Bravo, Governor Rell!
Your veto of the Democratic majority's recent deficit mitigation plan sheds light on the lame excuses of the Democratic leaders in the Connecticut General Assembly.
Where else can a budget deficit estimated between $337 million and $550 million be addressed by cutting expenditures a mere $12 million? Only in the Connecticut legislature - led by Democrats - Senate President Donald Williams and House Speaker Chris Donovan.
During our previous deficit mitigation deliberations I proposed doubling the Governor's statutory rescission authority. Governor Rell has proven she can make tough decisions during this budget crisis while the Democratic leaders in the legislature "kick the can down the road."
I applaud Governor Rell's proposal that a Governor's budget rescission authority be increased incrementally. This will allow the Governor to make the tough decisions the Democratic leaders are refusing to address.
The taxpayers of Connecticut demand their government live within a budget just like our residents must do with their home budgets. Let's see how fast the Democrats move this time...
Monday, December 28, 2009
Legislature Continues to Repeat Same Mistakes
During our most recent special session, I compared the handling of the current fiscal crisis to the popular Bill Murray movie, Groundhog Day. In the movie, Murray's character relives the same day over, and over again until he finally learns his lesson.
Legislative Democrats have yet to learn their lesson and continue to offer the same empty solutions to deal with Connecticut's current fiscal crisis.
The legislature continues to repeat the mistake of not cutting spending when we have a deficit -- meaning at the end of the year our only choices are to borrow or raise taxes. Governor Rell and the legislative Republicans have offered moderate, specific cuts to get us out of this deficit, and the majority Democrats continue to refuse to get serious.
Legislative Democrats have yet to learn their lesson and continue to offer the same empty solutions to deal with Connecticut's current fiscal crisis.
The legislature continues to repeat the mistake of not cutting spending when we have a deficit -- meaning at the end of the year our only choices are to borrow or raise taxes. Governor Rell and the legislative Republicans have offered moderate, specific cuts to get us out of this deficit, and the majority Democrats continue to refuse to get serious.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
No Way To Run A Business, A Household, Or The State Of Connecticut
The General Assembly’s majority legislators continue to put their heads in the sand and pretend that somehow, some way, the state’s ongoing fiscal crisis will just go away. Rather than heed Governor M. Jodi Rell’s call for a special session to address our $466.5 million deficit, they chose to ignore the flood tide of red ink drowning our state.
It seems to me that the strategy at the 
State Capitol is to keep state employment, wages, and benefits high and immune to any meaningful cuts, while turning a deaf ear to the massive layoffs, wage cuts, house foreclosures, and business closings that have become commonplace in the private sector. The legislature’s continued resistance to taking meaningful action simply prolongs the state’s fiscal problems and greatly lessens our chances for a robust recovery.
Governor Rell’s response to the Democrats’ lack of decision-making ability was right on target and reflected what so many Republican legislators have been predicting for the past year. Three months ago, I voted against the budget that is now in deficit because, rather than shrink state government, it called for spending even more than last year, raising taxes and fees, borrowing, draining the Rainy Day Fund, and using one-time revenues to cover operating expenses. As I anticipated, passing this budget put our towns and cities in a precarious situation and further threatened our already beleaguered state economy. It now looks like the majority will propose further raising taxes, and perhaps even more borrowing, to close the deficit.
As Governor Rell said in response to legislative leaders’ recent refusal to heed her call to hold a special deficit mitigation session: “The new taxes and fee increases contained in the current budget are not generating the levels of revenue they were predicted to bring in, so why would even higher taxes be the answer now? And, the payments on the debt we are incurring will add to the burden on future generations. If we borrow more, we jeopardize our credit rating, making it more expensive to pay for important projects in the future. In fact, the state Treasurer estimates a lowered bond rating could cost the state as much as $80 million a year.”
To underscore the Governor’s concerns, Moody’s and Fitch’s investor services have already revised their outlook on Connecticut’s general obligation bonds from stable to negative. This clearly reflects the legislative majority’s lack of political will to cut spending in the face of declining revenues – unlike nearly every other state legislature.
This is no way to run a business, household, or our state. The citizens of Connecticut do not deserve this, and neither do the municipal government leaders who have already set their budgets for the year. This recession has forced so many families, businesses, non-profit organizations, and others in Connecticut to do more with a lot less. Those in Hartford, who are insulated from the reality of what is happening, do not understand that in economic crises, many small business owners go without pay, put their families at risk and sacrifice, so that their businesses and employees can survive. They have the right to expect their state government to do the same. So far, they have been sorely disappointed.
Senator Toni Boucher (R-26) represents the communities of Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport and Wilton.
Monday, December 14, 2009
We Need to Start Planning... Now
Last Friday I submitted a letter and proposals to the Commission on Enhancing Agency Outcomes, which is set to meet again at 10am on Monday.
When taken together, the recommendations would save over $250 million per biennium (based on OFA estimates) without diminishing the quality of service provided by government. Most of the recommendations will result in a reduction of the state work force, as redundancies are eliminated and functions are transferred to more efficient providers. While the state work force cannot be reduced until FY11 at the expiration of the SEBAC agreement, I believe we need to start planning now.
