Those who owe back taxes on their cars and trucks may soon find their vehicle locked with a metal boot until they fork over the cash – along with another $175 to have the boot removed.
The city is eyeing a contract with Georgia-based VioAlert Systems to allow it to use license plate scanning equipment across town to find tax scofflaws and slap boots on vehicles that have unpaid property tax bills.
The move won’t cost the city any money – except for administrative time in supplying updated lists of tax deadbeats – but may help scrape up more tax revenue.
“We’re trying to do whatever we can to get dollars,” city Purchasing Agent Roger Rousseau said Monday.
The proposed deal, which city councilors will consider Tuesday, would allow VioAlert to put boots on the wheels of cars whose owners have failed to pay vehicle taxes.
It would make its money by collecting $175 in additional charges in order for someone to have the boot removed.
VioAlert, which is already operating in a handful of Connecticut municipalities, was the only bidder when the city sought companies interested in trying out the license plate scanning concept to track down tax scofflaws.
The $175 fee it proposed for Bristol is higher than it is levying elsewhere.
In Danbury, vehicle owners whose car or truck is booted have to pay $130 to get the device removed.
In West Haven, where officials bought $10,000 worth of boots for VioAlert to use, scofflaws pay $95 to get the boot removed.
In New Haven, however, VioAlert quit the city when it found that charging $55 for removal of its boots wasn’t profitable, according to a story in the New Haven Independent.
Though the program in Bristol will initially focus on those with unpaid vehicle taxes, Rousseau said in a memorandum to Mayor Art Ward and City Clerk Therese Pac that it is structured in such a way that it could also be used to crack down on those with unpaid parking tickets.
Officials aren’t sure how much money the new program might bring in to City Hall or to VioAlert.
“There’s no telling how many license plates they’ll get,” Rousseau said.
License plate scanning technology has been around since the 1970s, but only in the past decade has it been widely used to check plate numbers against lists of those who owe for parking tickets or taxes.
City councilors will consider the idea when they meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers on the first floor of City Hall. There is a public comment portion at the beginning of the session.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 7, 2009
December 5, 2009
Capital coverage of Connecticut politics? Let's hope so.
Good luck to "Capitol Hill" , a newcomer that's trying to keep up with all of the Connecticut political news on a website whose appearance reminds me of one created by somebody who used to be big on the net.
Its biggest initial failure is missing the chance to link to The Tattoo, the Connecticut-based teen-written newspaper that's been churning out great material for more than 15 years. But that will surely be remedied soon.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Cawley, 86, buried in private ceremony today
Georgine Cawley, 86, a former Bristol Central High School librarian and longtime member of the city's Library Board, died Wednesday and was buried in a private ceremony this morning. She was also active in the Bristol Garden Club and her church.
My most distinct memories of Cawley are twofold:
One is of her showing off flowers planted in the garden at the American Clock and Watch Museum. She was happy and proud.
The other is of her stint on the Library Board, where she clashed with a handful of residents pushing hard for more books and a bigger library. Cawley had little use for their hard-nosed tactics, but she picked up on the idea and was one of the champions who made the $12 million library expansion possible.
She will be a missed.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 4, 2009
Details on unfunded mandates
For those who wondered what unfunded mandates the city is constantly complaining about, take a look at the website compiled by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 3, 2009
Cockayne urges renewed look at using surprlus pension money
With budget shortfalls looming, spending cuts likely and financial woes socking City Hall at the same time taxpayers are hurting, officials are scrambling to find ways to cope.
Solutions are hard to come by.
But city Councilor Ken Cockayne, a second-term Republican, said one possible answer is to revisit the much-debated plan to tap excess pension money to fill a new trust fund that aims to pay more than $70 million in post-retirement health care costs for municipal employees.
The move would save taxpayers $1.8 million, city officials have calculated, while simultaneously assuring municipal workers that Bristol will make good on its contractual vow to pay for 10 years’ worth of health care after employees retire.
The idea was shot down last winter by a special panel exploring the concept, mostly because city unions feared it would undermine flush pension funds.
“I feel the climate has changed somewhat and the parties involved would be willing to sit down to talk about this,” Cockayne said.
Cockayne called it “a very complicated issue,” but if the city pursues it, tapping the excess pension money “can be beneficial to everyone involved.”
