As the House and Senate Democrats sat in caucus, supposedly cracking skulls to reach some sort of agreement on an energy bill (apparently no agreement has been found—even after five hours of wrangling), the House and Senate Republicans held a press conference to refute Democratic assertions of a “Tax Cut for 95% of Connecticut.” Earlier today, House Republican Leader Larry Cafero asked the non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis if the Democrats’ 95% number was accurate—or whether they had asked OFA at all to verify that statistic (the Democrats’ had been saying that it was OFA who gave them the 95% figure).
Lo and behold OFA said that the Democrats had never asked them that question, and even if they had, the number would not have been 95%, but 58% instead! When you factor in the added taxes people will be paying on all clothing purchases, all internet purchase, all funeral expenses, all real estate transactions, etc. that are included in the Democrats’ tax package—that number drops to virtual nonexistence.
When asked about the ongoing budget “negotiations” and Speaker Amann’s contention that the Governor has not been engaged, Rep. Cafero informed those gathered that the Speaker had only attended two (2) budget meetings: the first was 17 minutes, the second was 12 minutes. Meanwhile the Governor has made the pledge that her budget director, Robert Genuario, would be available to them 24 hours a day.
Again and again, the Democrats’ inefficacy and, frankly, their inability to lead has been highlighted—not merely by the opposition party—but by the Democrats’ statements themselves. As the Hartford Courant aptly said in the opening line of their lead editorial today:
“…the Democratic majority in the General Assembly is not making a very good case for being returned to to power in the next election.”
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Courant Takes Notice
From Saturday's Courant:
GOP Lawmakers Develop Their Own Punch
Defying Democrats, Rell On Taxes Plays Well With The Party's Base
By MARK PAZNIOKAS
Courant Staff Writer
May 26 2007
Outnumbered and struggling for relevance, Republican state legislators may have found a new identity and purpose by defying both Democrats and their own governor on taxes.
At the very least, the gambit is playing well among Republican donors who paid between $250 and $1,000 to attend the GOP's pre-eminent fundraiser, the Prescott Bush Awards Dinner.
They accorded hero status to House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., who pressured Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell last month to back away from an income-tax increase she sought to fund greater aid for education.
Cafero and House Republicans offered a budget that could be balanced without a tax increase - a criticism of the Democratic majority's tax plan, but one that also reflected on Rell.
On Thursday night, the GOP base signaled its approval at the Bush dinner, applauding louder for Cafero and Senate Minority Leader Louis C. DeLuca, who were introduced together, than for Rell.
Rell, who has since abandoned her tax increase and sided with legislative Republicans, seemed to take no offense at the applause for Cafero and DeLuca.
"That's absolutely no reflection on the governor. That's a reflection that the [legislative] Republicans staked some new territory this session, and people recognized that," said her spokesman, Chris Cooper. "And the governor was applauding as loudly as anybody."
In her own brief remarks Thursday, Rell encouraged the legislative leaders to continue fighting for Republican values.
Rell, who credited rising state revenues for her own decision to abandon a call for a tax increase, also has been more partisan on the budget in recent days.
"The Democrats simply don't get it," Rell said Wednesday during an unannounced visit to the Capitol press room. "Stop talking about taxes, and let's talk about getting the spending under control."
Twice this week, House Republicans tried to force a vote on a 25-cent reduction in the gas tax for the summer, a proposal Democrats dismissed as political grandstanding. But it is resonating with the beleaguered GOP.
"Larry and Lou have the Democrats on the run," Chris Healy, the new Republican state chairman, told the Bush dinner audience of 600 donors.
"Thank God!" yelled Mary Ann Turner of Enfield, a Republican town chairwoman.
Healy and others were happy to see a feistiness among the base after the debacle of the 2006 election, when Rell and her running mate, Michael Fedeles, were the only Republicans to win statewide office.
In Hartford, Republicans saw their numbers in the legislature shrink to 44 of 151 in the House and 12 of 36 in the Senate. Democrats also won four of the five U.S. House seats in Connecticut, unseating two Republican incumbents.
