrific mismanagement of residential crimes and the mishandling of natural disasters.

Excessively prohibitive costs of doing business in the state due to a myriad of complex rules, regulations and laws that increase the costs of doing business in the state and eliminate profitability for small businesses. (And as a tutorial of things to come with respect to the impending and disastrous "bipartisan" mismanagement of Artificial Intelligence for state businesses, please watch my friend Tony De Angelo’ THIRTY WITH TONY show of May 22, 2025, dealing with the horrors of “Senate Bill 2”

THE SHOW STUPID POLITICIAN TRICKS PART 2 THIRTY WITH TONY 5 22 2025 )

THE SHOW STUPID POLITICIAN TRICKS PART 2 THIRTY WITH TONY 5 22 2025

 

A constant illegal drug problem further exaggerated by the legalization and taxation of marijuana, while “psychedelic mushrooms” are moving from the on-deck circle to the batter’s box as the next legal drug of choice.

An irrational and sickening excess of the promotion of the harm and exploitation of children through sex changes, boys playing in girls’ sports, pornographic reading materials in libraries in schools, and the condemnation of parents having responsibility of their children. 

This should sicken everyone in the state.

The state's takeover of local zoning laws and regulations. (Communities be damned).

Fiscal guardrails that are shunned and destroyed by the Democrat Party.

No acknowledgement whatsoever of the 100 to 150 Billion Dollars of short- and long-term liabilities and unfunded liabilities weighing on the state. (Hint: The celebrated and oft-repeated Fiscal Guardrails do not even touch this grievous liability).

The state’s complete lack of transparency in how and why it governs and lack of disclosure of whosoever else may be involved.

A state ethics department that one would compliment to call it a joke.

 The continuing saga of the legal and ethical quagmire of Governor Lamont, the self-deals of the Lamont family, and the highly questionable (and non-transparent) dealings of First Lady Ann Lamont in matters of state government.

A bloated state bureaucracy of excessive and overpaid state employees, state commissioners, state assistant to the assistant employees, state departments, state committees and mythical "nonprofits" that are secret from the public view and whose dealings are intentionally exempted from Freedom of Information, (such as ADVANCE CT where state business policy involving Eversource, Yale, and other big players is engineered under shroud of secrecy, citizen be damned).

This is not the way Connecticut should be governed. This is not the way the Grand Duchy of Fenwick should be governed. This is bad government in action. This is worse than "Lord of the Flies". And what can be done about it? Can the Connecticut Taxpayer trust anyone in their government? Why should they? Maybe it is time to start all over in the state.  Connecticut's problems never go away nor does the constant spending of Connecticut Taxpayers monies resolve anything. The passing of greater laws does not resolve anything but create added benefits for the masses to benefit a privileged few. Connecticut has the same problems year in and year out. All of the excessive laws and excessive taxation just further exaggerates the same old problems.  Nothing changes. Why is that difficult to see in plain sight?

Term limits, spending caps, administrative salary reductions, and an overhaul of state laws/regulations and ethical politicians would be a great start in ending Connecticut's bad government. But in a state that has veered this excessively to the socialist left it is not possible. Or is it? Time will tell as the stale incoherent leftists and their incoherent and incompetent rhetoric fall on the deaf ears of the Connecticut Taxpayers and they start to scream loudly about this mockery masquerading as government.

Connecticut. The Crisis-Driven Disaster.

Well-run states and organizations govern objectives and goals. However, Connecticut continually governs by crisis. There just has to be one. There is always a crisis in Connecticut. No matter which party controls Washington, the continual omnipotent Democrat iron-fist one party rule in Hartford always makes sure that there is some self-perpetuated failure, somewhere, where a Democrat can stand on as a soap box to remind us as to how badly we need Democrats. Take any time, place, or date and just change the crisis, and there is always one present. The pathetic state government could have an infinite amount of cash flow and would still need more money and never touch the $100-$150 billion dollars in short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities looming over the state like a tarpaulin. For a crisis must be created. It never ends.

As the 47^th President of the United States Donald J. Trump is causing a whirlwind of national opportunity and enthusiasm in word, action, thought and vision, you can set your watch to Connecticut Democrats manufacturing yet another crisis in response to that . A new and continuing crisis is the supposed lack of "affordable" food in the state. Due to the cratered Connecticut economy and the lack of industry and leadership, many families with school aged children can't afford food, thus the state and town must provide free/low-cost breakfasts/snacks/lunches. The food in theory should be "nutritional" and be healthy. Apparently Connecticut has been receiving federal funds through a Biden-era program; the “Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program” and the “Local Food for Schools Program” which paid schools and food banks to buy "healthier" food options from local farmers (https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/lfs). This program apparently has its roots from Covid-19 funding and is being cut by the Trump Administration since the pandemic is over and the economy should be able to function without it given normal circumstances. This is normal thinking. But when you are a beggarly, welfare-dependent state like Connecticut, you depend on government assistance as a way of life. You know nothing different and you do not care to learn anything different.

Connecticut is typically the lead participant of free money programs and its never-ending giving/redistribution of Taxpayers monies. Connecticut's Covid-19 crisis was intentionally prolonged in order to receive more "free" money to get and spend. But what happens when that money gets cut off as in this case? It is the usual rhetoric and disgust as far as the cuts are concerned. Senator Chris Murphy stated: "most people who depend on food assistance in Connecticut work, adding that stagnant wages are not high enough to help them pay the bills...By ending these two programs, all you’re doing is hurting farmers and jeopardizing the food security of our families,” Murphy said. “These programs don’t save big amounts of money for the federal government; they don’t balance the budget.”  (https://ctmirror.org/2025/03/17/ct-schools-food-banks-local-farms/) It is inarguable that any savings would help balance the budget and lower the country’s $36 Trillion-dollar National Debt. Not to be outdone in crying the poor mouth, Senator Richard Blumenthal chimed in: "And while the pandemic exacerbated food insecurity across the U.S., (multi-millionaire Vietnam Combat Veteran) Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., argued that the White House is “taking the food off the table from working families so that the ultra-wealthy can have tax cuts.” (https://ctmirror.org/2025/03/17/ct-schools-food-banks-local-farms/) Can Senator Blumenthal directly trace the cuts in this program's funding with "Wealthy...tax cuts"? I find it hard to draw this correlation between the two, especially with a $36 Trillion-dollar National Debt. And wouldn’t job creation be the result of lowered taxes providing more free cash for spending? But again, these two fiscally incoherent Senators have been huffing and puffing for years and offer no solutions to our $36 Trillion-dollar National Debt and or the massive problems of the people they supposedly represent with affording food in Connecticut, other than to continually begging Washington.