City Comptroller Glenn Klocko has estimated that using excess pension cash for the health care instead of tapping taxpayers would save $1.8 million annually without risking anyone’s pension payments.
But the special city panel created to investigate it decided on a 4-3 vote not to pursue the idea at least until the financial markets settled down and the risks could be figured more accurately.
Since then, the city’s three pension funds have bounced back up.
They collectively total more than $470 million – and even at the lowest point in the market since last fall’s crash, the pension accounts always had enough money to pay anticipated claims and still have millions left over.
Bristol is one of the few cities in the country that has more than enough money socked away to pay off future pension obligations, the result of more than 30 years of investments.
Cockayne and other supporters of tapping some of the excess argue that creating a health benefits fund would make it possible to pay retirees’ health care without hitting up taxpayers for more money.
In fact, if the new fund was flush, the city could also stop paying out nearly $2 million annually for retirees’ health care. The fund could pick that up, supporters said, and the city would no longer have to come up with the cash each year.
That would reduce the pressure to raise property taxes or cut services, officials said.
But city unions argue that moving forward could jeopardize the pension funds. Some union officials have admitted privately they might agree with the change as long as employees get some additional benefits in return for taking the chance.
Plus, they point out, employees chipped in some of the money that made the pension funds flush to begin with.
It’s not clear what will happen next, if anything, but Cockayne said the issue deserves to be reexamined.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Solutions are hard to come by.
But city Councilor Ken Cockayne, a second-term Republican, said one possible answer is to revisit the much-debated plan to tap excess pension money to fill a new trust fund that aims to pay more than $70 million in post-retirement health care costs for municipal employees.
The move would save taxpayers $1.8 million, city officials have calculated, while simultaneously assuring municipal workers that Bristol will make good on its contractual vow to pay for 10 years’ worth of health care after employees retire.
The idea was shot down last winter by a special panel exploring the concept, mostly because city unions feared it would undermine flush pension funds.
“I feel the climate has changed somewhat and the parties involved would be willing to sit down to talk about this,” Cockayne said.
Cockayne called it “a very complicated issue,” but if the city pursues it, tapping the excess pension money “can be beneficial to everyone involved.”
City Comptroller Glenn Klocko has estimated that using excess pension cash for the health care instead of tapping taxpayers would save $1.8 million annually without risking anyone’s pension payments.
But the special city panel created to investigate it decided on a 4-3 vote not to pursue the idea at least until the financial markets settled down and the risks could be figured more accurately.
Since then, the city’s three pension funds have bounced back up.
They collectively total more than $470 million – and even at the lowest point in the market since last fall’s crash, the pension accounts always had enough money to pay anticipated claims and still have millions left over.
Bristol is one of the few cities in the country that has more than enough money socked away to pay off future pension obligations, the result of more than 30 years of investments.
Cockayne and other supporters of tapping some of the excess argue that creating a health benefits fund would make it possible to pay retirees’ health care without hitting up taxpayers for more money.
In fact, if the new fund was flush, the city could also stop paying out nearly $2 million annually for retirees’ health care. The fund could pick that up, supporters said, and the city would no longer have to come up with the cash each year.
That would reduce the pressure to raise property taxes or cut services, officials said.
But city unions argue that moving forward could jeopardize the pension funds. Some union officials have admitted privately they might agree with the change as long as employees get some additional benefits in return for taking the chance.
Plus, they point out, employees chipped in some of the money that made the pension funds flush to begin with.
It’s not clear what will happen next, if anything, but Cockayne said the issue deserves to be reexamined.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Larson's Youth Council meeting Saturday
Press release from U.S. Rep. John Larson, the 1st District congressman who represents Bristol:
Congressman Larson and his Youth Advisory Cabinet to Participate in Public Hearing Hosted by the CT General Assembly’s Task Force on Children in the Recession
Hearing Begins Saturday at 10:00AM at Legislative Office Building, 10-11 a.m. Reserved for Youth Testimony
Hartford, CT- Saturday, December 5th at the Legislative Office Building, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson and his First Congressional Youth Cabinet will join Connecticut Speaker of the House Christopher Donovan and the Connecticut General Assembly Task Force on Children in the Recession for their first of five public hearings entitled “How is the Recession Affecting Your Family”.