"We're picking ourselves up off the floor," Healy said. "We're a little bloody, and we're looking for a fight."
Cafero, 49, a lawyer from Norwalk, took over as House minority leader in January, determined to give his caucus a stronger identity.
He reshuffled his staff, hiring campaign consultant and former party Chairman George Gallo as his chief of staff.
"I think there was a culture of incumbency that Larry has successfully broken," Healy said in an interview Friday. "We weren't put here to stand around and take the crumbs the Democrats throw us occasionally."
Cafero has said he and the governor are aware that their interests will not always coincide. As governor, Rell will have to compromise with the Democratic majority to pass a budget.
Healy, who was elected state chairman in January with Rell's blessing, has the potentially awkward task of simultaneously defending the governor and Republican legislators when they are at odds.
He said Cafero, with his alternative budget, simply was trying to show "there was another way."
"To her credit, the governor looked at it, saw the new [revenue] numbers," Healy said. "She was open to a change in her tactics, but not her philosophy. She is still committed to her education idea."
Contact Mark Pazniokas at mpazniokas@courant.com.
Copyright 2007, Hartford Courant
GOP Lawmakers Develop Their Own Punch
Defying Democrats, Rell On Taxes Plays Well With The Party's Base
By MARK PAZNIOKAS
Courant Staff Writer
May 26 2007
Outnumbered and struggling for relevance, Republican state legislators may have found a new identity and purpose by defying both Democrats and their own governor on taxes.
At the very least, the gambit is playing well among Republican donors who paid between $250 and $1,000 to attend the GOP's pre-eminent fundraiser, the Prescott Bush Awards Dinner.
They accorded hero status to House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., who pressured Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell last month to back away from an income-tax increase she sought to fund greater aid for education.
Cafero and House Republicans offered a budget that could be balanced without a tax increase - a criticism of the Democratic majority's tax plan, but one that also reflected on Rell.
On Thursday night, the GOP base signaled its approval at the Bush dinner, applauding louder for Cafero and Senate Minority Leader Louis C. DeLuca, who were introduced together, than for Rell.
Rell, who has since abandoned her tax increase and sided with legislative Republicans, seemed to take no offense at the applause for Cafero and DeLuca.
"That's absolutely no reflection on the governor. That's a reflection that the [legislative] Republicans staked some new territory this session, and people recognized that," said her spokesman, Chris Cooper. "And the governor was applauding as loudly as anybody."
In her own brief remarks Thursday, Rell encouraged the legislative leaders to continue fighting for Republican values.
Rell, who credited rising state revenues for her own decision to abandon a call for a tax increase, also has been more partisan on the budget in recent days.
"The Democrats simply don't get it," Rell said Wednesday during an unannounced visit to the Capitol press room. "Stop talking about taxes, and let's talk about getting the spending under control."
Twice this week, House Republicans tried to force a vote on a 25-cent reduction in the gas tax for the summer, a proposal Democrats dismissed as political grandstanding. But it is resonating with the beleaguered GOP.
"Larry and Lou have the Democrats on the run," Chris Healy, the new Republican state chairman, told the Bush dinner audience of 600 donors.
"Thank God!" yelled Mary Ann Turner of Enfield, a Republican town chairwoman.
Healy and others were happy to see a feistiness among the base after the debacle of the 2006 election, when Rell and her running mate, Michael Fedeles, were the only Republicans to win statewide office.
In Hartford, Republicans saw their numbers in the legislature shrink to 44 of 151 in the House and 12 of 36 in the Senate. Democrats also won four of the five U.S. House seats in Connecticut, unseating two Republican incumbents.
"We're picking ourselves up off the floor," Healy said. "We're a little bloody, and we're looking for a fight."
Cafero, 49, a lawyer from Norwalk, took over as House minority leader in January, determined to give his caucus a stronger identity.
He reshuffled his staff, hiring campaign consultant and former party Chairman George Gallo as his chief of staff.
