Welch for State Senate Addresses Budget Deficit Mitigation Plan
BRISTOL, CT – Welch for State Senate released the following Statement on Proposed Deficit Mitigation Plan:
Senate Democrats passed a deficit reduction plan that fails to recognize the gravity of Connecticut’s financial situation and unfairly shifts the State’s inability to control its spending onto private institutions such as Bristol Hospital. Before addressing the Senate’s failure, Welch reiterates his aggressive but necessary plan to address State budget woes:
1. Stop government self promotion. We all know government is there and we have a constitutionally protected press to inform us of government’s successes and failures. Thus, we ought to stop all spending by the State which promotes itself, its members or its programs. This includes items such as 500 mail -- those postcards from legislators promoting their supposed achievements. It also includes costly promotion of government programs. If a program is good and necessary then the people will know about it. If people do not know about it, then it probably is not good and necessary.
2. Reduce corporatism and leftism. We must cut legislators’ pet programs on both the left and right that were once used to push an agenda and garner votes. An example of this is Connecticut’s Commission on Asian Affairs, which may be a good idea on the West coast, but not here and not now.
3. Right size all major State departments. The State needs to reduce its bloated departments by 5-10% starting at the top. The Senate Democrat plan tried to do some of this, but not enough.
- Adjust State employee benefit programs. New State employees should have 401k plans with a 5% match, like the rest of us, not pensions. The State should also move to Health Savings Accounts, not its current Cadillac plans. Such a move will not only save the tax payers money, it will also work to reduce the overall cost of healthcare in Connecticut. There was a day when State workers were paid less than private counterparts and State benefits were incentives. That is no longer the case. State employees in all categories out earn private sector counterparts by 48%.
These 4 steps will mitigate the State’s deficit without increasing taxes and borrowing from the next generation.
The Senate Democrat mitigation plan is wrong for Connecticut. The plan borrows money from our children and taxes hospital revenues 5.5%, which will cost Bristol Hospital close to $1 million and drive up the cost of healthcare. The plan also increases entitlements for which there may be no federal money in the future. These are costs we cannot afford.
Today’s debate about fiscal responsibility is also a debate about the proper size and scope of the government. In accordance with President Ford’s warning: “A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have,” and President Jefferson’s observation: “The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground”, we must reject the current model of large government and return to a smaller, smarter and more efficient government which ensures greater personal liberties and freedoms.
Jason Welch seeks to be the Republican nominee to the State Senate race for the 31st District, which includes Bristol, Plainville, Plymouth and parts of Harwinton.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
30 comments:
Nice press release , what the third ? Why did the governors bill fail even with the republicans votes. If he has all the answers why isn't he addressing the governor? He's just another republican know-it-all taking his orders from them. Another republican hack that thinks he and them are all RIGHT and everybody else is all wrong. I guess this same old trash will be going on till he gets beat in the next election.
The more I read about Jason Welch the better I like him.
Typical rich insurance person trying to talk down at everyone.
It's easy to say anyone but Tommie Toupe, but this guy has some substance to him. Family man, well educated, business background, law background. He will be getting my vote.
Here's a quote for you Jason!
“Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.”
--Oscar Ameringer
Jason likes you to think because he's a smart lawyer he can talk down at everybody. Where did you republians find him? Reading about insurance companies? Sounds a lot like you . Just another mouthpiece and puppet for you caowards .
Jason,
Why isn't the Gov. or the Republican Legislature listening to you? This is all campaign rhetoric and you know it. Everything sounds and looks good on paper; however, it's a train wreck when you try to implement it. If the people are foolish enough to elect you based on what you are preaching, all the will happen is that you will be another "R" in Hartford and everything will remain the same. One person cannot make a difference!!!
What has Tom done? Nothing. What is his plan for deficit reduction? Spend more and hurt Bristol more. It is good to see that someone who has ideas is running so we have a choice this time around. Open your eyes this is not about Republican or Democrat it is what is best for Bristol. I still hope Elliot runs because he would be so much better that Tom.
www.m-w.com
Learn how to spell, it's easy. Jason from what I have read about him, is new to the game, but maybe that will be a plus. Too early to tell which side will get my vote but I do think he is a good candidate from the Republicans.
