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

Malloy and his budget: ‘I have yet to find…a better way’

  • by Mark Pazniokas
  • April 5, 2011
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

NEW BRITAIN–On his 15th night on the road and with two more town-hall meetings ahead of him, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Tuesday he has heard no credible alternative to his unpopular mix of tax increases, spending cuts and labor concessions.

“The legislature has an opportunity to move things around and to disagree and to come up with their own version of it,” Malloy said, facing a crowd dominated by state employees and blue-collar workers. “But I yet to find somebody who says, you know, that they actually have a way better.”

Malloy New Britain

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy

In this old hardware city, which has bled manufacturing jobs for decades, a subdued Malloy fielded questions and comments from residents already fearful of local spending cuts and tax increases and from union activists who urged him to hit the rich harder.

But Malloy, who once was a prosecutor, seemed to be formulating the beginnings of a summation, a message to be finalized, perhaps, Wednesday night in Danbury or next week in Middletown, the end of a 17-city tour to sell his budget.

“This is the package. The rudiments are there. We just have to find our way as a state to get there,” Malloy said. “If we do, then ultimately we’ll begin the process of building confidence in our state for the first time in many years.”

Malloy spoke in a church converted to a performance hall, Trinity-on-Main.

He was introduced by Mayor Tim Stewart, a Republican who unsuccessfully ran for state Senate in a special election held Feb. 22, six days after Malloy proposed a $1.5 billion tax increase to help erase a $3.3 billion deficit. Stewart opposed Malloy’s plan.

But Stewart has his own financial woes, and Malloy told the audience that his state budget plan avoids what other governors have done in New York and New Jersey: Hold the line on state taxes by passing the burden onto cities and towns.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is cutting local aid by $4.65 billion. In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie, praised in New Britain Tuesday by a woman waving a sign, has cut $3.6 billion in local aid over the past two years.

“In both states, that’s going to largely play out in property taxes,” Malloy said. “Here, you’re living in a place that has relatively high property taxes. How would our balancing the budget that way help this community, or for that matter any community in Connecticut? We are more dependent on property taxes than any other state in the nation.”

Bill Shortell

Bill Shortell challenges Malloy on taxes.

All night, Malloy face complaints and pleas from people who described themselves as unable to pay more.

“I actually believe this is the right framework. I know how difficult it is for you and your child in college,” Malloy said, addressing a single mother, a state employee facing tax increases and givebacks. “I know how difficult it is for me to face people like you.”

Bill Shortell of the International Association of Machinists told Malloy he’s made a good start, but his work is not finished.

“We’re grateful you’re not trying to balance the budget like Gov. Christie on the backs of poor and working people,” said Shortell, whose union represents workers at two local companies visited by Malloy, Black & Decker and Stanley Works. But he added, “The rich have gotten incredibly richer in the last decade.”

Shortell told Malloy he needs to raise the top income tax rates higher than the 6.7 percent in his proposal, then lower the rates for the middle class.

“If you take our money, it’s going to harm the economy,” Shortell said. “If you take their money, you can balance the budget and the economy will be better.”

“We’re doing that,” Malloy replied. “That’s what we’re doing.”

Malloy said his budget takes a tax structure with three income-tax brackets and expands it to eight, making the income tax more progressive.

Shortell told Malloy the new brackets were a good start.

“You’re the only one that has opened the door like that. We appreciate that,” Shortell said. “Keep going.”

 

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