Perhaps we can find some hope and perspective from the nonprofit and agency heads across the state! Like Jason Jakubowski, President and CEO of Connecticut Foodshare, whose last known salary was $291,114, other compensation of $54,529 and total compensation is $345,643 (https://givefreely.com/charity-directory/nonprofit/ein-061063025/)."Connecticut Foodshare was one of the largest participants in the program that had received about $3 million over the past few years. The group was set to receive another $1 million before the (pandemic) initiative was terminated." (https://ctmirror.org/2025/03/17/ct-schools-food-banks-local-farms/). One may wonder why Jakubowski is paid so much to "run" this nonprofit? Comparable private-sector executives with much greater responsibility and managerial accountability can look forward to half of his salary. His salary and those of his administrative staff if decreased, could be used to help feed people. But why do so many people in Connecticut need food assistance? Is it the excessively inflated cost of living due to high state and local taxes, high housing costs, high transportation costs, high insurance costs due to high crime rates and high electric costs? Does the bloated and politically connected state-run government contribute to the nanny state that distorts and destroys Connecticut's free market economy along with the state's affordability to live? Wasn't the above equilibrium minimum wage and state paid health/family leave insurance passed by Democrat legislative geniuses going to solve most of the state's affordability issues? And wasn’t taxing/taxing more the "rich" through the Utopian state income tax going to resolve once and for all the state's affordability issues so people could buy food on their own?  Why is this not happening? And why has the economic gap between the Connecticut state government, its state employees, and its programs fail year-in and year-out to resolve these pressing economic and social problems over the past 35 years? Just look at the costs of Connecticut's state government for salaries, benefits and pensions compared to the rest of the population that is not connected to government.

But to be fair, Connecticut does have a vision for economic growth and job development! There is a Connecticut Department of Economic Development! (“DECD”). The DECD serves officially as the state's primary agency for fostering economic growth and community development and is supposedly tasked with a broad mandate that includes economic development, housing, community development, transportation, education, and arts and culture. Its mission is supposedly to strengthen Connecticut’s economy by supporting businesses, promoting tourism, and fostering vibrant communities. The DECD employs approximately 100 full-time staff members. Daniel H. O'Keefe has been the commissioner of DECD since November 2023, earns more than his predecessor's $215,000 annual salary. However regardless of the bulbous spending of the DECD, Connecticut continually ranks last or near last in any reputable state poll comparing economic viability between states. A real economic development agency would be creating a business-favorable and job creating environment as opposed to consuming and wasting taxpayer dollars with little to no aggregate results. In fact, it is certainly a safe statement to say that the economic ranking of Connecticut would not be changed by one percentage point should the entire failed DECD model be dissolved and the funding expended be used to feed the hungry. This of course would not be the right answer. But neither is the continued wasting of tax dollars by crisis-driven leaders for little reason along with no vision or plan for real economic incentive and job growth.

Connecticut Taxpayers are now seeing through the stale, lost rhetoric of Connecticut's ruling political class. Connecticut Taxpayers should not have to forage to survive in a state that has no leadership, no ethics, no vision, and no results. Elected officials bellow at all times, and rant and rave against all of the injustices that they have helped to create in all of their never ending years of elected power and conquest.  The cut of the food aid program is just another example in the extensive line of economic failures pointing to the sad fact of there is never enough to be able to live a normal life in this once "Constitution" state that helped to found our country back in 1776. 

The Democrat-driven political cabal has never been the solution but is part of the fabric of the problem. Enough, is indeed, enough.

Who to believe in Connecticut?

 Who to believe in Connecticut? This is a question without an answer. Take the Connecticut Health System. We found out this past Thursday night that Dr. Deidre Gifford retired from her leadership role at Connecticut’s Office of Health Strategy. Mind us all this is not some quiet fade into the sunset, but rather it is a blaring siren of scandal, drenched in fraud allegations tied to a canceled Medicaid audit. That audit, abruptly shelved, is linked to a bribery case involving Konstantinos Diamantis, a former state official now infamous for questions on his dealings. Emails uncovered in the investigation show Gifford was in on discussions about contracts and payments that reeked of kickbacks. And if that is not enough, her legacy and professionalism reaches all the way back to the debacle of her Covid-19 management and her incessant push for vaccines harming many innocent citizens and children. And her career reaches back even farther to her leadership of the Department of Social Services (DSS), and it was a masterclass in screwing things up. Under her watch, administrative costs ballooned—state audits pegged DSS spending at $50 million over budget in 2018 alone, with no explanation beyond “operational needs.” Access to care cratered too: rural clinics closed at triple the national rate, leaving swaths of eastern Connecticut without Medicaid providers. Deidre is an exemplar for a leader in King Governor Ned Lamont the Unaccountable’s Connecticut; screw up, get involved in multiple failures and swindles, become unaccountable, hide, and when the wolf starts for your door, quit, skip out, and cash in on taxpayer money. It is the Connecticut Gold Standard.

Who to believe in Connecticut? That is easy! Believe Ned Lamont! The Unaccountable was crowing on Thursday about U.S. News and World Report ranking Connecticut #8 in its 2025 economy category, which sounds great until you dig into how they got there. For the economy part, the report focuses on business environment, employment, and growth. Connecticut scores decently here because of the statistical and income distortion of Fairfield County millionaires and Yale graduates. But here is the catch: it tanked at #48 for fiscal stability and #43 for opportunity. So, we see that U.S. News is cherry-picking features to a privileged few and downplaying the ugly characteristics we are all too familiar with. There is no mention of the 2025 "Rich States, Poor States" report ranking Connecticut 44th for economic outlook and 48th for performance. There is no mention of the state’s crushing pension debt, high taxes, serial and blatant corruption, and business-hostile regulations. So, in the final analysis, you can’t believe The Unaccountable either, (but you already knew that).

Who to believe when it comes to the Connecticut Legislature? This is another unanswerable question. We do not know, especially when it comes to state budgets that normally are voted on at all times of the day and night with no transparency. There are no negotiations on state budget with the minority Republican party, even though this year Republicans presented a tepid alternative budget that somewhat lowers taxes and cuts spending.  “This budget is a step toward what residents deserve—affordability, accountability, and flexibility in the face of federal funding uncertainty,” stated Finance Committee ranking member Rep. Joe Polletta (R-Watertown). But the Democrats immediately condemned the Republican plan as “House Speaker Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) said the plan is “not the most serious document I’ve ever seen, so we’ll probably have to write this one off.” (https://www.cbia.com/news/issues-policies/house-gop-state-budget-plan). Certainty the last ten years of Democrat fiscal horse-manure rammed down Connecticut Taxpayers throats are not the most serious documents I have ever seen and should have been written off for their excessive taxation, spending and loss of personal freedoms slammed into them. But again, Connecticut's Democrat party does not believe in either opposing voices, co-operation with elected officials from the opposition party nor any type of compromise or citizen input. They rule with an iron hand.