Youth Cabinet Member Calvin Brown of Bristol Eastern High School will provide an opening statement on behalf of the Youth Cabinet at the hearing and then introduce Congressman Larson for remarks.
Speaker Donovan created the Task Force on Children in the Recession to identify ways of meeting the needs of Connecticut's youngest and most vulnerable citizens during our state’s current economic crisis. Members of Larson’s Youth Cabinet assisted in the planning and setup of the hearing with Speaker Donovan’s office and the Connecticut Commission on Children.
The First Congressional Youth Cabinet, the first youth advisory board of its kind in the nation, provides information and insight to Congressman Larson on issues facing young Americans across the nation. Introduced in February 2009, the cabinet was created to foster a stronger relationship between the young people of the district and their government officials by providing them a unique prospectus and voice on public service issues facing youth today.
During the public hearing, Youth Cabinet members will serve on the dais with Task Force members and assist in asking questions to individuals and organizations testifying. In addition, they will serve as “Comfort Monitors” to other children and youth by explaining the public hearing process and assist in decreasing uneasiness or apprehension of testifying in front of adults.
What: Public Hearing on “How is the Recession Affecting Your Family”
Who: Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01)
1st Congressional District Youth Cabinet
Connecticut Speaker of the House Christopher Donovan
Task Force on Children in the Recession
When: Saturday December 5th 10AM
Where: Legislative Office Building, Room 2C
300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT
Of Note:
• 10-11 a.m. is reserved for youth testimony; general public testimony will follow.
• All testimony will be limited to 3 minutes per speaker.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Congressman Larson and his Youth Advisory Cabinet to Participate in Public Hearing Hosted by the CT General Assembly’s Task Force on Children in the Recession
Hearing Begins Saturday at 10:00AM at Legislative Office Building, 10-11 a.m. Reserved for Youth Testimony
Hartford, CT- Saturday, December 5th at the Legislative Office Building, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson and his First Congressional Youth Cabinet will join Connecticut Speaker of the House Christopher Donovan and the Connecticut General Assembly Task Force on Children in the Recession for their first of five public hearings entitled “How is the Recession Affecting Your Family”.
Youth Cabinet Member Calvin Brown of Bristol Eastern High School will provide an opening statement on behalf of the Youth Cabinet at the hearing and then introduce Congressman Larson for remarks.
Speaker Donovan created the Task Force on Children in the Recession to identify ways of meeting the needs of Connecticut's youngest and most vulnerable citizens during our state’s current economic crisis. Members of Larson’s Youth Cabinet assisted in the planning and setup of the hearing with Speaker Donovan’s office and the Connecticut Commission on Children.
The First Congressional Youth Cabinet, the first youth advisory board of its kind in the nation, provides information and insight to Congressman Larson on issues facing young Americans across the nation. Introduced in February 2009, the cabinet was created to foster a stronger relationship between the young people of the district and their government officials by providing them a unique prospectus and voice on public service issues facing youth today.
During the public hearing, Youth Cabinet members will serve on the dais with Task Force members and assist in asking questions to individuals and organizations testifying. In addition, they will serve as “Comfort Monitors” to other children and youth by explaining the public hearing process and assist in decreasing uneasiness or apprehension of testifying in front of adults.
What: Public Hearing on “How is the Recession Affecting Your Family”
Who: Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01)
1st Congressional District Youth Cabinet
Connecticut Speaker of the House Christopher Donovan
Task Force on Children in the Recession
When: Saturday December 5th 10AM
Where: Legislative Office Building, Room 2C
300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT
Of Note:
• 10-11 a.m. is reserved for youth testimony; general public testimony will follow.
• All testimony will be limited to 3 minutes per speaker.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Comptroller's office wins budget award
The Government Finance Officers Association recently handed out a national award to the city comptroller's office for its presentation of the city's yearly budget.
Calling the award "a significant achievement," the association said the honor "relfects the commitment" of the cit and its staff "to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting."
The association recognizes exceptional budgets that manage to serve as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, policy and a communications device.
The nonprofit association gave represents more than 17,600 government finance professionals in North America.
