CT 2010

Rell : Do as I say, not as I do

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:34:25 +0000

Last week Rell blasted the Democrats for using a surcharge on electric bills to pay off the absurd “securitization” or borrowing of $1.3 billion dollars to balance next year’s state budget.

She said she’d veto the Democratic proposal and that Connecticut’s electric consumers deserved a state government that has helping consumers – not destroying them.

Yesterday, Rell announced that instead (as reported in CTMirror and CTNewsJunkie), she would “put nearly $1 billion in operating costs on the state’s credit card” for the second year in a row – as part of her bizarre scheme to borrow the money so she can avoid her own plan of securitizing the funds based using future revenue as collateral.

See http://ctmirror.org/story/5670/rell-proposes-borrowing for the full story but the key elements are;

Put a “new” $1 billion hole in the current budget and then borrow money to close the hole and start paying back the borrowed money (in two years) using a SURCHARGE ON ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS… (wait, What the? That is what she said she opposed).

In addition, Rell’s plan raids the State’s energy conservation funds which are successfully providing “ thousands of private sector jobs.” while making Connecticut more energy efficient.

Her plan also includes $300 million in mythical growth of state tax revenues and making Bradley International Airport quasi-public so that it can make $25 million more a year – which in turn could then be turned over to the state.

But perhaps the most amazing piece of all is that since the Connecticut Constitution requires a balanced state budget, Rell has to make some astonishing changes to this year’s budget in order to make next year’s budget “appear” balanced.

Ready? Here goes (thanks to Keith Phaneuf for explaining all of this)

“Her plan would shift nearly $1 billion in budget reserve funds, assigned last September to the 2009-10 budget, into 2010-11. That move, along with the $300 million in added revenue, would eliminate the need for securitization for next year.

It would also create a billion-dollar shortfall in this fiscal year, which expires in just over two months. But since the current budget already is underway, state officials can classify that new debt as unanticipated, and issue bonds to cover the gap.”
The cost of this borrowing would then be paid back over seven years.

Rell’s plan is based three elements.

“Retaining 23 percent of the surcharge Connecticut Light & Power Co. and United Illuminating customers have paid since 2000 to reimburse utilities for costs tied to a state-ordered deregulation process. But instead of reimbursing the utilities, which will finish recovering their costs soon, the surcharge will go to the state for the next seven years. That extension would amount to $74.5 million per year.”

“The second component of the Republican governor’s plan would seize 50 percent of the money meant for energy conservation for the next seven years.

Electric bills include permanent surcharges that provide over $100 million a year for Connecticut’s energy conservation funds. These funds are used to “support thousands of private sector jobs ranging from solar- and wind-powered home improvements and other energy efficiency projects.”

“A report commissioned for the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund directly credits 4,300 jobs, or a one-quarter of a percent of the state’s workforce, to the

Finally, Rell would get the remaining $25 million need to pay off the loan by turning Bradley International Airport into a quasi-public entity that would magically “flexibility” to negotiate with airlines, restaurants and other businesses at the state-owned airport.

Oh, surprisingly, “no details were provided as to what specific business changes would [immediately] increase airport revenue by $25 million annually.”

Connecticut’s next Lieutenant governor: Kevin Lembo or Mike Jarjura

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:27:10 +0000

With the news that Waterbury Mayor Mike Jarjura is announcing his candidacy for LT. Governor, it appears that the Democrat’s choice for Connecticut’s #2 position will Kevin Lembo (CT’s Health Care Advocate) or Mike Jarjura (Mayor of Waterbury).

Not sure there has ever been a clearer difference between two candidates.

Kevin is probably the smartest person ever to run for statewide office in Connecticut and an incredible progressive.

Jarjura is viciously anti-choice and a board member of the ultra-right wing Family Institute. In fact, Jarjura is a top legislative advisor to the Family Institute – their legislative agenda – among other incredible positions is “There are two ways to protect marriage from liberal interest groups, detached politicians, and activist judges: An amendment to the U.S. Constitution; or an amendment to the Connecticut State Constitution. http://www.ctfamily.org Their stance – God made it clear – marriage can only occur between a man and a woman.

More on Jarjura can be found by googling him or this recent blog entry. http://www.dailyructions.com/jarjura-to-make-a-move-for-lg/

More on Kevin Lembo can be found at http://www.kevinlembo.com/

The Democrats make their choice in three weeks – so delegates what will it be?

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