Trying to understand this new Democrat budget that again raises spending and taxes offers nothing different than in past budgets. Spending will go up over $1 billion dollars, since the first year of the budget increases spending over $395 million dollars, and the second year follows suit with over $770 million dollars according to initial estimates. Estimates of new and higher taxes for the first year of the budget are over $935 million dollars and over $1.2 billion dollars for the second year, although these figures are both secret and uncertain at the time of this writing. But who cares? As a reminder, Connecticut has $100 to $150 billion dollars in short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities. Connecticut is unattractive to new citizens and businesses with its excessively high taxes along with a non-transparent and corrupted government. Why move to Connecticut? Why move your business to Connecticut? Given this economic situation of high taxes and high state debt it really would be an economically incoherent move.

Who to believe in Connecticut regarding solutions to the messes? Solutions are nonexistent to Connecticut's fiscal problems in the realm of the political class. I have written about this for many years now and all is getting worse. Connecticut badly needs a citizen driven "DOGE" type commission as has been recommended by my good friend Tony De Angelo on his weekly segment on the Lee Elci show 94.9 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBxTuCSLdCw) A no holds barred approach of dismantling the current bureaucracy is critically necessary and would be truly helpful to Connecticut Taxpayers to see where their hard earned tax monies actually go to.  Is Connecticut efficiently run? Is there waste and fraud occurring in the state budget? Are all monies accounted for going to the correct accounts and programs? Does state government have excessive management positions and or excessive "do nothing" types of jobs? Why are public hearings on state spending issues limited in nature? What is the plan to pay off the state's massive debt? Could you really trust anyone connected to a state paycheck or income stream to give you an answer on any of those questions? (And it is almost a certainty that the next Republican candidate for Governor will turn against such a necessary analysis and will state his or her belief that the state can fix itself fiscally with a little help and guidance).

But citizens now know that their government is untrustworthy. The list is endless on what a Connecticut type DOGE could investigate and find. Just think at how much money could be save for Connecticut Taxpayers? Just think of the economic boom the state could have with more money freely being used by private citizens and private businesses rather than Connecticut's Democrat Party and its associated bureaucracy deciding who gets what. Connecticut would be much better served with a fully transparent government along with a true system of checks and balances.

In closing, Connecticut Taxpayers are no longer being represented or heard in Connecticut's failing, politically inept and stale one party ruled government. A bizzarro-type government where increasing incompetency and fraud is rewarded while you pay more each year to see things get worse and worse. But who can you believe who tell you the truth? The sad fact is that there is seemingly no one whatsoever connected to government that you can believe in Connecticut for any reason, anymore.

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Chancellor Cheng's Big Promotion!

 Leadership and integrity are highly prized and necessary traits for anyone in authority. But in Connecticut, neither leadership, integrity, or character seems to be a requirement for an executive position in state Government. In 2021, Manisha Juthani, MD, the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) did her best Scarlett O’Hara impersonation to try to convince Connecticut residents that the non-delivery of critical Covid-19 test kits was not “her fault” even after promising these same residents that the tests would certainly be delivered as she saw them on the airport runway en-route to Connecticut.  King Governor Ned Lamont The Unaccountable has lied or lied by omission on a grand scale to citizens several times in the Sema4, Digital Currency Group and UNITE CT debacles, (inter-alia). Rep. Michael DiMassa and Mayor Joe Ganim, not nearly as sophisticated as the hi-tech enabled Ned The Unaccountable, elected to go with good-old country hardball ham and egg style fraud and theft.   And should my Liberal readers cry foul, we can mention disgraced former Governor John Rowland as well. It is almost as if a criminal accusation or conviction is a requirement to the ascendancy of a high-level Connecticut position.

However, in a sick way, we may have reached a new Connecticut Gold Standard in unaccountability, pilfering, and corruption. His name? Terrence Cheng, outgoing Chancellor of Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU).

No doubt, readers will remember Terrence Cheng. As I stated in my blog on January 11, 2025; "Between July 1, 2021 and Oct. 24, 2024, Cheng charged $27,125 to his P-Card, with 70% of those for meals designated as business meetings...ordered a driving service on three occasions despite having a state-owned car and then later renegotiated his contract to get a vehicle stipend." (https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/audit-finds-cscu-executives-had-lax-attitude-expenses/3457803/)...Chancellor Terrence Cheng who is a Connecticut state employee earns a salary of $442,000 a year along with a $2,100 a month housing allowance and $48,759 in non-retirement fringe benefits (https://openpayroll.ct.gov/#!/year/2024 full_time_employees,otherspay1,pay2,pay3explore/0-0-0emplid_empl_rcd/103A097F0FCE960AA5B7A3AB4FFDB5A4/0-0-0/agency), apparently does not even live in Connecticut but rather in New York.  

But what is new here? Rather than making an example of this man and demanding repayment of all pilfered sums of taxpayer money in lieu of prosecution, we see that Terrence Cheng  is somehow being given a new full-payment nonjob as a "strategic advisor to the Board" as he moves to "transition" to this position in July 2025.  His contract as Chancellor has not been renewed as Chancellor but he somehow gets to keep the bulbous financial payment of the last year of his contract.

If Cheng worked in private industry he probably would have been fired for his actions and would have certainly paid restitution.  However in Connecticut, where Connecticut Taxpayers are damned and treated like garbage, Cheng gets to keep his last year of his lucrative contract, and will likely will have some sort of state pension and benefits in the long term. This is his "reward" for costly actions. But given the multiple grafts and larcenies of many wearing the Connecticut uniform, Cheng probably would have a discrimination suit against the state for not being treated as handsomely as previous state miscreants if he had not received this obscene last year of salary.

Of course to the struggling Connecticut taxpayer, having a “University Chancellor” is critically important to the price of their meat, eggs, and baby formula. Given the practical uselessness of that position, one only wonders what a "strategic advisor to the Board" does for higher education to deserve a salary of $442,187 a year, plus benefits? Does he go on expensive business lunches that he can charge to his procurement card? Does he advise more Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion gibberish to further complicate and redefine what higher education is in the state? Does he give ceremonial teas and pose for photos? Does he form more committees to study how colleges should teach less actual subject matter in the classroom and more political indoctrination curriculum? I cannot find any information as to his new position, what it entails or what he will do if anything for his pay. But of course, peons in Connecticut do not have the right to ask those questions of the elite and anointed ruling class.

Further, one asks how contracts are drafted on behalf of the state that do not include automatic terminations on morals and malfeasance issues such as this instance. But since this is Connecticut, we never see bright line policy and accountability where a public official is involved. (You would think by now that we have learned not to ask about such things).

In addition, as an educator how does Cheng's excessively high salary and benefits benefit the state college student in his or her education? Couldn't $442,187 plus benefits be better spent in actual education of the students and or in stabilizing tuition costs especially for those students who are willing to work for an education and trying to get a degree to better themselves, but face astronomical costs for a "subsidized" state college education?  How about if a Connecticut Citizen DOGE just looks at the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system and investigates the incredible salaries, benefits, pensions of the administrative staff that has helped to push up these same astronomical costs for a "subsidized" state college education?

