NORWALK, Conn. – I strongly believe in the Common Sense Commitment, five principles that can guide Connecticut to a strong, stable economy.
League of Women Voters Election Guide, Click Here
They are: spend no more than you make; borrow only what you can afford to pay back; if it’s not broken, don’t fix it, but if it’s not working, get rid of it; the more government tries to do, the less it does well; and we should have all the government we need, but only the government we need.
We can use these principles as a road map to implement lasting solutions to Connecticut’s economic challenges.
Connecticut’s current budget was neither fully vetted nor based on honest accounting principles. Spending outpaces revenue, and debt is incurred for operational expenses. We must pass a budget with no gimmicks and with no tax increases. We must respect the Constitutional spending cap, and restrict the use of debt only to projects that benefit the public.
Tax Freedom Day arrives here in Connecticut last among all 50 states because of the heavy tax burden. The huge tax increases in the last two years have worsened the situation for families, while not solving the budget problems. Rather than continue with high taxes that hinder every aspect of life, we must reduce the tax burden on individuals, families and businesses. We must pass tax reforms that encourage growth, including property tax reform, and eliminate those taxes for which administration costs exceed revenue collected.
Because of cumbersome regulations, Connecticut is forcing businesses to move out of state, taking jobs with them. The high cost of doing business in the state undermines job creation and economic growth. We must create a pro-business climate of responsible regulation, welcome new business into Connecticut and promote small business development. For Connecticut, economic growth is vital to achieving fiscal sustainability.
Connecticut’s liabilities and unfunded obligations have become unsupportable, whether it is compensation for government employees or insufficiently funded retirement promises. As an employer, the state of Connecticut must ensure employees receive compensation that is both competitive and fair to taxpayers. Current state pensions and retiree health obligations must also be restructured so that the benefits remain sustainable.
Fairfield County is home to two regional corridors of transportation, Metro-North and I-95, which are vital to the regional economy. As we have read over the last few weeks and months, our roads and rails are in dire need of investment and modernization. We must improve safe mobility through the state of people and goods to improve Connecticut’s competitiveness. Legislation to stop the raiding of the Transportation Fund was a good first step.
The Education Cost Sharing program was intended to ensure that students across the state had fair access to quality education. Unfortunately, as currently implemented, the grant process has resulted in an unbalanced distribution of state funds, impacting the schools in Norwalk. We must revamp the current state education funding formula so that it is both equitable and adequately funded.
While many states have turned an economic corner, Connecticut remains in trouble with excessive spending, taxing and borrowing. Families and business are being driven out of state. But, with some common sense, Connecticut can be on the path to reaching its great potential once again: a state where families can afford to live and raise a family, where businesses can grow and create jobs, and where people want to stay and retire.
Leave a Reply
You must Register or Login to post a comment.