Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Money
  • Election 2020
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Money
    Election 2020
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

From Windham, Malloy takes on New York’s budget deal

  • by Mark Pazniokas
  • March 30, 2011
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

WINDHAM–The residents of this struggling eastern Connecticut community were his audience, but Gov. Dannel P. Malloy opened a debate Wednesday night with another Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo of New York.

Doffing his suit coat and rolling up his sleeves in a middle school auditorium, Malloy defended his budget for maintaining state aid to municipalities, while Cuomo’s budget would rely on $4.65 billion in reduced aid to erase nearly half that state’s $10 billion shortfall.

Malloy in Windham

Malloy takes notes during one exchange in Windham.

“Eventually somebody is going to say, why don’t you balance your budget like New York?” said Malloy, referring to the budget deal Cuomo cut over the weekend that relies on no tax increases. It set a standard some taxpayers would like Malloy to match.

But Malloy, who has proposed $1.5 billion in higher taxes, said such an approach in Connecticut would drive the state’s problems onto municipalities and the property tax, hurting homeowners and businesses.

“They call that balancing the budget. I didn’t do that. And you know what? It’s not balancing the budget,” Malloy said.

The governor mentioned New York as he fielded questions from 44-year-old Ed Bergman of Plainfield, the second speaker at Malloy’s 13th town-hall meeting on the budget.

Sitting in the front row was Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, an important ally in selling his fiscal plan.

Bergman, who said he and his wife each make about $40,000, complained that Malloy is raising income taxes at a time when his town is cutting back on education, forcing parents to contribute for supplies.

He said he did not mind higher cigarette taxes, but the rest will be a stretch. Malloy is proposing to raise the income-tax and sales-tax rates and extend the sales tax to some goods and services that are now exempt, such as inexpensive clothes and haircuts

“I can’t afford to feed my family right now and do all the things I want to do if the taxes are just going to keep going up and up and up,” Bergman said.

Ed Bergman

Ed Bergman waits for an answer.

To the applause of the crowd, he asked why the state can’t live within its means.

“I could do what other governors are doing right now,” Malloy said, and cut aid to towns. But he said the resulting jump in the property tax would be disastrous.

“The biggest tax that most of our largest employers pay in this state are property taxes. Why? Because we’re more reliant on property taxes than any other state in the nation,” Malloy said.

Connecticut, one of only two states that have failed to grow jobs in the past 22 years, can ill afford to do anything to harm the business climate, Malloy said.

“If you are mad at me because I am not doing it New York or New Jersey’s way, you have a right to be,” Malloy said. “But I’m explaining to you why I’m not doing that.”

Malloy said wiping out the entire $3.3 billion deficit, which represents nearly 20 percent of the state’s $19 billion budget, with spending cuts is impossible.

“You said you can live with the cigarette tax,” Malloy said. Then he smiled and glanced at Bergman’s shaved head. “I’m hoping you can live with the haircut tax, just looking at you.”

Bergman laughed.

“Thank you,” he said.

It was one of several lighter moments.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, who stood by the microphone in the audience, trying to move along those who came with question for Malloy, playfully chided the governor for his long answers.

“We have all these people standing in line,” Wyman said. “We have about a half an hour to go.”

“I’m going fast as I can,” Malloy said, appearing wounded.

The audience laughed.

Later, Leroy Hollis, a state employee from Willimantic, challenged Malloy to make sure he and his staff endure any concessions elicited from other state employees. Malloy is seeking $1 billion in labor savings next year.

“I want to know exactly how much is going to come out of the pockets of yourself, all legislators, the judges, all of the state university presidents and, especially, how much is going to come out of the highest-paid state employee, who makes over $2 million?” he asked.

Malloy replied that any concessions on pensions and health care would apply to every employee, but he didn’t want to talk about the highest-paid employee.

“I gotta tell you, I’m not sure I want to pick on Coach Calhoun this week,” Malloy deadpanned. “But maybe next week.”

The crowd laughed again. By late Monday night, all of Connecticut will know whether Jim Calhoun has guided the Huskies to their third NCAA basketball championship.

For the second consecutive night, Malloy told backers of the SustiNet health reform program he objects to a key provision, the creation of a quasi-public entity that would take control of the state’s spending on employee health, as well as Medicaid.