But alas, we know this will not happen. Cheng's position will be embraced by Ned Lamont and his Democrat Legislature as an essential position that cannot be undone. We as citizens are not allowed to question what our leaders decree upon us. The truth of this unethical decision is that its shows how corrupted education has become in Connecticut and how little respect the Connecticut Democrat Party has for either the Connecticut college student and or the Connecticut Taxpayer. Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Chancellor Cheng should have been fired and immediately dunned for immediate restitution and not promoted.

It is a straightforward process that does not exist in a state with Omnipotent One-Party Rule, and an acceptance for serial evil and malfeasance at the highest levels.

The Continuing Connecticut Economic Free Fall Into Unconsciousness

 If I could invoke the spirit of the great “60 Minutes” commentator Andy Rooney.  I can ask this question: "Did you ever wonder why they call it a State Legislature?”

Do you wonder? For after all, what in fact is a Legislature?

A Legislature is supposed to be the group of elected officials in a state who make, amend, or repeal laws. The term comes from Latin—lex for law, and latus meaning carried or proposed. A legislature passes bills in accordance with the will of the people, sets budgets, and handles state-level policies.

That is what a legislature is supposed to be. And then, we have Connecticut. 

And we have the Connecticut State Legislature. Such legislature being a body of individuals so out of tune and touch with the citizens they represent that the far corners of the Grand Canyon are closer in proximity.

In that connection, it is amazing to watch the Connecticut State House of Representatives and State Senate when they are in session. The State House consists of 102 Democrats and 49 Republicans, while in the State Senate there are 25 Democrats and 11 Republicans. As one can see, the Connecticut Democrat Party has an iron grip on Connecticut's State Legislature. And when Democrats rule the roost, your money flows like water without any regard to you. The costs of this Legislature are excessively high for the pitiful results it gives Connecticut Taxpayers. As just one 2024 example, $9,890,000 was spent for "Legislative Management", whatever that is, (not counting the operations budget) according to Open Payroll (https://openpayroll.ct.gov/#!/year/2024/full_time_employees,others/pay1,pay2,pay3/explore/0-0-0-0-0/job_cd_descr/Legislator/0--0-0-0/agency/Legislative+Management/0--0-0-0/union_descr/Legislative+Management/0--0/emplid_empl_rcd). This would be hysterically funny, if it were not so sad and so sick.

However, undeterred, legislators gave themselves a large raise to somehow attract a wider mix of individuals who would be willing to serve in the Legislature. So far nothing has changed other than the Connecticut Democrat Party further tightening their grip on power. It is also interesting to note the Connecticut's State payroll for 2024 was $5.8 billion dollars, while the state budget for 2025 is a mere $25.2 billion dollars. The "fiscal moderate" Governor Lamont has proposed a FY 2026-27 budget that increases spending to a $55.2 billion dollars for both years. Included in this proposal is to loosen and lessen Connecticut’s fiscal guardrails, start a major early childhood development initiative spending even more money in this area, (with little result), and more pork type spending projects.

But always keep in mind that your elected officials are there to serve you! And here is what YOU get for this $25.2 billion dollar investment according to a new study by the American Legislative Exchange Council (alec.org) in their 18th Edition of "Rich States, Poor States". Based upon equal weighting of each state’s rank in fifteen policy variables, Connecticut ranks #44 out of 50 states, after it has shown a constant drop in its ranking over the past six years.  

If one looks at Economic performance rankings based on the period of 2013 to 2023, Connecticut ranks #48 out of fifty states. This ranking is: "A backward-looking measure based on the state’s performance (equal-weighted average) in the three important performance variables. These variables are highly influenced by state policy." (https://alec.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ALEC_RSPS_18th_2025_Web.pdf). The three performance variables include State Gross Domestic Product, Absolute Domestic Migration, and Non-Farm Payroll Employment. Each area shows continual decline for the state. Contrary to biased and state-fabricated reports, Connecticut has lost over 171,000 citizens who have moved out of the state since 2013. Connecticut also has one of the highest property tax burdens in the country ranked at #45 out of fifty states and one the highest minimum wages in the country ranked #48 out of 50 states.  High property taxes and excessively high minimum wages have greatly contributed to the state's economic decline.

But chilling news such as this is lost with Connecticut's Democrat Legislative Super majority. There never can be enough spending and funds freely given out with no strings attached to satisfy their unquenchable need to spend Connecticut Taxpayers monies. This lack of thinking is evident by the free cash to the increasing amount of "nonprofit" groups who hold massive sums of money in their assets and seem never enough to solve the problems they supposedly are taking care of. We view this as well with the powerful state labor unions whose raises, benefits and pensions are never good enough for them. We see the political patronage positions that State Representatives and State Senators yearn for to help boost their state funded pensions to infinity. We see this with the hidden monies and 2% interest-only loans given away to politically connected businesses especially those affiliated with the Lamont Oak HC/FT hedge fund; Sema-4, Digital Currency Group and its affiliates, ADVANCECT, 4-CT, Boston Consulting Group, UNITE US, Mt. Sinai Genomics, “The Horsebarn Hill Investment Fund”, Tidal River Fund, McKinsey, and the Lamont-based Cayman Islands shell companies to name a few of many.  The list of economic "freebies" and "giveaways" is endless, and arrogantly continues in the open, again, citizen, be damned.

Thanks to the Connecticut Democrat Party, years of economic decline have nurtured $100 to $150 billion dollars of short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities, to a point of economic Armageddon, a point of economic ruin and a point of true economic failure. Why has this been allowed? This Legislative session has not been any different than any other year (except as of the time of this writing no legislator has flipped over a car, drunk, on the way home). Connecticut Democrat Legislators want even more spending especially for social services of any type, more taxes especially on the "wealthy" (whatever their current moveable definition of it is), and most importantly less personal freedom for those who must toil daily in their command economy.

But let us remember the hardworking and decent taxpaying of Connecticut. He or she does not want more government. He or she wants to see lesser government and lower taxes. Many of these disaffected souls have cried for a Connecticut DOGE to rip and tear at the wreckage of the Connecticut fiscal morass and root out waste, fraud, and abuse. Many of these disaffected souls are correct in that neither the Legislature nor those in Connecticut government are capable of such an endeavor as most are well past being part of the solution and have become part of the problem over time. Therefore, the only type of DOGE that could work would be one done by capable individuals with no financial ties to government.

To this end, my good friend Tony De Angelo has outlined to Senator Rob Sampson exactly the type of DOGE on X that is necessary in Connecticut in order to fix things once, and for all, in my view:

“In order for a Connecticut DOGE to be the useful at all, it minimally has to be.