When taken together, the recommendations would save over $250 million per biennium (based on OFA estimates) without diminishing the quality of service provided by government. Most of the recommendations will result in a reduction of the state work force, as redundancies are eliminated and functions are transferred to more efficient providers. While the state work force cannot be reduced until FY11 at the expiration of the SEBAC agreement, I believe we need to start planning now.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Let's Lend A Hand Where We Can
I am happy to invite you to watch an interview I recently did with two women who are working hard to put an end to hunger in Connecticut. Nancy Carrington is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Food Bank and Cheryl Bedore is President of Masters Manna in Wallingford. Both women joined me on my show Forum with Len Fasano to talk about the important work their organizations do and how you can pitch in.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Our Economy Needs Real Stimulus
Connecticut’s recession continues to get worse. Unemployment in our state is now 8.8%, just below the national average of 10%. We have lost over 87,000 jobs this year in Connecticut. Every middle class family has been directly or indirectly impacted by this job loss, and the federal and state government have failed to come up with solutions that work.
The stimulus package passed by Washington has failed to stimulate the economy. While we have been able to receive some nice improvements from the stimulus package (e.g., repaving the Merritt Parkway around Exit 46-48), it has failed to stem the tide of unemployment facing our state. Unfortunately, the main result of the stimulus package is another $2,500 in national debt for every man, woman, and child in Connecticut. The stimulus package has been an expensive failure.
Fortunately, there are steps both federal and state government can take to help end the recession. Notice I said “help”, because government cannot end the recession by just spending more money. Small businesses will need to lead us out of the recession. Small business owners have created more than 90 percent of the new jobs in our state in the last 10 years. While big corporations are great to have in Connecticut, it is the little guy who really drives our economic growth. Government’s role should be to set up the best tax, regulation, and legal system for small business to create good jobs for Connecticut families.
First, the federal government should repeal the remainder of the stimulus package and use it to cut payroll taxes for small businesses and middle class families. Less than 20% of the stimulus has actually been spent, meaning there is over $500 billion still unspent. We could cut the payroll tax in half for the next year and still spend less than that. The payroll tax is currently 12.4%, split evenly people employers and employees. This tax cut would mean the average middle class family would receive $1,500 of their income back, and small businesses would get 3% of their payroll back.
Instead of the pork-barrel projects in the stimulus package, we can directly help small businesses and middle class families. Instead of give-aways to special interest groups, a direct tax-cut will enable small businesses to hire more people and put money directly into middle class families’ pockets. Best of all, the deficit would be lowered because the tax cut would be less expensive than the current “stimulus” package.
Second, state government needs to reverse the tax increases in this year’s budget. I was proud to vote against this budget, which increased taxes and fees by over a billion dollars, and borrowed a billion dollars to cover operating expenses. We need to reverse these tax increases, and get serious about cutting spending at the state level. Common-sense ideas like resetting all state program spending back to 2007 levels, shifting more social services from state agencies to less expensive non-for-profit community providers, and merging duplicative state agencies have all been left out of our budget. Instead, higher taxes on companies and individuals will choke any job creation that may happen in the next few months.
We need real stimulus for our economy. Federal and state government are both getting it wrong right now, as evidenced by our high unemployment. My hope is that both Republicans and Democrats can work together to implement the real solutions I have proposed for small business and middle class families.
The stimulus package passed by Washington has failed to stimulate the economy. While we have been able to receive some nice improvements from the stimulus package (e.g., repaving the Merritt Parkway around Exit 46-48), it has failed to stem the tide of unemployment facing our state. Unfortunately, the main result of the stimulus package is another $2,500 in national debt for every man, woman, and child in Connecticut. The stimulus package has been an expensive failure.
Fortunately, there are steps both federal and state government can take to help end the recession. Notice I said “help”, because government cannot end the recession by just spending more money. Small businesses will need to lead us out of the recession. Small business owners have created more than 90 percent of the new jobs in our state in the last 10 years. While big corporations are great to have in Connecticut, it is the little guy who really drives our economic growth. Government’s role should be to set up the best tax, regulation, and legal system for small business to create good jobs for Connecticut families.
First, the federal government should repeal the remainder of the stimulus package and use it to cut payroll taxes for small businesses and middle class families. Less than 20% of the stimulus has actually been spent, meaning there is over $500 billion still unspent. We could cut the payroll tax in half for the next year and still spend less than that. The payroll tax is currently 12.4%, split evenly people employers and employees. This tax cut would mean the average middle class family would receive $1,500 of their income back, and small businesses would get 3% of their payroll back.
Instead of the pork-barrel projects in the stimulus package, we can directly help small businesses and middle class families. Instead of give-aways to special interest groups, a direct tax-cut will enable small businesses to hire more people and put money directly into middle class families’ pockets. Best of all, the deficit would be lowered because the tax cut would be less expensive than the current “stimulus” package.
Second, state government needs to reverse the tax increases in this year’s budget. I was proud to vote against this budget, which increased taxes and fees by over a billion dollars, and borrowed a billion dollars to cover operating expenses. We need to reverse these tax increases, and get serious about cutting spending at the state level. Common-sense ideas like resetting all state program spending back to 2007 levels, shifting more social services from state agencies to less expensive non-for-profit community providers, and merging duplicative state agencies have all been left out of our budget. Instead, higher taxes on companies and individuals will choke any job creation that may happen in the next few months.