And he told union activists and others who say that corporations like Bank of America get away with paying no taxes that he favors taxing corporations at the same rate as surrounding states.

Arvind Shaw, the chief executive officer of Generations, a community health center, had complained about the shortage of primary care doctors in Windham, and he suggested that some of Malloy’s budget cuts, as well as his failure to embrace SustiNet, would harm the region.

“Some of the cuts you are proposing, you are really preserving some of these inequities that have existed for decades in this county,” Shaw said.

He urged Malloy to look for revenue from elsewhere, especially corporations that now avoid taxes thanks to lobbyists in Washington.

“You’re asking for a shared sacrifice? You can’t take the path of least resistance over here,” Shaw said. “You have to go up and you have to advocate for some of the small folks who live here.”

Malloy replied that his beef about corporate taxes is with the federal tax code, not Connecticut’s.

“I can’t change the federal rules. You know that. You’re a smart man,” Malloy said. “So to use examples that are based on federal lobbyists in Washington for a corporation and then to look at me as if I can change the federal rules — maybe you don’t intend it to be — but it’s a little unfair.”

Malloy did seem to concede defeat on one element of his budget: a proposal to begin transferring control of vocational and technical schools from the state to local communities or regions. In response to a student’s question, Malloy noted that his proposal is stalled in the legislature.

“So I don’t think you have to worry,” he said.

Williams, the leader of the Senate Democratic majority, later said he is urging his caucus to support Malloy’s budget without major changes, a message that would not have been applauded Wednesday night.

“The framework he’s proposed is the framework the legislature should move forward. I would like to see that as soon as possible,” Williams said. “He is sticking to the framework he has proposed, and it’s a courageous framework. It’s one that makes sense in terms of moving Connecticut forward out of the economic ditch we’re in. I think he deserves credit for sticking to his guns.”

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Pazniokas

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Connecticut’s largest COVID vaccination site is now open. Here’s what you need to know.
by Jenna Carlesso

The state plans to vaccinate 7,000 to 10,000 people weekly at the former Pratt & Whitney airport at Rentschler Field.

Nursing home residents are receiving the COVID vaccination at a higher rate than their caretakers
by Dave Altimari and Jenna Carlesso

Providers attributed workers' reluctance to a variety of issues, from concerns about fertility to uncertainty about the side effects.

Legislative leaders support extension of Lamont’s emergency powers during COVID
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

The governor's emergency powers expire Feb. 9 unless he asks lawmakers for an extension within 72 hours of that date.

Weeks after the election, Secretary of the State’s efforts to monitor disinformation campaigns ended
by Kasturi Pananjady and Dave Altimari

For weeks, an intelligence analyst monitored social media for the Secretary of the State's office. Then her contract ran out.

Keeping Connecticut’s music industry alive
by Matt Fitzgibbon

By recently passing the Save Our Stages Act, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, in its COVID relief package, Congress has temporarily protected The Constitution State’s music industry from economic free fall. But are the courts now willing to do what’s necessary to provide the permanent security it needs and deserves?

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Keeping Connecticut’s music industry alive
by Matt Fitzgibbon

By recently passing the Save Our Stages Act, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, in its COVID relief package, Congress has temporarily protected The Constitution State’s music industry from economic free fall. But are the courts now willing to do what’s necessary to provide the permanent security it needs and deserves?

Opinion A young Black man sees a need for faster racial progress
by Eugene Z. Bertrand

I first learned that I was Black in kindergarten. More importantly, I learned of the negative connotations that come with identifying with my own skin color.

Opinion Sadly, not much has changed since Martin Luther King Jr.’s killing.
by Alberto Cortes

As we approached the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, I took the time to read and watch his “I Had a Dream” speech which he  delivered on Aug. 28, 1963; and as I read through it 57 years later, I realize not much has changed.

Opinion The struggle for racial justice and equality is far from over
by Marilyn Moore

On the eve of the annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, I and many others are reflecting on what recently transpired at the U. S. Capitol and how it relates to the injustices that Dr. King and so many others fought to change so many years ago. It is obvious that our nation's fight for racial justice and equality is far from over. In fact, it continues to this day.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO