Welcome to the 'Confiscation State'

It now appears we are leaving the “Constitution State," Dannel P. Malloy, Governor. You have just entered The Confiscation State .

With a sense of civic duty, I took part in voicing my concern over the massive tax hikes in Governor Malloy’s proposed budget. As I ran for office last month for state representative for the 148th Assembly  seat here in Stamford, I met people in my district whom agreed that we need sound fiscal policy in the State of Connecticut.

They joined me, by signing a petition, in my pledge to the taxpayers of the 148th district of the State of Connecticut and the people of this state in opposition to any and all efforts to increase taxes. Almost everyone, after I met with them, signed on in agreement. 

I did not get enough signatures in time to prove my point, but somehow, when reality sets in, I know the people who voted for our current representation are not going to be too happy with the results.

So over the last two weeks, as a constituent, I took up my dismay with my newly elected representation, State Sen. Carlo Leone and State Rep Dan Fox. I phoned and e-mailed both. 

Sen. Leone responded (the boldened, italicized highlight is mine, but not the words):

Thank you for taking the time to email me and call my office concerning the budget. Your input is very important to the legislative process and will assist me in representing
the people of our district.

The budget has been widely debated here in our state, and there are many compelling
arguments on both sides of the debate. Please be assured that I will take your views into consideration in order to make the best decision possible. The budget is a work in progress and once something has passed I can get some more information to in the
form of a report done by Office of Legislative Research which will give a clear analysis of the bill. These reports come out around 10 days after bills are passed. Thank you again for adding your voice to the debate while I make my decisions.

If you feel that I may be of further assistance to you regarding this or any other issue, now or at any other time in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me at my office.

Best regards,
Senator Carlo Leone

Something struck me with eerie familiarity.  And, low and behold, in the wee hours of the morning of May 4, 2011, a bill was passed that didn’t clearly have the balancing act defined.  A budget must be balanced as per our state constitution before it can be passed. So a placeholder of $2 billion worth of yet to be worked out union concessions is hanging like a chad. 

So do we have a budget or don’t we?

The question is ‘when it is passed or when it goes into law does the budget have to be balanced?’ We’ll see how the possible court battle goes along with the toll of legal expense on the taxpayers. Ah, but Governor Malloy can have the distinction of having one of the fastest vehicles of mass destruction passed in state history.

In the meantime, I eagerly await the Office of Legislative Research’s report to let us know what is in it. The budget, by law must be balanced. Our legislators were called to vote on a budget that has no clear delineation of $2 billion dollars of concessions that are yet to be worked out with the Governor and the Union leaders.

Our newly elected State Rep. Dan Fox and our newly elected State Sen. Carlo Leone just voted to put at least $2 billion dollars worth of increased expense on our backs. This is the largest tax hike in the history of Connecticut. And to insult us even further agree to something that at some point may be unconstitutional. 

How full of Pelosi does the process have to be before the electorate wakes up? 

I can tell you right now people are packing up their families and businesses and are fleeing their homeland as fast as you can say Connectizuela. They are tossing their tax burdens on the sides of the road for us fewer and fewer self-imprisoned residents left to pick up the trash scattered along the highways of hell. More and more, really wide-awake voters are voting with their feet. Hartford’s legislative majority has paved the way.

 Thank you for leaving the Constitution State, Dannel P. Malloy, Governor.