1) 5-10 NON politically connected individuals of stature and acumen, serving as volunteers.

2) 60 days of "no-holds barred" access to any item or record requested to be delivered in no less than 72 hours.

3) Remove every (read that as EVERY) restriction on records and state-connected nonprofits, agencies, and "quasi-publics" (whatever in the hell a "quasi-public", is).

4) Full access to all travel and other records from all offices including that of UConn Foundation, Advance CT, and the office of Gov Ned Lamont

5) Real-time access to the retirement plan and treasury. If we have at least that, it would be a very meaningful exercise.

If we have an "inspector general" type of corrupted shop-steward thing like Vincent Candelora has suggested, Connecticut DOGE will be a joke.

Your ball. (https://x.com/TonyDeAngelo7/status/1914703792320254259)”

Tony De Angelo summarizes what is needed to finally end the economic decline of what was once a vibrant and robust economic state. For Connecticut to have any chance of economic survival, it must weed out the corruption of theft, waste, and fraud that Connecticut's government has evolved into.

 Connecticut is on track to be #50 out of fifty states next years in the American Legislative Exchange Council (alec.org) in their 19th Edition of "Rich States, Poor States".   But who cares in government? I guess nothing really matters any more to the deluded leaders of the Connecticut Democrat Party who the authors of this morass are.  They have to be proud of the economic quagmire they have created and truly own.

 

Politican vs. Citizen. The War Upon Your Wallet.

We hear of wars or rumors of wars daily. Israel. Palestine. North Korea. Taiwan. Russia. We imagine wars to always be shooting wars. However, I submit unto you there is an equivalent and much more insidious war fought daily between the Democrat-driven political class and the working and taxpaying citizen of states such as Connecticut. This war demands ever-higher taxes while delivering less and less in return, all to feed the bloated political machine. 

Year after year, the political class finds new and ingenious ways to raise the burden on the hardworking citizen, siphoning funds to fuel insider deals, elitist projects, and state-run propaganda. Meanwhile, our roads crumble, schools fail, and crime runs the gamut from uncontrolled street crime to high-level sophisticated fraud, while things deteriorate at an accelerated rate. Regardless, the political class continues to pontificate and ask for more money. 

(And as The Temptations sang in "Ball Of Confusion", the band played on).

On the subject, you may have noticed that another Tax Day has come and gone. You may have even written a check or two or more to pay taxes. More than likely, you resented writing the checks, but regardless of how you feel, the operative question then becomes, how much should we pay in taxes? Depending on what side of the aisle you are you are paying either too much or too little.

A prime example is Connecticut. Senior State Democrat Senators Bob Duff and Martin Looney have “solved” their self-created Connecticut revenue shortfall  by proposing to surtax the wealthiest Connecticut residents for whatever savings they may receive via a future Federal tax reduction to Connecticut. But why is that new? Wealthy Democrats have always loved raising taxes on the "wealthy". The  benchmark of the "wealthy" changes over time and is usually based on some sort of political talking point rather than any type of economic reality.  They do not hide this as witnessed by the off-mike statement by Democrat State Representative Anne Hughes, "we're not rich, we're not rich... but I always say to my Governor tax my people, they will not even notice"(https://x.com/RepJoeCanino/status/1912167747716342271). Or if you would like some sprinkles for your ice cream cone, consider these comments by Connecticut Democrat State Senator Martha (“Scissorhands”) Marx. At a recent constituents meeting, Marx disdainfully referred to “our rich Governor Lamont living in Greenwich surrounded by wealthy friends and neighbors". Marx stated that she did not care about rich people in the western end of the state who resist paying more taxes. Some of them, she claimed, could pay $20 million more and not miss it, whether as a group or individually, she did not say. And if Democrats pushed the taxes too high and the rich left, Marx would not care. Other people would buy the big houses. 

As we see, both economically illiterate state senators have made one thing abundantly clear. Your taxes are for their taking. And shame upon you for feeling otherwise. 

(https://www.jsg-2000.com/post/nick-menapace-mops-up-for-martha-marx?utm_campaign=bf655a7337d049e7bfa607e5c948bd3b&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail&cid=5142583b-e7d2-4148-9e31-676a85e7b83d)

Connecticut has a massive amount of taxes and a wretched and needlessly bollixed tax system. And contrary to what the Marx's and Hughes’ of the world are saying, people are noticing more and more the excessive nature and strain these taxes create.  These taxes are progressive. These taxes insult the citizen and are painful. These taxes take productive money out of the economy and are redistributed to Democrat Party causes and political nepotism. These taxes fund a bloated state budget that just never is cut back. Yet Connecticut Taxpayers must find ways to save money in their personal budgets to help pay for these never-ending higher state taxes. Connecticut government makes no effort to cut taxes because such cuts would dilute its self-aggrandizing operation.

But in this war on the citizen and small businesses, there is a much greater front. The United States Congress (inclusive of many timid and weak-willed Republicans) provides little drive and effort to the most critical issues facing the nation today. On a national level, our federal government still has a $36 trillion-dollar National Debt. President Trump, contrary to the Connecticut Democrat Party and other assorted political cowards, is seeking ways to lower the debt and to cut taxes, especially by asking for a renewal of the Tax Cuts of 2017. Contrary to what liberal economists think,these tax cuts have helped to stimulate the economy and help the working middle class. In my opinion and the opinion of others, the Federal budget and these tax cuts should have been enacted upon by now, so more precise economic planning can take place for the economy. However, the present Congress (including many Republicans) would rather dilly dally with things such as “voting by zoom” and "childcare rights" rather than consider the burden on all citizens should taxes default to 2016 levels with an attendant by-definition tax hike of 10-15% per taxpayer. How often do you hear this brutal fact? And why does the Connecticut Republican Party not write letters of support for President Trump for these needed changes and a push for 100% expensing of business assets in addition to no taxes on overtime or tips? The lack of understanding and aggressiveness here by local and national Republicans on a grand scale, is mind-boggling and an insult to the hardworking honest citizen.

Perhaps, what these benign and somewhat blind lawmakers do not see is the enemy for what it really is. Without permanent Federal tax cuts, we will see the typical hodgepodge of multi-millionaire Socialist Democrats such as Bernie Sanders demanding justice and wanting to "tax" the rich since they “do not pay their fair share.”   "Do they know how much the U.S. already soaks the affluent? IRS data for 2022 show that the top 1% of filers paid 40.4% of income-tax revenue. The top 10% shouldered 72% of the revenue burden. The bottom half of filers, combined, paid 3%, and that is an overstatement because it does not account for “refundable” credits, which are treated as spending." (https://www.wsj.com/opinion/tax-day-federal-taxes-gop-congress-donald-trump-irs-26dd938b?mod=opinion_lead_pos3). I wonder why Senator Sanders maintains his "wealth" and why it is wrong for others to want to also? I wonder if this is the reason why Billionaire Connecticut King Governor Ned Lamont the Unaccountable dresses in public like a forlorn bum in order to not focus on his bulbous family wealth and his related offshore secret holdings?  Also, I wonder if this is why we never hear the state-run media talk about the family riches of Vietnam Combat Veteran Communist Senator Richard Blumenthal as it detracts from the “mission.” And the “mission” is to keep feeding the coffers of these self-interested political props so that they can come back next election cycle and take more of your substance from you to further embed themselves into your wallet each year.