Bristol's award singled out a handful of individuals for special recognition for their work on the 2009-2010 fiscal year budget: David Bertnagel, chief accountant; Robin Manuele, assistant comptroller; Tina Bunnell, accountant; and Jodi McGrane, assistant to the comptroller. The comptroller is Glenn Klocko.
The GFOA awards are the only national ones for governmental budgeting.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Calling the award "a significant achievement," the association said the honor "relfects the commitment" of the cit and its staff "to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting."
The association recognizes exceptional budgets that manage to serve as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, policy and a communications device.
The nonprofit association gave represents more than 17,600 government finance professionals in North America.
Bristol's award singled out a handful of individuals for special recognition for their work on the 2009-2010 fiscal year budget: David Bertnagel, chief accountant; Robin Manuele, assistant comptroller; Tina Bunnell, accountant; and Jodi McGrane, assistant to the comptroller. The comptroller is Glenn Klocko.
The GFOA awards are the only national ones for governmental budgeting.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 1, 2009
Larson's reaction to Obama's speech
Press release from U.S. Rep. John Larson, the East Hartford Democrat whose 1st District includes Bristol:
CONGRESSMAN LARSON STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA’S AFGHANISTAN SPEECH
Washington, DC – Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, released the following statement after President Obama’s speech on the path forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“I agree with the President’s goal to bring our troops home in 18 months. I commend him for laying out the end game and leveling with our troops and the American and Afghan people. I remain skeptical on the impact of a troop surge and the commitment of the strategic partners in the region to achieve the President’s objectives. I will continue to review the plan and all of its implications, including how it is paid for.”
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
CONGRESSMAN LARSON STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA’S AFGHANISTAN SPEECH
Washington, DC – Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, released the following statement after President Obama’s speech on the path forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“I agree with the President’s goal to bring our troops home in 18 months. I commend him for laying out the end game and leveling with our troops and the American and Afghan people. I remain skeptical on the impact of a troop surge and the commitment of the strategic partners in the region to achieve the President’s objectives. I will continue to review the plan and all of its implications, including how it is paid for.”
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Obama's Afghanistan speech
So, Bristol, what did you think? Is the president making the right decision?
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Rell picks municipal panel. Ward not among her choices.
Gov. Jodi Rell issued this release today:
Governor Rell: Cooperation is Key
In Addressing Reduction of Municipal Aid
Municipalities Given Strong Voice
In Mandate Relief, Other Cost-Saving Recommendations
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that six municipal leaders from cities and towns – both large and small – will work closely with state officials and lawmakers to identify local savings and recommend mandate relief to help close an estimated $466.5 million state budget shortfall.
The Governor appointed the municipal leaders to a special bipartisan panel she has created to offset an $84 million reduction, or 3 percent decrease, in municipal aid. The Governor called the reduction “one of the most painful cuts” contained in the deficit mitigation plan she recently presented to the Legislature. The Governor has called lawmakers back into special session on December 15 to address the deficit.
“Our municipal leaders have been on the front line of this fiscal crisis and know better than anyone how devastating this recession has been,” Governor Rell said. “Their input is essential as everyone in Connecticut – families, businesses and government – cope with a still volatile economy.
“In good times, our cities and towns have shared in our successes. This time, we are asking them to be part of the solution – and we are listening. Their recommendations of where we can prudently cut back and what mandates are the most onerous are part of the cooperation needed to get the state, their towns and our families back on firm financial footing,” the Governor said.
Governor Rell has previously proposed steps such as a temporary suspension of binding arbitration and requiring a two-thirds vote of the Legislature before any further mandates are imposed. She is asking that the panel begin meeting this week.
The following municipal leaders appointed by the Governor are:
· Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch
· Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton
· East Hartford Mayor Melody Currey
· Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy
· Somers First Selectwoman Lisa Pellegrini
· Portland First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield
Legislative leaders have been asked to appoint six members to the panel, which will be co-chaired by Office of Policy and Management Secretary Robert Genuario and Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Brenda Sisco. To date, legislative members are:
· Rep. John Frey (House Republicans)
· Sen. Robert Kane (Senate Republicans)
“I urge the majority party to make its appointments promptly so that this panel can begin working on finding cost-savings solutions rather than overburdening the already overburdened taxpayer of Connecticut,” Governor Rell said.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Governor Rell: Cooperation is Key
In Addressing Reduction of Municipal Aid
Municipalities Given Strong Voice
In Mandate Relief, Other Cost-Saving Recommendations
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that six municipal leaders from cities and towns – both large and small – will work closely with state officials and lawmakers to identify local savings and recommend mandate relief to help close an estimated $466.5 million state budget shortfall.