We need real stimulus for our economy. Federal and state government are both getting it wrong right now, as evidenced by our high unemployment. My hope is that both Republicans and Democrats can work together to implement the real solutions I have proposed for small business and middle class families.
This Problem Will Not Go Away
8.8% unemployment, a $385 million deficit, major companies like Pratt Whitney and Aetna eliminating jobs - what more will it take for Democrat leaders to realize that our state’s economic crisis is not going away?
Putting our head in the sand and gambling that the economy is going to improve significantly in the fourth quarter, is not only an unrealistic approach, but it lacks the leadership we need in the state legislature.
Enough is enough. Senator Williams and Representative Donovan need to convene a special session now to address our state’s growing economic problems, close our budget deficit, and preserve any chance of avoiding massive across the board tax increases.
Putting our head in the sand and gambling that the economy is going to improve significantly in the fourth quarter, is not only an unrealistic approach, but it lacks the leadership we need in the state legislature.
Enough is enough. Senator Williams and Representative Donovan need to convene a special session now to address our state’s growing economic problems, close our budget deficit, and preserve any chance of avoiding massive across the board tax increases.
Unemployment Figures Paint Grim Picture
Layoffs at Aetna and increasing unemployment figures are the latest damning evidence that the State of Connecticut is not doing enough to create and retain jobs in this economy. The Democrats’ continued ignorance of our budget crisis – their failure to make necessary spending reductions and their decision to raise taxes and fees across the state; including a new 10% surcharge on the profits of Connecticut businesses, is the wrong direction for the State of Connecticut.
Connecticut has lost 87,000 jobs in this recession and most economists predict we will lose tens-of-thousands more. We need to make job creation and retention a priority and it starts with finally getting serious about our budget crisis. The Office of Fiscal Analysis and the Office of Policy and Management are projecting a $385 million deficit for the current fiscal year. The legislature should be in special session now to fix it. And this time we can’t paper over the problem with tax increases and borrowing. We need to protect Connecticut’s job creators and stop passing-off this crisis to future generations. We need to finally make the difficult spending reductions we all know are necessary.
Connecticut has lost 87,000 jobs in this recession and most economists predict we will lose tens-of-thousands more. We need to make job creation and retention a priority and it starts with finally getting serious about our budget crisis. The Office of Fiscal Analysis and the Office of Policy and Management are projecting a $385 million deficit for the current fiscal year. The legislature should be in special session now to fix it. And this time we can’t paper over the problem with tax increases and borrowing. We need to protect Connecticut’s job creators and stop passing-off this crisis to future generations. We need to finally make the difficult spending reductions we all know are necessary.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thank You, Governor Rell
I am disappointed that Governor Rell has chosen not to seek reelection, but I completely understand. She has served our state with honor for the past 25 years, and I am sure she thought long and hard about her decision to retire. If she believes that not seeking reelection is the right thing for her and her family, then we need to graciously accept her decision and gratefully thank her for everything she has done for our state.
Governor Rell stepped up to the plate when we desperately needed her help to restore public trust in our state government. More than five years later, the people of Connecticut still love and respect her – and she has earned our respect and admiration. I don’t think any of us will ever forget the courage she showed when addressing the General Assembly as Governor for the first time just days following her cancer surgery. She held on to the respect of Connecticut’s citizens because she led our state with integrity, and people knew that she always did what she believed was best for our state.
On a personal note, I have always cherished Governor Rell’s friendship, and am honored to have the opportunity to work with her on behalf our state.
Governor Rell stepped up to the plate when we desperately needed her help to restore public trust in our state government. More than five years later, the people of Connecticut still love and respect her – and she has earned our respect and admiration. I don’t think any of us will ever forget the courage she showed when addressing the General Assembly as Governor for the first time just days following her cancer surgery. She held on to the respect of Connecticut’s citizens because she led our state with integrity, and people knew that she always did what she believed was best for our state.
On a personal note, I have always cherished Governor Rell’s friendship, and am honored to have the opportunity to work with her on behalf our state.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Comptroller’s Deficit Projection Signals More Bad New for Connecticut
Just two months ago, Democrats, in the face of Republican warnings and without a single Republican vote, passed a partisan budget that, according to the Democrat Comptroller, is now $624 million in deficit. The Comptroller has also questioned the state’s ability to realize another $473.3 million in unspecified savings.
The last time we faced a deficit of this magnitude, Democrats ignored Republican warnings and the State ended up borrowing $1 billion to close the FY09 deficit, increasing debt service and mortgaging our future. We cannot continue to repeat past mistakes.
Republican leaders again stand ready, willing and able to work with Democrats to finally do the difficult, but necessary work to reduce the size and cost of state government. We need the Democrat majority to stop ignoring reality and join us at the table.
The last time we faced a deficit of this magnitude, Democrats ignored Republican warnings and the State ended up borrowing $1 billion to close the FY09 deficit, increasing debt service and mortgaging our future. We cannot continue to repeat past mistakes.