As we have stated numerous times, Connecticut has one of the highest tax rates in the country and is last or near last in most economic categories. Connecticut, is a perpetual loser. Connecticut really has never recovered from the 1990 recession and 35 years later not much has changed. The continuation of unchecked spending with the desire to eliminate all checks and balances by trying desperately to end fiscal guardrails and deficit reduction only further add to the economic demise of the economy. As just one example, just look at how much new money the state wants to spend for "childcare". "H.B. 5003 would expand eligibility for the Care 4 Kids childcare subsidy program, provide salary increases and health care plans for early childhood workers, authorize bonding for facility improvements, and establish a range of new administrative requirements and reporting systems. According to the legislature’s Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) report, the bill would cost the state at least $600 million over fiscal years 2026 and 2027. That includes $150 million each year to expand Care 4 Kids eligibility — from the current 60 percent of the state median income to 85 percent — and to phase in benefits for families earning up to 100 percent of the median." (https://yankeeinstitute.org/2025/04/08/ct-dems-push-forward-child-care-bill-with-hundreds-of-millions-in-new-spending/” Over a half billion dollars of yet even more new spending which still offer little top no results in the ongoing childcare crisis and the horrific youth problems that Connecticut never seems to shake off.

Taxes, more taxes and even more taxes. More of the same each "Tax Day-April 15th". More inefficiencies and more pork barrel spending. Less and less disposable income for Taxpayers at all levels of government. $36 Trillion Dollar National Debt. Connecticut with $100 to $150 Billion Dollars in short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities. It is a brand-new day, but we hear that same cries of more and higher taxes will solve every known problem on the face of the earth. But it never does.

On the April 15, 2025 “Lee Elci Show” (https://www.949newsnow.com/) my friend and colleague Tony De Angelo called for the formation of a volunteer “Connecticut Citizen DOGE with five-to-ten individuals having two months without restriction to drill at all state business in order to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in Connecticut. Tony is a realist and knows that not one elected official in either party would dare support a transparent effort that would lead to multi-million-dollar savings for taxpayers. The reason there would be no backing for such an endeavor is that it would lead to undoing of many of the politically constructed food chains that the politicians themselves have worked so hard to construct. The preceding statement alone tells you exactly what is wrong with this picture.

But once again, it is Connecticut. Where the motto should change from “The Constitution State” to “Citizen, Be Damned.”

 

 

The Malfeasant Manifesto Of Connecticut Attorney General William Tong

According to state sources, "The Attorney General (“AGO”/”AG”) is the chief civil legal officer of the State of Connecticut. The Attorney General's Office serves as legal counsel to all state agencies and acts to protect the public interest for the people of the State of Connecticut. Among the critical missions of the AGO are to represent and advocate the interests of the state and its citizens as vigorously as possible, to ensure that state government acts within the letter and spirit of the law, to ensure that public resources are protected for present and future generations, to ensure that the quality of life of all our citizens is preserved and enhanced, and to ensure that the rights of our most vulnerable citizens are safeguarded."

And now, we fast forward to 2025 and we focus on the current Connecticut Attorney General, William Tong (aka “Tong”).

Ever since the election of President Donald J. Trump, the myriad wanderings, meanderings, rantings, and ravings of William Tong have been everywhere. Tong has become a one-man riot squad, cheerleader and champion for persons that are present in the state of Connecticut illegally. Need we remind Tong of his purpose and Oath as the Attorney General:  "The Attorney General is the chief civil legal officer of the State of Connecticut. The Attorney General's Office serves as legal counsel to all state agencies and acts to protect the public interest for the people of the State of Connecticut. Among the critical missions of the AGO are to represent and advocate the interests of the state and its citizens as vigorously as possible, to ensure that state government acts within the letter and spirit of the law, to ensure that public resources are protected for present and future generations, to ensure that the quality of life of all our citizens is preserved and enhanced, and to ensure that the rights of our most vulnerable citizens are safeguarded."(https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Register-Manual/Section-I/Attorneys-General).

It is beyond ostensible that Tong forgot what "the letter and spirit of law" and “the interests of the citizen” mean by his bizarre actions over the past few weeks. Readers will note that I wrote about his actions in a previous blog article on 12/14/24 (https://swickspeak.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-attorney-general-advocate-for.html). Obviously, Mr. Tong took no opportunity for repentance and correction over these past several months and is continuing hell-bent as the No. 1 Champion for all persons illegally present in the State of Connecticut.

But of course, the Tong apple does not fall far from the rotted Connecticut Tree. Let us revisit the Gold Standard of Attorney Generals Past, in the person of  Democrat/Communist Brave  Vietnam Combat Veteran United States Senator Richard Blumenthal, who as the AG set the tone for an overreaching, anti-business, ultra socialistic Attorney General's Office in his 20 year reign as Attorney General from 1991 to 2011.  Not to be undone, Tong is Blumenthal on steroids fighting for illegal immigrants, abortion at all costs, green energy, and all the failed Democrat/Socialist agendas. For , this is The Connecticut Way. This is an example of the Connecticut Attorney General speaking: “This is a war on our environment, waged by a reckless President on behalf of his fossil fuel industry backers who do not care if our air and water are toxic so long as they make money. Decades of scientific consensus prove that the climate threat is real and that we have a limited window now to mitigate its worst harms. Washington has failed for decades to address the climate crisis, and like just about everything else right now, it has fallen on states to protect our families. Donald Trump is happy to do Big Oil’s bidding, but I’m not about to let him stop the sovereign state of Connecticut from doing what is necessary to address this existential threat. The Department of Justice needs to do its job and enforce our nation’s environmental laws, not waste time ‘investigating’ undeniably constitutional state laws,” said Attorney General Tong. (https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2025-press-releases/attorney-general-tong-statement-regarding-trump-executive-order-on-behalf-of-fossil-fuel-industry). Connecticut elected officials are also extremely talented individuals, as I did not realize that Mr. Tong was a scientist as well being well versed on the climate and an economist based on this press release in addition to an advocate for the greater public welfare. Doesn't Connecticut already have one of the highest electric rates in the country? Doesn't Connecticut follow "Clean air" California in its environmental standards? Is Connecticut really a "sovereign" state anymore? Does Tong care the least bit about you, Mrs. Legal Homeowner if Eversource and the state legislature are ripping you off royally as you pay for their myriad failures and public benefit charges in your utility bills?