The Governor appointed the municipal leaders to a special bipartisan panel she has created to offset an $84 million reduction, or 3 percent decrease, in municipal aid. The Governor called the reduction “one of the most painful cuts” contained in the deficit mitigation plan she recently presented to the Legislature. The Governor has called lawmakers back into special session on December 15 to address the deficit.
“Our municipal leaders have been on the front line of this fiscal crisis and know better than anyone how devastating this recession has been,” Governor Rell said. “Their input is essential as everyone in Connecticut – families, businesses and government – cope with a still volatile economy.
“In good times, our cities and towns have shared in our successes. This time, we are asking them to be part of the solution – and we are listening. Their recommendations of where we can prudently cut back and what mandates are the most onerous are part of the cooperation needed to get the state, their towns and our families back on firm financial footing,” the Governor said.
Governor Rell has previously proposed steps such as a temporary suspension of binding arbitration and requiring a two-thirds vote of the Legislature before any further mandates are imposed. She is asking that the panel begin meeting this week.
The following municipal leaders appointed by the Governor are:
· Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch
· Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton
· East Hartford Mayor Melody Currey
· Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy
· Somers First Selectwoman Lisa Pellegrini
· Portland First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield
Legislative leaders have been asked to appoint six members to the panel, which will be co-chaired by Office of Policy and Management Secretary Robert Genuario and Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Brenda Sisco. To date, legislative members are:
· Rep. John Frey (House Republicans)
· Sen. Robert Kane (Senate Republicans)
“I urge the majority party to make its appointments promptly so that this panel can begin working on finding cost-savings solutions rather than overburdening the already overburdened taxpayer of Connecticut,” Governor Rell said.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Ward wants to serve on state panel
Mayor Art Ward sent this email to the city's legislative delegation yesterday:
According to today's news article, the Governor is formulating a committee which will include (6) six CT Mayors to evaluate the impact of her proposed cuts to municipalities. If this committee is not formed yet, I am ready, willing and able to serve on it and would appreciate it if you could propose my interest to the Governor.
Sincerely, Mayor Art Ward
Gov. Jodi Rell said she would appoint a special panel today. We'll see if Ward's on it.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
According to today's news article, the Governor is formulating a committee which will include (6) six CT Mayors to evaluate the impact of her proposed cuts to municipalities. If this committee is not formed yet, I am ready, willing and able to serve on it and would appreciate it if you could propose my interest to the Governor.
Sincerely, Mayor Art Ward
Gov. Jodi Rell said she would appoint a special panel today. We'll see if Ward's on it.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
McMahon, Foley seek support in Bristol
Though the political lineup for next year’s hotly contested statewide races remains uncertain, two of the leading GOP contenders pitched their campaigns to the city’s Republican Town Committee this week.
With budget deficits soaring in both Hartford and Washington, jobs in short supply and a growing anger among voters toward incumbents who can’t seem to help, Republicans sense a real opportunity to win both the governor’s race and a U.S. Senate seat in 2010.
“It’s just going to be an exciting year to be a Republican in Connecticut,” said T.J. Barnes, the city’s GOP leader.
Linda McMahon, former chief executive officer of the Stamford-based World Wrestling Federation, said she “couldn’t sit on the sidelines anymore” and vowed to use her own money to unseat longtime U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd.
She said Dodd has “lost his way and lost the trust of the voters” through his questionable investments, failed presidential bid and for being “asleep at the switch” in overseeing the financial industry whose collapse led the nation into the recession.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley, who is technically still running for Senate, sounded every bit like he's made up his mind to run for governor instead.
Foley told city GOP leaders he "can make more of a difference" as a governor than he can as a U.S. senator.Though he declared he would announce this week whether he'll drop his Senate candidacy in favor of seeking the governorship, Foley left everyone with little doubt he'd already made up his mind.As an outsider, Foley said, he could "come in and shake it up" in Hartford and "knock down the status quo" that has the state teetering on the brink of financial collapse."I can make a difference," Foley said.Foley is one of four contenders vying for the right to represent the GOP in the 2010 Senate race, with McMahon, former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons and businessman Peter Schiff also in the contest.