Republican leaders again stand ready, willing and able to work with Democrats to finally do the difficult, but necessary work to reduce the size and cost of state government. We need the Democrat majority to stop ignoring reality and join us at the table.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Bond Rating Downgrade From Stable Should Not Be Ignored
Moody’s Investor Services report in which they downgraded the rating for Connecticut’s General Obligation bonds from stable to negative is Wall Street’s way of telling Connecticut what many of us have been saying for years: we cannot continue borrowing and spending like there’s no tomorrow. I’m extremely concerned over this bond rating downgrade, and it should not be ignored. As the report indicated, “the negative outlook reflects the choices made to address the state’s biennial 2010-2011 budget gaps as well as the shortfall for fiscal 2009, including a majority of non-recurring solutions and deficit financing, combined with a credit profile that includes significant long-term liabilities.” If we were a family and had a credit rating like this we’d be working at that Renaissance Fair like in those television commercials for FreeCreditReport.com. Unfortunately, those commercials are funny, but our new bond rating is not.
Last week the Office of Policy and Management projected a $388.5 million deficit for the current fiscal year, a number likely to grow in the months ahead. No one wants to be the bad guy. Spending cuts are painful and unpopular, but the sooner we act the better off we’ll be. We can’t ignore reality. This line from the Moody’s report should be a warning: “Connecticut also compares unfavorably on measures such as debt ratios that are among the highest in the nation, pension funding levels that were among the lowest in the country in 2008 even before the market turmoil is factored, and other post employment benefit (OPEB) liabilities that are larger than the size of the state’s annual operating budget.”
While the Moody report was bad news for Connecticut, I am hopeful it will finally compel the majority party to take this financial crisis seriously when we meet in the coming months to work out a deficit mitigation plan.
Last week the Office of Policy and Management projected a $388.5 million deficit for the current fiscal year, a number likely to grow in the months ahead. No one wants to be the bad guy. Spending cuts are painful and unpopular, but the sooner we act the better off we’ll be. We can’t ignore reality. This line from the Moody’s report should be a warning: “Connecticut also compares unfavorably on measures such as debt ratios that are among the highest in the nation, pension funding levels that were among the lowest in the country in 2008 even before the market turmoil is factored, and other post employment benefit (OPEB) liabilities that are larger than the size of the state’s annual operating budget.”
While the Moody report was bad news for Connecticut, I am hopeful it will finally compel the majority party to take this financial crisis seriously when we meet in the coming months to work out a deficit mitigation plan.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Fee Increases Hit Working Families the Hardest
According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary tax is defined as “a charge usually of money imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes.” When the General Assembly passed a new two-year budget in September, supporters of the $37.6 billion plan claimed that taxes were raised primarily on the wealthy and large corporations. However, on October 2nd when the legislature reconvened to take up a number of bills that implement the budget for the next two fiscal years, HB 6802 increased nearly every professional license fee, and in some cases these fees were even doubled.
I have received inquiries from people asking if they will be required to pay more for their professional license. Some of the professions affected by the fee increases are teachers, accountants, farmers, retailers, realtors, bankers, architects, engineers and surveyors, electricians and plumbers, pharmacists, landscapers, interior designers, home improvement contractors, insurers, apprentices, bedding dealers and manufacturers, group home providers, barbers and hairdressers, pest control specialists and funeral home operators. Don’t see your profession? Well the bill also incorporates dozens of fee increases for other “miscellaneous” professions and doubles the fees for most corporate filings. If we are serious about attracting businesses and retaining skilled workers in Connecticut, we should not be placing any greater financial burden on them, regardless of their profession.
Unfortunately it doesn’t end there. Recreational fees for hunting and fishing are all being doubled. If you need a marriage or death certificate from your local town hall, those fees are going up as well. Want to visit a state park? You’ll being paying twice as much as last year, which goes against the efforts the state has have made over the past couple of years to make Connecticut a more attractive place to visit, enjoy and most importantly, live in.
No matter how you look at it, these fee increases are simply another tax with a different name. They have the same effect on individuals and businesses as any tax increase and they hit working families the hardest.
I have received inquiries from people asking if they will be required to pay more for their professional license. Some of the professions affected by the fee increases are teachers, accountants, farmers, retailers, realtors, bankers, architects, engineers and surveyors, electricians and plumbers, pharmacists, landscapers, interior designers, home improvement contractors, insurers, apprentices, bedding dealers and manufacturers, group home providers, barbers and hairdressers, pest control specialists and funeral home operators. Don’t see your profession? Well the bill also incorporates dozens of fee increases for other “miscellaneous” professions and doubles the fees for most corporate filings. If we are serious about attracting businesses and retaining skilled workers in Connecticut, we should not be placing any greater financial burden on them, regardless of their profession.
Unfortunately it doesn’t end there. Recreational fees for hunting and fishing are all being doubled. If you need a marriage or death certificate from your local town hall, those fees are going up as well. Want to visit a state park? You’ll being paying twice as much as last year, which goes against the efforts the state has have made over the past couple of years to make Connecticut a more attractive place to visit, enjoy and most importantly, live in.
No matter how you look at it, these fee increases are simply another tax with a different name. They have the same effect on individuals and businesses as any tax increase and they hit working families the hardest.
Friday, October 23, 2009
New Budget... Same Problems
The consensus revenue estimates confirm what legislative Republicans have been saying for weeks: The Democrat budget was in deficit upon passage.