Is this guy supposed to be smart???
Sounds like a paper bag to me, heck he's doing nothing but spouting the governors plan and calling that his own.
If he was a journalist he'd be accused of plaguirism. But enough with that lets look at his substance, does he realize that the state of CT is the 4th leanest in the nation and the fact that we don't have county government is one of but not the only reason that is.
Does he also realize you could lay off every state worker and still have a $1 billion deficit in 2012??
He doesn't see a need for revenue??
Is he blind? he states that state employees in ALL catorgories make 48% more than the private sector.
Well this is a flat out lie but seeing that the guy is a lawyer I guess that means he has passed the bar. LOL, Custodians at the Tech. HS in bristol start at less than $15 an hour that would mean a private sector custodian would make $7.80 which is below minimum wage. You want to save money lower the fees that lawyers charge.
These people complain that teachers that start at $40,000 a year are over paid then they charge you $250 an hour to write a will!!!
The teacher has college costs of more than $100,0000 should we pay them lets say $150 an hour?
He also wants the state to take their retirement moneys and invest them in that giant ponzi scheme called the stock market were yesterdays 401K is todays 201B
Then he's advocating Health care savings accounts!!! What a weirdo! hey buddy we just passed health care reform because of nunzios like you.
Does he realize that the state plan hasn't seen a rise in premiums to the state in 3 years because the pool is of a size where the cost gets shared??
His biggest clients are insurance companies and its not hard to tell.
So when will this guy come up with real ideas for real problems and throw away his republican playbook??
He will never win because in fact this guy is nothing but a paper bag sent by the insurance companies to take back what they believe as theirs.
9:44 You ask the same dumb questions. What have you done at all. I know for a fact that Tom helped stop your governor from a 3% cut in aid but you must have had your head in the sand when that happened. I also know for a fact that Tom voted for three or maybe four time for budgets only to be thwarted by your governor. Where were you then? Probably where you always have been; hiding and doing nothing for anyone but your phony ,useless friends.
The Republicans are off and runninng!!!
Scaratola has signs up already.
Jim,
The current state pension is invested in that Giant Ponzi scheme you spoke about, maybe you should pay attention to the details also.
Where are the Welch signs?
The state is in the same ponzi scheme as 401k's ?
When the market crashed in 2008 the average 401K lost between 40 and 60% of its value yet CT's pension lost less than 2% on its pension, why is that??
Thats because we have a treasurer thats not beholding to Walls street like so many 401K managers are.
No our treasurer is beholding to the CT state employees and their pensions, yes she invests money from the fund but does so in much safer ways than a 401K manager would.
A 401K manager makes their money by trading shares and administrative costs. our treasurer makes her money in a salary giving to her by the state.
This lets put our pensions in the market is an old scheme that the right has been trying to do for years and thank god it hasn't worked.
Apparently when this guy Welch moved into town he didn't notice the extremely large elderly population in Bristol.
And why would he there probably not a whole lot in the neighborhood where his mansion sits. This guy is going to be rejected for sure.
This is a working class town with working class values and will continue in that tradition.
Jim you said it ... "This is a working class town with working class values and will continue in that tradition."
But what you don't realize is that the people currently running this town aren't looking out for the working class folks. You seem to be very good at cutting and pasting facts but do you know Bristol's deficit? At least Jason is motivated to do something for this town. All talk and no action from Dems, just complaining about the ideas proposed from the Republicans. It's sad, really.
11:30 Well then if he's so smart (Like you) what is he going to do for this town. Bicker like you want him too? You guys aren't fooling anyone on this Blog. What did you republicans say you did for this town? Recruit Jason Welch from Mass.? A big time tea party mamber? Ha Ha Ha .
Jim,
The state pension lost almost 39 percent in 2008, and has recovered in 2009. The state pension is only at 48 percent funding ration, so there isn't enough money to cover all of these pensions you talk about. The pension is invested in Hedge Funds, Private Equity, Stocks, and Bonds. You have no clue what you are talking about and maybe if you went to the treasurer's website or go to a meeting of the IAC you would become better informed.