If Foley said drops out of the Senate race, he said he's sure that McMahon or Simmons can beat Dodd."He probably can't win unless something changes dramatically in the world," Foley said, because so many people are angry at him, including many Democrats.
At this point, Foley said, he hopes Dodd "will stay in the race" so the GOP can win a crucial Senate seat.Foley said he began to think of switching races after Gov. Jodi Rell announced she would not seek reelection next year.He said if he'd known that six months ago, he would have set his sights on succeeding Rell from day one.Now, he said, he's getting strong support for making the gubernatorial run. The other major contender on the Republican side is Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele.A number of Democrats are also eyeing the governor's mansion, including Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, state Sen. Gary LeBeau, former House Speaker James Amann, former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, state Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo, Rudy Marconi and former U.S. Senate hopeful Ned Lamont.Electing a Democrat as governor, Foley said, would send Connecticut "off a financial cliff" because the majority party has proven itself unable to control costs or hold government accountable.Former state House Minority Leader Edward Krawiecki, Jr of Bristol said that whoever wins the governor’s race faces a tough challenge because Connecticut’s public sector is “completely out of control.”
“We have a broken government,” Krawiecki said, that keeps increasing expenses mindlessly as it caters to public unions.
Foley said there are too many “entrenched special interests,” including the unions.
“The line needs to be drawn in the sand,” Foley said.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
With budget deficits soaring in both Hartford and Washington, jobs in short supply and a growing anger among voters toward incumbents who can’t seem to help, Republicans sense a real opportunity to win both the governor’s race and a U.S. Senate seat in 2010.
“It’s just going to be an exciting year to be a Republican in Connecticut,” said T.J. Barnes, the city’s GOP leader.
Linda McMahon, former chief executive officer of the Stamford-based World Wrestling Federation, said she “couldn’t sit on the sidelines anymore” and vowed to use her own money to unseat longtime U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd.
She said Dodd has “lost his way and lost the trust of the voters” through his questionable investments, failed presidential bid and for being “asleep at the switch” in overseeing the financial industry whose collapse led the nation into the recession.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley, who is technically still running for Senate, sounded every bit like he's made up his mind to run for governor instead.
Foley told city GOP leaders he "can make more of a difference" as a governor than he can as a U.S. senator.Though he declared he would announce this week whether he'll drop his Senate candidacy in favor of seeking the governorship, Foley left everyone with little doubt he'd already made up his mind.As an outsider, Foley said, he could "come in and shake it up" in Hartford and "knock down the status quo" that has the state teetering on the brink of financial collapse."I can make a difference," Foley said.Foley is one of four contenders vying for the right to represent the GOP in the 2010 Senate race, with McMahon, former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons and businessman Peter Schiff also in the contest.
If Foley said drops out of the Senate race, he said he's sure that McMahon or Simmons can beat Dodd."He probably can't win unless something changes dramatically in the world," Foley said, because so many people are angry at him, including many Democrats.
At this point, Foley said, he hopes Dodd "will stay in the race" so the GOP can win a crucial Senate seat.Foley said he began to think of switching races after Gov. Jodi Rell announced she would not seek reelection next year.He said if he'd known that six months ago, he would have set his sights on succeeding Rell from day one.Now, he said, he's getting strong support for making the gubernatorial run. The other major contender on the Republican side is Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele.A number of Democrats are also eyeing the governor's mansion, including Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, state Sen. Gary LeBeau, former House Speaker James Amann, former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, state Healthcare Advocate Kevin Lembo, Rudy Marconi and former U.S. Senate hopeful Ned Lamont.Electing a Democrat as governor, Foley said, would send Connecticut "off a financial cliff" because the majority party has proven itself unable to control costs or hold government accountable.Former state House Minority Leader Edward Krawiecki, Jr of Bristol said that whoever wins the governor’s race faces a tough challenge because Connecticut’s public sector is “completely out of control.”
“We have a broken government,” Krawiecki said, that keeps increasing expenses mindlessly as it caters to public unions.
Foley said there are too many “entrenched special interests,” including the unions.
“The line needs to be drawn in the sand,” Foley said.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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