When Comptoller Wyman reported a potential $500 million - $1 billion deficit on October 1st, Democrats ignored her warnings. Now that the most recent OPM estimate predicted a $388.5 million budget deficit for FY 2010, Democrats can’t ignore reality any longer. The people of Connecticut need their elected officials to finally lead by making the difficult decisions necessary to reduce the size and cost of state government.
Senate Republicans stand ready to work on a mitigation plan that brings the state budget back into balance by reducing the cost and size of state government. Less than one month after passing a budget that we all knew was unsustainable, Governor Rell will once again have to make the difficult decisions the Democrats have repeatedly failed to make.
In the past year we met four times to vote on deficit mitigation plans. The Democrats failure to act with any sense of urgency or responsibility during those negotiations and their creation of an unaffordable budget have put us where we are today. We can only hope they will finally start getting serious. The people of the state of Connecticut deserve better.
When Comptoller Wyman reported a potential $500 million - $1 billion deficit on October 1st, Democrats ignored her warnings. Now that the most recent OPM estimate predicted a $388.5 million budget deficit for FY 2010, Democrats can’t ignore reality any longer. The people of Connecticut need their elected officials to finally lead by making the difficult decisions necessary to reduce the size and cost of state government.
Senate Republicans stand ready to work on a mitigation plan that brings the state budget back into balance by reducing the cost and size of state government. Less than one month after passing a budget that we all knew was unsustainable, Governor Rell will once again have to make the difficult decisions the Democrats have repeatedly failed to make.
In the past year we met four times to vote on deficit mitigation plans. The Democrats failure to act with any sense of urgency or responsibility during those negotiations and their creation of an unaffordable budget have put us where we are today. We can only hope they will finally start getting serious. The people of the state of Connecticut deserve better.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
An Irresponsible Budget
Last week I voted against several bills to implement the $37.6 billion biennial state budget. While there were a few portions of the legislation that I supported, such as delaying in-school suspension, I could not put my vote of approval on any part of the irresponsible budget that was passed several weeks ago. To date, the legislature has acted on four deficit mitigation packages and the recently adopted budget drains the Rainy Day Fund, raises taxes by $1 billion and borrows another $2 billion. Just this week Democratic Comptroller Nancy Wyman warned the General Assembly that the state may be facing a $500 million shortfall in the near future.
Republican legislators offered several alternatives to the biennial state budget adopted last month that would have helped to make our state more competitive and save jobs. Unfortunately, none of our suggestions were taken up with the exception of delaying in-school suspension. The decision to raise taxes and fees rather than to make our state government smaller and more cost efficient, made it impossible for me to support both the budget and the implementing legislation last week.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Senator Debicella Responds to Democrats' Latest Budget Proposal
State Senator Dan Debicella (R) Shelton calls the majority party's latest budget proposal "an attack on the middle class".
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Reinvent Government or Same Old Same Old?
Early in the 2009 legislative session I was excited to be appointed to a new commission created to identify potential improvements and efficiencies of our state government operations. I felt my experience with this process in local government could lend a unique perspective to the Commission on Enhancing Agency Outcomes (guvspeak acronym is CEAO). Now if we could just convince the Democratic majority leadership to seriously consider reinventing Connecticut state government’s operations we might actually reduce spending!
Public Act 09-02 spells out the charge of the commission:
“The Commission on Enhancing Agency Outcomes shall identify functional overlaps and other redundancies among state agencies and promote efficiency and accountability in state government by identifying ways to eliminate such overlaps and redundancies and by making such other recommendations as the commission deems appropriate, with the goal to reducing costs to the state and enhancing the quality and accessibility of state services.”
The CEAO membership is a diverse group with wide experience in government and business. Some members have participated in past government efficiency study efforts only to see the results of their work largely ignored.
I co-hosted a CEAO public hearing in Danbury where residents and business leaders shared testimony of common sense approaches to government efficiency – think like a business. What a novel idea!
I offered specific agency merger ideas for discussion by the commission but we have not met since April 24th for only our second meeting. Surely the co-chairs are anxious to offer sensible ideas for solving our budget crisis but it seems apparent the Democratic majority leadership is ignoring CEAO.
Budget rhetoric is abundant these days as the Democratic majority leadership drags their feet on the difficult decisions of this fiscal crisis. The major disappointment is we’re squandering an opportunity to truly reinvent Connecticut state government. Unfortunately, the Democrats in Hartford are focused on preserving powerful special interests and expanding rather than reducing state government.
Public Act 09-02 spells out the charge of the commission:
“The Commission on Enhancing Agency Outcomes shall identify functional overlaps and other redundancies among state agencies and promote efficiency and accountability in state government by identifying ways to eliminate such overlaps and redundancies and by making such other recommendations as the commission deems appropriate, with the goal to reducing costs to the state and enhancing the quality and accessibility of state services.”
The CEAO membership is a diverse group with wide experience in government and business. Some members have participated in past government efficiency study efforts only to see the results of their work largely ignored.
I co-hosted a CEAO public hearing in Danbury where residents and business leaders shared testimony of common sense approaches to government efficiency – think like a business. What a novel idea!