But always keep in mind that Governor Ned Lamont said Connecticut’s “Business Mojo” was back! Further keep in mind the myriad political magpies that have crowed Connecticut is open for business! Here is an exemplar for you! Avelo Airlines has provided a narcotic to the Democrat run Socialist/Communist city of New Haven and the Sovereign state of Connecticut by using Tweed New Haven airport as a destination to fly in and out of. Avelo pays a great deal in local and state taxes for this honor. Democrat Comptroller and present-value-of- a dollar-fiscal and investment wizard Sean Scanlon has taken credit numerous times for his role, single handedly, to bring Avelo to this airport when he was the political appointee running Tweed. But all this changed with this recent "Tong-ism" and vituperative letter attack to and against Avelo Airlines for making a simple business decision in transporting illegal aliens:   As written to Avelo by Tong, “Violent criminals should be arrested, prosecuted, and where appropriate, deported. But Trump’s cruel and reckless deportation program has unlawfully undermined legitimate law enforcement by ensnaring innocent parents, students, and children. And even when Trump’s own lawyers admit to errors, they claim no ability to right their wrongs.”  

Can Tong name all the supposed ensnared parents, student, and children?  Were they all "legal" citizens of Connecticut? As we ask a stupid question, Tong ranted on: “None of these abusive practices are required to secure our borders, promote public safety, or effectively enforce our immigration laws. These flights are cruel by design and enormously wasteful of taxpayer resources, and no business should be complicit. “No one is forcing Avelo to operate these flights. If reporting is accurate, Avelo has freely chosen to profit from and facilitate these atrocities. The State of Connecticut has an obligation now to review this business decision and to consider the viability of our choice to support Avelo,” Attorney General Tong states in the letter.

The letter seeks answers to the following questions no later than April 15, 2025.

1. Please provide a copy of Avelo’s contract that relates to its work for Department of Homeland Security, or its agent, contractor, or subcontractor.
2. Can Avelo confirm that it will not operate deportation flights from any Connecticut airport?
3. Can Avelo confirm that it will never operate flights while non-violent passengers are in shackles, handcuffs, waist chains and/or leg irons and unable to safely evacuate in the event of an emergency?
4. Should restraint be necessary for a specific individual to protect public safety, can Avelo confirm that it will never operate a flight without a safe and timely evacuation strategy for all passengers?
5. Can Avelo confirm it will never operate flights with shackled children?
6. On Saturday, March 15, a federal judge ordered the immediate return of a deportation flight destined for El Salvador operated by GlobalX. The Trump Administration refused to comply. Can Avelo confirm that it will never operate deportation flights in defiance of such court orders?
7. Can Avelo confirm it will never operate a deportation flight involving passengers for whom there is no valid order of removal?
8. Can Avelo confirm that it will never operate a flight to deport a child born on American soil? 

If I were the head of Avelo Airlines and received a letter like this, I would respectfully stop all flights out of Connecticut and sue the Attorney General for economic damages due to his baseless accusations rather respond to this letter. Does Mr. Tong believe he can stop legitimate interstate commerce in Connecticut based upon his own personal whim and whimsy? Does Mr. Tong advocate that illegal immigrants, especially criminals caught in illegal activities, remain in our country as free "citizens"?  Why does the illegal criminal have more rights that the victims of their crimes? Apparently, the Attorney General approves of the paid protestors picketing at Tweed New Haven airport against the "evil" profit earning Avelo Airlines.  Will he next march protestors out in front of jet planes in violation of the United States Constitution and its attendant Commerce Clause to stop air traffic? Given the unhinged and out of control actions of Mr. Tong, none of that is far-fetched anymore. However, in fact and law, the protestors actions block legal Taxpayers from all states their right to choose Avelo Airlines for their transportation. But that is absolutely fine because the failed Democrat/Socialist gibberish and its resulting oppression is much more important to Tong than those useless "laws" and legal citizens" he chooses to ignore in "Sovereign" Connecticut.

Would you like some butter for your toast? Let us not forget abortion and as to how it helps drive Connecticut's economy. For in this vein Tong wants Planned Parenthood fully funded. '“There is no role for partisan pandering and interference when it comes to our healthcare. Abortion and contraception are safe, legal, and accessible in Connecticut, and we’re not about to let Donald Trump change that. This cruel act seeks to abruptly deny healthcare to tens of thousands of women and patients across our state, and we stand with Planned Parenthood to fight back,” said Attorney General Tong. " (https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2025-press-releases/attorney-general-tong-statement-regarding-trump-attack-on-planned-parenthood-of-southern-new-england).

Any sane person would question as to why Connecticut Taxpayers must fund Planned Parenthood through their tax monies when they have $57,330,020 in "net assets" in fiscal year 2023. (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/60263565). We know Connecticut wants to be the vacation state for abortions and funding must not be cut according to Tong. And to make things even more pathetic, Tong’s Boss Ned Lamont has made a public declaration to welcome any corporation in from any non-abortion friendly state and to financially assist them in their transition to abortion freedom! As of the time of this writing, no business has taken King Ned The Unaccountable up on his offer, leading me to believe that even those among us with the most vile disregard for innocent and helpless human life are not quite that deranged in order to buy into that insane and irrational offer.

Again, in review of the above letters, actions, rantings and his recent actions at rallies against President Trump and his policies, William Tong certainly does not represent the legal Connecticut Citizens and Taxpayers who are forced to foot the bill for his liberal, self-driven, narrow-minded and borderline insane and twisted political agenda.  A twisted agenda that leaves out any opposing views concerning green energy, Avelo Airlines, Pro-Life philosophies, boys playing in girls’ sports and anything else that Tong and his socialists disagree with. The Omnipotent One-Party Connecticut Democrat Party rule have made Connecticut an economic failure and disaster over the past thirty years and are poised to do more damage in recent days.

Connecticut's Democrat Attorney General William Tong is a failure in his hatred and rhetoric he spews on a day-to-day basis. He is an embarrassment and an insult to every legitimate taxpaying and legal citizen of the state of Connecticut. He needs to resign forthwith, and if he does not, both parties must demand his resignation forthwith with Republicans taking the lead.

 

The Real Tariff Burden Has Been Our Government

 On April 2, 2025, President Donald Trump introduced sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs, imposing a baseline 10% tariff on all imports, with higher rates—up to 54% for countries like China—targeting major trade partners. This move was part of a broader strategy to address what Mr. Trump deemed a national emergency due to a $1.2 trillion trade deficit in 2024. President Trump in viewing the deficit as a major economic and security problem has correctly decided under this Act to invoke his tariff plan. His plan is to try to bring back manufacturing and other types of factors of production to be made in the United States. This plan would in theory create more jobs, more economic stimulation, and more tax revenues for our economy. Additionally, the tariffs are intended as negotiation leverage to open export markets, reflecting Trump's strategy from his first administration.