"I think there was a culture of incumbency that Larry has successfully broken," Healy said in an interview Friday. "We weren't put here to stand around and take the crumbs the Democrats throw us occasionally."
Cafero has said he and the governor are aware that their interests will not always coincide. As governor, Rell will have to compromise with the Democratic majority to pass a budget.
Healy, who was elected state chairman in January with Rell's blessing, has the potentially awkward task of simultaneously defending the governor and Republican legislators when they are at odds.
He said Cafero, with his alternative budget, simply was trying to show "there was another way."
"To her credit, the governor looked at it, saw the new [revenue] numbers," Healy said. "She was open to a change in her tactics, but not her philosophy. She is still committed to her education idea."
Contact Mark Pazniokas at mpazniokas@courant.com.
Copyright 2007, Hartford Courant
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Amann Vows to "Crush" Any Legislation Unless GOP Drops Bid to Cut the Gas Tax
Jim Amann is mad. Hopping mad. 'How the hell do these Republicans keep doing this to me? A few weeks ago I was the Speaker-everybody's favorite guy. Today, I'm the a$$hole jacking gas prices on Connecticut residents! How did it come to this? What the hell do I pay my gigantic staff for?'
All valid questions, Jim. So what recourse does a Speaker have when backed into a corner than to threaten to hold up valuable legislation, bonding, etc. just to ensure that the people of CT pay that extra $0.25 on every gallon of gas this summer.
I really can't sum this up better than the media already has today, so please check out the links below.
CT Local Politics
"State lawmakers headed for gas tax standoff," Keith Phaneuf, Journal Inquirer.
"GOP foiled on gas tax cut," Chris Keating, Hartford Courant.
All valid questions, Jim. So what recourse does a Speaker have when backed into a corner than to threaten to hold up valuable legislation, bonding, etc. just to ensure that the people of CT pay that extra $0.25 on every gallon of gas this summer.
I really can't sum this up better than the media already has today, so please check out the links below.
CT Local Politics
"State lawmakers headed for gas tax standoff," Keith Phaneuf, Journal Inquirer.
"GOP foiled on gas tax cut," Chris Keating, Hartford Courant.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
House Discusses Kind Jerry Head Nugs
While gas prices shoot up, energy costs are through the roof, budgets are on the table, and legislation that would actually help the people of this state wallows on the calendar...the House is now engaged in what is predicted to be a marathon debate on the medical use of Mary Jane.
Sadly, I have to admit that discussing the sweet, sweet cheeba is proving to be quite funny. There's nothing better than listening to Mike Lawlor talk to me about Yukon Gold, Jamaica Red Hair, and the dreaded Middletown Brown. Apparently we are even going to legislate the "dankness" of the buds people are allowed to grow! THIS IS GREAT!
Unfortunately, though this bill will ensure that even if you have dispensation from your doctor to hit the bong, you will still have to troll the high schools of Hartford to "score" your precious dope. I tell ya, I can't wait to see old Granny Smith, walker and all, roaming Frog Hollow in search of the 'stickiest-of-the-icky' to help with her glaucoma. And when she does find Sweet Lou, or Sir Smokes-a-lot, or Samson Simpson and purchases the coveted "eighth" that she's been after, her dealer can (and will) be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, while Granny makes a beeline for the nearest BK for a Whopper and milkshake.
And if Granny Smith isn't up for sitting in her car with the lights off outside Weaver, she now has to dust off her green thumb and grow herself some Northern California Sensimilla. Let me tell you, those plants don't just spring up overnight. SO if you're up for a good laugh--turn on CTN and fire up the hooka.
Sadly, I have to admit that discussing the sweet, sweet cheeba is proving to be quite funny. There's nothing better than listening to Mike Lawlor talk to me about Yukon Gold, Jamaica Red Hair, and the dreaded Middletown Brown. Apparently we are even going to legislate the "dankness" of the buds people are allowed to grow! THIS IS GREAT!