I offered specific agency merger ideas for discussion by the commission but we have not met since April 24th for only our second meeting. Surely the co-chairs are anxious to offer sensible ideas for solving our budget crisis but it seems apparent the Democratic majority leadership is ignoring CEAO.
Budget rhetoric is abundant these days as the Democratic majority leadership drags their feet on the difficult decisions of this fiscal crisis. The major disappointment is we’re squandering an opportunity to truly reinvent Connecticut state government. Unfortunately, the Democrats in Hartford are focused on preserving powerful special interests and expanding rather than reducing state government.
Friday, June 5, 2009
CTBudgetFacts.com - Budget Status Report
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Please visit CTBudgetFacts.com to submit your question or comment.
Please visit CTBudgetFacts.com to submit your question or comment.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
What is going on here?
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The General Assembly just passed its fourth deficit mitigation bill and still the state is set to end this fiscal year with an $800 million deficit
What is going on here?
The answer is that the Democratic majority has failed to get serious about cutting spending. Despite Governor Rell and the legislative Republicans offering more ideas about spending cuts each and every month, the majority refuses to make the hard choices we need to close our massive deficit.
For example, the last time we had a serious debate about closing the massive budget gap, the Democrats boasted that they could find $220 million in savings from various off-budget accounts. After ignoring several of their own self-imposed deadlines to find this money, the Democrats again last week used their numbers in the House and Senate to push through yet another inadequate deficit mitigation plan. That plan included roughly half – only $110 million – of the couch cushion savings promised by the Democrats.
In addition, the Democrats rejected additional spending cuts that the Republican proposed. For example, the Democrats should have agreed to the Republicans’ request to give up what’s left of their “slush fund” of $2 million used for pork barrel projects.
As the leading Republican Senator on the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee, I am very concerned about the lack of progress toward either closing this year’s budget deficit, or passing a new two-year state budget before this legislative session ends on June 3rd. To make matters worse, the state is looking at a projected $8 billion deficit over the next two years.
Republicans continue to stand ready to work with the Democratic majority to both close the existing budget deficit, and pass a responsible new budget that provides necessary programs and services at a cost the taxpayers can afford.
We do not have a lot of time left to do right by the people we were elected to represent. Connecticut is in the midst of a recession, unemployment is at 7.9 percent and the businesses left are struggling to survive. The longer we wait to meaningfully address our fiscal problems, the fewer options we will have. Borrowing our way out of the deficit would hurt all of us, now and for years into the future. Emptying the Rainy Day Fund over the next several weeks simply because the legislature’s Democratic majority refuses to make hard decisions would be both harmful and cowardly.
Meanwhile, the new fiscal year begins on July 1st. The Democrats have said they want to fund it by raising taxes by $3.3 billion. Both Republican legislators and Governor Rell have put alternative, more palatable, budget proposals on the table. It is time for the Democratic majority to seriously consider our suggestions, and admit that they need the help we have been offering.
The General Assembly just passed its fourth deficit mitigation bill and still the state is set to end this fiscal year with an $800 million deficit
What is going on here?
The answer is that the Democratic majority has failed to get serious about cutting spending. Despite Governor Rell and the legislative Republicans offering more ideas about spending cuts each and every month, the majority refuses to make the hard choices we need to close our massive deficit.
For example, the last time we had a serious debate about closing the massive budget gap, the Democrats boasted that they could find $220 million in savings from various off-budget accounts. After ignoring several of their own self-imposed deadlines to find this money, the Democrats again last week used their numbers in the House and Senate to push through yet another inadequate deficit mitigation plan. That plan included roughly half – only $110 million – of the couch cushion savings promised by the Democrats.
In addition, the Democrats rejected additional spending cuts that the Republican proposed. For example, the Democrats should have agreed to the Republicans’ request to give up what’s left of their “slush fund” of $2 million used for pork barrel projects.
As the leading Republican Senator on the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee, I am very concerned about the lack of progress toward either closing this year’s budget deficit, or passing a new two-year state budget before this legislative session ends on June 3rd. To make matters worse, the state is looking at a projected $8 billion deficit over the next two years.
Republicans continue to stand ready to work with the Democratic majority to both close the existing budget deficit, and pass a responsible new budget that provides necessary programs and services at a cost the taxpayers can afford.
We do not have a lot of time left to do right by the people we were elected to represent. Connecticut is in the midst of a recession, unemployment is at 7.9 percent and the businesses left are struggling to survive. The longer we wait to meaningfully address our fiscal problems, the fewer options we will have. Borrowing our way out of the deficit would hurt all of us, now and for years into the future. Emptying the Rainy Day Fund over the next several weeks simply because the legislature’s Democratic majority refuses to make hard decisions would be both harmful and cowardly.
Meanwhile, the new fiscal year begins on July 1st. The Democrats have said they want to fund it by raising taxes by $3.3 billion. Both Republican legislators and Governor Rell have put alternative, more palatable, budget proposals on the table. It is time for the Democratic majority to seriously consider our suggestions, and admit that they need the help we have been offering.
New Interactive Budget Website
Senate Republicans recently launched a new user-friendly website, www.CTBudgetFacts.com, to help guide you through the state budget-setting process . The site allows you to access a number of features including an interactive budget presentation, a layout of the major economic issues facing our state, and an outline of competing budget proposals currently before the legislature. As the General Assembly moves forward with budget negotiations, we hope you take a moment to explore the site and let us know what you think.