The issue as President Trump sees it, is the fiscal weakness of America and the sickening dependency on hostile foreign nations that for years have extorted the USA on a whim. The issue and the fiscal wreckage over time has been exacerbated by Democrat and Republican-Globalist debt- driven spending policies that have made the chasm even bigger. Faced with the collapse of the financial system, President Trump stated that the USA needed a painful “operation” to right the ship after years of wreckage, stating that the cure would take some time.

However, what really changes locally as critics and the economic idiocy of the left, abounds. On April 2, Connecticut’s brave Governor, King Ned Lamont the Unaccountable, international economist extraordinaire and the man who with his sycophant legislature has driven Connecticut into the economic gutter, started a new career as a trade war strategist. Declaring "Tariff Day is Tax Day" from a script handed to him, started crying the blues in quadraphonic stereo. But as is always said, consider the source. The Unaccountable, having no economic abilities of his own and heavily tied to his wife’s Annie’s investors and his addiction to the narcotic of free government money, saw his feeble kingdom eroding. So what could you really expect from the "businessman" governor?

Unfortunately, the way things have proceeded is brutal. The United States Trade deficit in 2024 was over $918 billion dollars. A trade deficit occurs when a country's imports exceed its exports. This creates a negative balance of trade for a country. In our economy, we have been running a constant trade deficit since 1976. A tariff is a tax imposed by a government on foreign made goods. Tariffs can be used to protect industries from foreign competition and/or as a source of tax revenue.

Therefore, the official pronouncement came as follows: "President Trump is invoking his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (“IEEPA”) to address the national emergency posed by the large and persistent trade deficit that is driven by the absence of reciprocity in our trade relationships and other harmful policies like currency manipulation and exorbitant value-added taxes (VAT) perpetuated by other countries." (https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-declares-national-emergency-to-increase-our-competitive-edge-protect-our-sovereignty-and-strengthen-our-national-and-economic-security/). For those who remember this Act was enacted by Congress to modify the “Trading with the Enemy Act” that was passed during WWI in 1917. As further stated, this act "grants the President extensive power to regulate a variety of economic transactions during a state of national emergency. Congress enacted IEEPA in 1977 to limit the emergency economic powers that it had delegated to the President under the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA)"(https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R45618).

 So, let’s look at the mess that politicians of all stripes have left us in. The biggest trade deficit we have currently is with China. For 2024 the trade deficit was over $295 billion dollars (https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/china-mongolia-taiwan/peoples-republic-china). China is led by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. China is not a free country economically, politically, or socially and is the “Gold Standard for governance” for rotting Blue States like Connecticut in the U.S. China is a totalitarian regime ruthless in the elimination of freedom and human rights. Economic mobility is only allowed for Communist Party leaders and their connected individuals. Their economy uses massive governmental subsidies to prop up businesses and industries. For example, China dumped on the United States years ago low-cost ball bearings which created massive issues in the economy. China provides our country many inexpensive, poor-quality items that consumers purchase since they are so cheap. Why do we support an oppressive regime such as China economically by the purchasing of their goods? Those workers producing these goods are not advancing economically nor with advancements of their personal freedoms. Isn't China a military enemy of the United States and of other free countries? It is not logical as to why we are supporting this Communist Party regime to the tune of almost $300 billion dollars a year? And China's tariffs on United States goods have increased over the years. Now, President Trump has forced China's hand as far as the increased tariffs he placed on China imports to our country.

Not much has changed in other places. Vietnam is another country we trade with and is a Communist state ruled by a single party, the Communist Party of Vietnam (“CPV”) led by General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and President Truong Tan Sang, are all dictators in their own right. Vietnam is also not free and commits massive human rights violations. The United States fought a war against Vietnam until 1975 and lost. The United States imports from Vietnam for 2024 were over $142 billion dollars while our exports to Vietnam were just $13 billion dollars. Why are we supporting an oppressive regime such as Vietnam, who we also fought a long war against by the purchasing of their goods? Those workers producing these goods are not advancing economically nor with advancements of their personal freedoms. And why are we are helping a Communist repressive regime at the same time?

The stock market reactions to the Trump tariff plan, has been expected from an economics viewpoint. Many economists look at global trade as a win-win for both countries who are exchanged with the trade. It could certainly be a win-win if tariffs are not used. In some situations, one country "dumps" a product at an extremely low cost onto another country that creates harm to that country by undercutting those domestic companies’ ability to produce the product at a profit to remain in business.  China did this to the United States with ball bearings and several other products. But how have we have benefited from the past 50 years of trade deficits in our country? After all isn't the United States National Debt over $36 trillion dollars? How do we benefit as a freedom loving country in supporting economically ruthless Communist regimes such as China and Vietnam through supposed "free trade"? But money will be made on the great Tariff sell off 2025 especially by large financial/hedge/short funds. The retiree who depends on his or her 401K/IRA/457K for retirement income has again been shaken but markets are indeed always cyclical. But while The Unaccountable and his ilk are decrying the “death” to the economy, they are busy picking up “good stuff, cheap” and will sit to the sidelines to become even richer. Because that is the real motivation as to why The Unaccountable remains in office.

President Trump also might offer the following trade agreement to both Canada and Mexico: Drop your tariffs on all the products we ship to you and we will drop all our tariffs on your products. This would create an economic boom in North America and strengthen relationships with both countries. He also might offer a similar agreement with China and Vietnam on the basis that the Communist Party end their rule and allow freedom to their country. These proposals would show perspective, vision, and boldness. Such thinking and qualities are completely bereft upon Ned Lamont and his cadre of Democrat governors and fellow elected officials.

In closing, given the sad facts of what was left to him, President Trump was correct in addressing the economic problems we have with massive trade deficits. He was correct in investigating the massive amount of fraud and wasteful governmental spending that has been going on years in our Federal Government, which is supported by United States Taxpayers, being these same United States Taxpayers supporting the trade deficit directly and indirectly. Also Democrat Party solutions to the Trade Deficit and the National Debt from the Ned Lamonts of the world will continue to drive the USA in the economic gutter if these solutions are given a chance to bear fruit. God Help us all, should that be the case.

Economic Freedom, Economic Sovereignty and self-sufficiency should be priorities in our country. Sadly, they have been bypassed for many years now by Democrats and globalist Republicans. It was bypassed by many Presidents since President Carter. The buck stopped in 2025. America cannot keep this reckless spectacle of incessant spending and debt. We elect individuals to represent us not appointed unelected judges to make economic decisions for our country. It is time for leadership as far as Trade Deficits and the National Debt is concerned. It is time for action and results do not lie. We do not need any more rhetoric.

And, the day of economic reality has dawned. America needs to get in priorities in order quickly, the economic charade of poor policies has indeed ended.

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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