The managers of the state pension money make tremendous amounts in fees of the money they manage, but if they do not to a good job they get fired, so they look out for the beneficiaries of the funds.
You also have no idea what a ponzi scheme is because the worlds biggest ponzi scheme is Social Security as current payments are made from current contributions. THERE IS NO INTEREST PAID ON THAT MONEY!!!
Hmm what's the matter trying to talk down at us like Jason? I think Jim knows just what your talking about . You must be an expert Insurance scam artist too just like Art or are you Art?!
First off your #'s on the pension plan is a total fabrication but I wouldn't expect anything less from you.
the one thing I did get was that the teabaggers and those that support them want to dismantle Social Security.
Thanks for confirming that and thanks for running on that GOOD LUCK with that LMAO
Anbd the audacity to bring in an out of state teabagger to come and work for the minority party is just strange in itself.
Bristol Republicans are the largest loser organization in town after the Chamber of commerce
12:50 Apperantly you do know what the Ponzi scheme is exactly , You probably did it a lot in your profession!
Sarah I most certainly do know the deficit that Bristol is facing.
Do you have any idea why??
Would it have something to do with a stock market crash that sent our economy spiraling down ward with the same amount of force as the 1929 crash (both crashes caused by conservative republicans)
Do you also know your Republican Governor intercepted monies intended for cities and towns and used it to fill HER deficit hole.
And not one peep from republicans???
Do you also know this same governor was offered over $6billion in stimulous monies which she took only $2.5 billion and let the rest go to states where their republican governors gladly took it while screaming the stimulous doesnt work?
And based on what I have read from this Jason is he wants to do it the Ronald Reagan Way, with lower taxes and a ever shrinking government.
Reality and TRUTH is the government grew tremendously during Both Reagan and George W Bushes terms and WE in CT can't run deficits, we either have to pay as we go or borrow.
which is what the Republican Governors over the last 20 years have done. We have gone from a state where our debt was in the bottom 5 to a state where our per capita debt is in the TOP 2!
No Sarah I know fully well whats infront of us and it was Rean/Hoover economics that got us into this mess and that simplistic give it to the rich to decide approach has never and will never work.
If you want to look up to a republican leader try Eisenhower,
Ike saw the gap between the rich and the poor growing at such a rate it would topple our economy so he raised the marginal rate on the top 2% in the country to 91% and had arguably the best 8 years econmomically that any president has had before or sinse.
We are a specialist insurer with more than two decades of experience in providing clients with the highest standards of underwriting and claims service worldwide. All our insurance businesses are rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. This is where Welch works. Big time insurance salesman
The union lawyers, accountants, bosses and hacks would be cramming to give Colapietro a response to this. But the unions don't care about deficit reduction anyway so why bother.
Big time insurance companies are excellent because they rip off people and take their money. Like LLoyds you only wish all these republican phonies on here were getting rich off of OPM (other peoples money)Now they are hurting because the BIG time insurance companies already bled people dry of theirs.Go to work for a change!
Hey Art 10:30 am You already helped with putting people into their deficit. And now you want us to make more so you can suck us dry of it? Fat chance you'd ever get any of my money . Try working for a living or can't you ?
Big time insurance companies are excellent because they rip off people and take their money. Like LLoyds you only wish all these republican phonies on here were getting rich off of OPM (other peoples money)Now they are hurting because the BIG time insurance companies already bled people dry of theirs.Go to work for a change!
4:30 Sounds like Tom, family man educated (smarter than you)He gets elected and doesn't whine like a coward and gives his name .Worked for a living and never had to screw people in order to make a honest wage.
Here's a quote for you Jason!
“Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.”
--Oscar Ameringer you.
I'm sure he would tell you where to put your vote because you cowards won't vote for him anway, he's too honest for you!
Gee he is repeating everything the republicans have been saying for years. He's so smart why isn't he running for governor so he can straighten this mess the republicans made out?
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