An Act Concerning the Penalty for a Capitol Felony
Early last Friday morning, after a debate that lasted nearly eleven hours, the Senate voted 19-17 in support of a proposal to abolish the death penalty, HB 6578, An Act Concerning the Penalty for a Capitol Felony. Although the bill passed both the House and Senate, Governor Rell has stated her intent to veto it, in her words, "as soon as it hits my desk".
Rarely in the Senate do we face decisions that are influenced by such a wide range of factors, be it our families, religion, personal experiences, or simply our human response to horrific events. It was evident from the floor speeches given throughout the night and into the morning that each legislator felt more obligated to vote in line with their conscience than their party.
I voted, along with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, in opposition to this proposal, believing that there are some crimes so horrific that capital punishment is the only adequate form of justice for the perpetrators of these crimes. While I support retaining the death penalty, I believe we need to use it very sparingly. It would be an utter travesty for an individual to be put to death for a crime they did not commit and I know that we bend over backwards to make sure no one on death row is there unjustly. Fundamentally, I believe the death penalty does work as a deterrent and is the only just punishment for certain horrific and heinous crimes.
In addition to deterrence and just punishment, I believe the death penalty is necessary to keep law and order in our correctional facilities. I have six correctional facilities in my district housing over 8,000 individuals, including ten on death row. If an inmate is already in prison for life without the possibility of release, absent the death penalty, there is no deterrent to keep them from killing a correction officer or some other prison employee. In light of this concern, I offered an amendment that would carve out an exemption to the underlying bill for the murder of an employee of the Department of Correction by an inmate, but it was defeated 20-15.
Additional amendments were offered by other Republican senators to carve out exemptions in the case of a death of a police officer, or a member of the armed forces, and to retain capital punishment as a penalty for crimes committed before the implementation date of the bill, all of which were defeated. Nevertheless, Governor Rell will veto HB 6578 and there clearly are not enough votes to override her veto.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A Better Way
State Republicans believe the Democrats plan is heading entirely in the wrong direction and will only serve to increase the financial burden on middle class families and small businesses already struggling to make ends meet.
We know there is a better way. To that end, we set out to draft our own budget proposal – a balanced budget we would pass if we were in the majority. We approached this process from the principal that state government must first exhaust all responsible options for reducing spending and creating efficiencies in the way we do business. Many of the decisions we faced were difficult. Many of the cuts are deep. But, the result is a balanced budget proposal that makes government live within its means and does not raise taxes.
Connecticut taxpayers simply cannot afford the government majority Democrats have created. Over the past six years, state government has grown 36 percent from a budget of $13.6 billion in 2003 to $18.5 billion. At the same time, state auditors and independent news outlets are uncovering examples of government waste and inefficiency everyday. When the state Department of Social Services auditors report, as they recently did, that the state has been sending benefits checks to deceased people, the residents of Connecticut have a right to expect their government to get its own fiscal house in order before reaching into the pockets of taxpayers for a bailout.
Republicans are going to do everything in our power to prevent the Democrats’ proposed $3.3 billion tax increase from becoming a reality. We will continue to drive budget discussions towards solutions that streamline state government and reduce spending.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Senate Republican Caucus Unanimously Opposes SB 1098
The Senate Republican Caucus unanimously opposes Senate Bill 1098, An Act Modifying Corporate Laws Relating To Certain Religious Corporations. This bill is an unconstitutional assault on religious freedoms. Specifically, it represents a clear violation of the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise of Religion Clause contained in the First Amendment. The right of a church to govern itself, free from governmental intrusion, has been repeatedly upheld by our highest courts, providing that ‘religious freedom encompasses the power [of religious bodies] to decide for themselves, free from state interference, matters of church government as well as those of faith and doctrine.’[1]
The state has long supported the right of the Roman Catholic Church to organize and incorporate itself as it sees fit, first codifying such self governing legislation in 1866. Senate Bill 1098 proposes to dictate the way the Catholic Church organizes and operates, replacing the control of the Bishops and pastors with that of a board of directors consisting of lay people elected from the parish. Once in place, this board would have administrative and financial powers, strategic planning authority, and control of the outreach and community services provided by the church.
Proponents of the bill site the embezzlement of funds by a pastor in Darien as the rationale for this unwarranted governmental intrusion into the affairs of the church. But, the priest in this case has already been arrested and imprisoned for his offenses. Criminal laws currently in place have done as they were designed to do – punish those who willingly misappropriate funds.
Equally troubling is the fact that this bill singles out the Roman Catholic Church. The bill does not simply stop at ordering the Catholic Church how to organize itself. It also includes a provision that allows any person who believes money donated to any religious corporation has been used for a purpose other than that for which it was donated, to report their belief to the Attorney General, who must investigate the claim and take any action he deems necessary. How exactly does one determine the ‘intended purpose’ of private donations given to the church? Under this provision, any person, whether or not they are a member of the parish, may challenge any donation made to the church, whether its $5 placed in the offertory basket, or $5,000 donated to the Bishop’s appeal, subjecting the free speech rights of the Catholic Church to be challenged by the unfettered actions of the Attorney General.