Unfortunately, though this bill will ensure that even if you have dispensation from your doctor to hit the bong, you will still have to troll the high schools of Hartford to "score" your precious dope. I tell ya, I can't wait to see old Granny Smith, walker and all, roaming Frog Hollow in search of the 'stickiest-of-the-icky' to help with her glaucoma. And when she does find Sweet Lou, or Sir Smokes-a-lot, or Samson Simpson and purchases the coveted "eighth" that she's been after, her dealer can (and will) be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, while Granny makes a beeline for the nearest BK for a Whopper and milkshake.
And if Granny Smith isn't up for sitting in her car with the lights off outside Weaver, she now has to dust off her green thumb and grow herself some Northern California Sensimilla. Let me tell you, those plants don't just spring up overnight. SO if you're up for a good laugh--turn on CTN and fire up the hooka.
House Decides to Kill Their Own Bill Rather Than Vote on Gas Tax Cut
In a display of legislative cowardice, the Democratic supermajority decided to "PT" a bill that would have supported marine and land-based law enforcement when House Republican Leader Larry Cafero offered an amendment instituting a state gas tax holiday from Memorial Day through Labor of this year. Intent on not having their members be forced to actually do their job and cast a vote on the amendment--or the bill itself--Majority Leader Donovan decided to pass the bill temporarily to buy time to come up with some solution.
PTing a bill is the ultimate cowardly move by a majority, but almost laughable when done by a supermajority (especially since they put on such a display of Democratic "unity" last night when they overrode the Governor's veto). I guess they really don't have a lot of faith in their ability to marshal votes, because they certainly wouldn't hold up a good bill simply because they feel a vote against cutting the gas tax would hurt them politically, would they? Noooo....that would never happen.
I hope they don't do this on every Republican amendment. Holding up the people's business for political expedience won't help their standing in the public eye.
PTing a bill is the ultimate cowardly move by a majority, but almost laughable when done by a supermajority (especially since they put on such a display of Democratic "unity" last night when they overrode the Governor's veto). I guess they really don't have a lot of faith in their ability to marshal votes, because they certainly wouldn't hold up a good bill simply because they feel a vote against cutting the gas tax would hurt them politically, would they? Noooo....that would never happen.
I hope they don't do this on every Republican amendment. Holding up the people's business for political expedience won't help their standing in the public eye.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
T-minus 19 days...and counting
The odd-year sessions of the Connecticut General Assembly are the longer of the two--lasting five months, compared to the three month sessions of even years. The common wisdom is that these "long sessions" are when the most heated issues are brought up. Many of the more polarizing bills, often regarding hot-button social issues are reserved for these sessions because there's a year and a half to go before the next election, allowing as much time as possible for public ire and/or stupid positioning by legislators to be forgotten. Some would argue that it also allows the most possible time to vet and debate these issues. And what kind of long session would it be without a little skirmishing over the biennial state budget?!
But this year, with Democrats having veto-proof majorities in both chambers and no one standing in their way, not a single bill addressing a top issue of importance to Connecticut residents has made it to the House or Senate floor. Tax relief, energy price relief, jobs, healthcare...not one word...not even a drafted bill? How long do the Speaker and Senate President think they can continue making these bold predictions (remember "The Democrats will pass an energy bill by the end of January!") and never delivering? That's fine though--this is what the people of Connecticut can expect from supermajority Democrat leadership. It's what they voted for--and now they'll reap it with the rest of us.
But this year, with Democrats having veto-proof majorities in both chambers and no one standing in their way, not a single bill addressing a top issue of importance to Connecticut residents has made it to the House or Senate floor. Tax relief, energy price relief, jobs, healthcare...not one word...not even a drafted bill? How long do the Speaker and Senate President think they can continue making these bold predictions (remember "The Democrats will pass an energy bill by the end of January!") and never delivering? That's fine though--this is what the people of Connecticut can expect from supermajority Democrat leadership. It's what they voted for--and now they'll reap it with the rest of us.
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