Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • 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
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    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
CT VIEWPOINTS -- opinions from around Connecticut

What’s at stake in the race for lieutenant governor

  • CT Viewpoints
  • by Joe Markley
  • August 2, 2018
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Two hours before dawn on August 22, 1991, a tie vote in the state Senate was broken by Lowell Weicker’s lieutenant governor, whose action guaranteed that a state income tax would be imposed on the people of Connecticut. The spending spree enabled by that infamous vote was the chief cause of our subsequent economic decline.  Since the tax took effect, we rank dead last in economic growth among the 50 states.

Fast forward to August 1, 2017: Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman casts the deciding vote to break an 18-18 deadlock and approve Dan Malloy’s SEBAC deal, locking in pay raises, benefits, and no-layoff provisions until 2027, and dooming Connecticut taxpayers to escalating costs and ongoing budget crises for at another decade.

It matters who breaks ties in the Connecticut Senate. With that chamber split 18-18 between Democrats and Republicans, tie votes have occurred nearly 40 times in two years.

The lieutenant governor needs to be taxpayers’ last line of defense.

As a 10-year veteran of the Senate, I’ve frequently done battle with entrenched legislative and administrative bureaucrats in Hartford. I know the powers, processes and players. I can be of major value to the new Republican governor. And, as president of the Senate, I will break any tie votes in favor of state taxpayers.

I stand for limited government, individual freedom, and the rights of law-abiding citizens. I will work to block tax increases and excessive spending, lessen regulations and mandates, and turn back attacks on our Constitutional rights and personal liberties.

As spelled out in Connecticut’s constitution, the lieutenant governor stands in for the governor if he or she is absent from the state or temporarily unable to serve. In the unfortunate event that a governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. During legislative sessions, the lieutenant governor moderates the debate in the Senate, puts questions to a vote, rules on parliamentary questions, and refers bills to committees.

Aside from these specified duties, the governor often relies on the lieutenant governor for policy advice, and typically asks the lieutenant to chair or serve on various state boards, commissions and task forces.

To that end, I will seek to serve as a business advocate for the governor. I see the lieutenant governor’s office functioning as a clearinghouse for thoughtful ideas on how state agencies can work to improve the statutory, regulatory and tax climate for business and entrepreneurs, while placing a high value on service to taxpayers. To borrow an acronym from the private sector, we need to make Connecticut “ETDBW” – Easy To Do Business With.

Most importantly, we must show that Connecticut is no longer hostile to those willing to invest capital, create jobs, and live here in retirement.

The new state administration elected this November must signal, in word and deed, that Connecticut has left the wreckage of the Malloy years behind. Every effort must be focused on demonstrating respect for taxpayers – individual and business alike. State officials must shed any semblance of arrogance and admit the critical need to put in place policies that will attract and retain business and wealth, and reverse the outmigration of families, retirees, and young talent.

The lieutenant governor has a vital role to play in the restoration of Connecticut’s proud reputation as a place of choice. Our state is worth the fight. I invite you to look carefully at the records of those seeking this office, as there are important differences in experience and outlook. Decide who you can trust – implicitly – to serve as a firewall between you and the tax-and-spend crowd at the State Capitol.

I invite you to visit my website for more information, and to reach out with any questions you may have about my candidacy or my stands on the issues.

Joe Markley, a candidate for lieutenant governor, represents the 16th Senatorial District in the Connecticut General Assembly, which includes a portion of Waterbury, Cheshire, Southington, Prospect and Wolcott. 


CT Viewpoints will entertain first-person position statements of candidates for elected office that focus on policy ideas and principles, but will not publish third-party endorsements for candidacies or direct appeals for support. It is our policy to offer all candidates for elective office equal opportunity for comment. The views expressed by candidates are intended for voter education and are not endorsements of, or opposition to, those views by CTViewpoints or the Connecticut Mirror.

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

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Connecticut must protect vulnerable populations from biased and discriminatory healthcare practices
by William Smith

At a time of great uncertainty for the public health of our nation, the path to protect patients in Connecticut from unfair and even discriminatory healthcare rationing is clear. And it begins with turning away from European models that rely on controversial approaches to determine the price and value of new drugs.

Governor Lamont can negotiate a bold, equitable budget
by Callie Gale Heilmann

Last summer, after George Floyd’s murder sent a shock wave through our nation, people across Connecticut took to the streets to demand an end to systemic racism and inequality in our state. Residents in urban, rural, and suburban communities spoke in one unified voice demanding that in Connecticut, Black Lives Matter. This is a call for the liberation of Black folks -- for the removal of structural, institutional and economic violence that has thwarted the progress of Black people and the progress of our state.

Connecticut should have a one-house legislature — and fewer lawmakers
by Alan Calandro

In 2020, there were 35 out of 187 (19%) statehouse seats that were basically uncontested, which meant the election/balloting in these cases was a foregone conclusion. This is the norm, election after election. By definition then, we have too many statehouse seats in Connecticut.

Everybody in, especially those left out
by State Rep. Anne Hughes

In the wake of the spate of gun violence massacres, resuming again with deadly consequences, we are at a familiar crossroads: Do we revert to our usual, American individualized ‘othering,’, or do we reconcile that there is no ‘them’- only ‘us,’ that we refuse to claim? I’m campaigning to reframe the American ‘us’ from some of y’all to “ALL of us all!”

New Haven at a zoning crossroads
by Robert Orr

Unbeknown to many, most Connecticut zoning (and that of many other states) designates people of color to segregated areas. For that reason, zoning won the moniker, Exclusionary Zoning. Although there’s no mention of race or color in zoning regulations, clever dimensional requirements, put together in the 1950s, achieve exclusion.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Connecticut must protect vulnerable populations from biased and discriminatory healthcare practices
by William Smith

At a time of great uncertainty for the public health of our nation, the path to protect patients in Connecticut from unfair and even discriminatory healthcare rationing is clear. And it begins with turning away from European models that rely on controversial approaches to determine the price and value of new drugs.

Opinion Governor Lamont can negotiate a bold, equitable budget
by Callie Gale Heilmann

Last summer, after George Floyd’s murder sent a shock wave through our nation, people across Connecticut took to the streets to demand an end to systemic racism and inequality in our state. Residents in urban, rural, and suburban communities spoke in one unified voice demanding that in Connecticut, Black Lives Matter. This is a call for the liberation of Black folks -- for the removal of structural, institutional and economic violence that has thwarted the progress of Black people and the progress of our state.

Opinion Connecticut should have a one-house legislature — and fewer lawmakers
by Alan Calandro

In 2020, there were 35 out of 187 (19%) statehouse seats that were basically uncontested, which meant the election/balloting in these cases was a foregone conclusion. This is the norm, election after election. By definition then, we have too many statehouse seats in Connecticut.

Opinion Everybody in, especially those left out
by State Rep. Anne Hughes

In the wake of the spate of gun violence massacres, resuming again with deadly consequences, we are at a familiar crossroads: Do we revert to our usual, American individualized ‘othering,’, or do we reconcile that there is no ‘them’- only ‘us,’ that we refuse to claim? I’m campaigning to reframe the American ‘us’ from some of y’all to “ALL of us all!”

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