For these reasons, the Senate Republican Caucus will vigorously oppose SB 1098 in the Judiciary Committee and on the floor of the Senate.
[1] Serbian Orthodox Diocese v. Milivojevich, 466 U.S. 696, 721-22 (1976).
The state has long supported the right of the Roman Catholic Church to organize and incorporate itself as it sees fit, first codifying such self governing legislation in 1866. Senate Bill 1098 proposes to dictate the way the Catholic Church organizes and operates, replacing the control of the Bishops and pastors with that of a board of directors consisting of lay people elected from the parish. Once in place, this board would have administrative and financial powers, strategic planning authority, and control of the outreach and community services provided by the church.
Proponents of the bill site the embezzlement of funds by a pastor in Darien as the rationale for this unwarranted governmental intrusion into the affairs of the church. But, the priest in this case has already been arrested and imprisoned for his offenses. Criminal laws currently in place have done as they were designed to do – punish those who willingly misappropriate funds.
Equally troubling is the fact that this bill singles out the Roman Catholic Church. The bill does not simply stop at ordering the Catholic Church how to organize itself. It also includes a provision that allows any person who believes money donated to any religious corporation has been used for a purpose other than that for which it was donated, to report their belief to the Attorney General, who must investigate the claim and take any action he deems necessary. How exactly does one determine the ‘intended purpose’ of private donations given to the church? Under this provision, any person, whether or not they are a member of the parish, may challenge any donation made to the church, whether its $5 placed in the offertory basket, or $5,000 donated to the Bishop’s appeal, subjecting the free speech rights of the Catholic Church to be challenged by the unfettered actions of the Attorney General.
For these reasons, the Senate Republican Caucus will vigorously oppose SB 1098 in the Judiciary Committee and on the floor of the Senate.
[1] Serbian Orthodox Diocese v. Milivojevich, 466 U.S. 696, 721-22 (1976).
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Connecticut Veterans' Wartime Service Medal Ceremony
I was honored to address recipients of the Connecticut Veterans' Wartime Service Medal at the special ceremony recently in Shelton. The medal is given by the Department of Veteran's Affairs to all military personnel who served in a time of war. During this moving ceremony, 347 medals were awarded to veterans with qualifying military service who live in Shelton. We did a similar ceremony in Stratford, and more are being held throughout the state.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Appearance on Face the State
On Sunday I appeared on WFSB's Face the State to discuss Connecticut's growing budget deficit. We need to take shift action to cut spending-- otherwise we will face an unacceptable tax increase. In this segment, I lay out some specific ideas to cut spending introduced by the Governor and legislative Republicans.
Since this taping the situation has grown more dire. On Tuesday, the Office of Policy and Management revised their deficit estimate for the current fiscal year to nearly $922 million. The current projected deficit for FY2010-11 will probably also grow from the current $6 billion estimate.
I am committed to working with Governor Rell to cut spending to eliminate the deficit, and I am prepared to help make the difficult decisions that face us. If you have additional ideas you believe we should be looking at, please e-mail me at dan.debicella@cga.ct.gov.
Since this taping the situation has grown more dire. On Tuesday, the Office of Policy and Management revised their deficit estimate for the current fiscal year to nearly $922 million. The current projected deficit for FY2010-11 will probably also grow from the current $6 billion estimate.
I am committed to working with Governor Rell to cut spending to eliminate the deficit, and I am prepared to help make the difficult decisions that face us. If you have additional ideas you believe we should be looking at, please e-mail me at dan.debicella@cga.ct.gov.
Friday, January 16, 2009
The Legislature of Too Little, Too Late
On Wednesday the Connecticut General Assembly again convened for the purpose of closing the state’s $356 million budget deficit, and again adjourned leaving the job unfinished. The mitigation plan passed by the legislature, but opposed by all 49 Republicans, resulted in only $120 million in savings to the General Fund and included new spending for a controversial Democrat-backed program that has never even received a public hearing.
That’s right – the General Assembly got together in order to cut spending and close the budget deficit and instead passed a bill that included new spending and left the deficit largely intact. And all this happened despite Senate President Don Williams’ promise in January that “any proposal that costs money, that doesn’t pay for itself, is almost assuredly dead on arrival.”
For her part, Governor Rell will reluctantly sign the mitigation plan into law, because she knows it is the most she can get out of the legislature at this time. But Governor Rell also acknowledged that the Democrats “didn’t make as many cuts as we needed” and “cannot continue to be the legislature of too little, too late” if we are to overcome our budget crisis, put people back to work and get our economy moving again.
more
That’s right – the General Assembly got together in order to cut spending and close the budget deficit and instead passed a bill that included new spending and left the deficit largely intact. And all this happened despite Senate President Don Williams’ promise in January that “any proposal that costs money, that doesn’t pay for itself, is almost assuredly dead on arrival.”
For her part, Governor Rell will reluctantly sign the mitigation plan into law, because she knows it is the most she can get out of the legislature at this time. But Governor Rell also acknowledged that the Democrats “didn’t make as many cuts as we needed” and “cannot continue to be the legislature of too little, too late” if we are to overcome our budget crisis, put people back to work and get our economy moving again.
more
Thursday, January 8, 2009
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