In a letter to the New Canaanite published on Nov. 10, Chris DeMuth voiced concerns that we would “immediately [enact] a tax hike.”
We feel the need to set the record straight. Throughout our campaigns we emphatically stated that we would not raise the income tax. Instead, we’ve proposed real solutions to address the state’s fiscal and pension crises, transform our transportation infrastructure, reduce taxes like the estate and gift tax, and bring businesses and young people back to Connecticut. All of these measures will reduce financial stress on towns like New Canaan and keep our property taxes low.
We also campaigned on the need to put aside political party labels and partisan rhetoric and instead focus on working together to ensure a successful future for Connecticut. We intend to do just that. It is our hope that all of us, regardless of party, can engage in a productive and constructive dialogue based on actual facts. That is how we’ll move this state onto a more productive and prosperous path.
Over the next two years, we will work hard to earn the confidence and support of those who did not vote for us. We are eager to learn from all of you as we work collaboratively to move Connecticut forward.
Alex Bergstein
State Senator Elect – 36th District
Will Haskell
State Senator Elect – 26th District
Everyone appreciates your optimism, but painful decisions loom. Nothing that happened last Tuesday changed the $4.6 billion budget deficit that awaits Lamont and the Democratic legislature.
Everyone is going to share some pain in this process of reversing the direction of the state and your comment about working across party lines is noted and appreciated. A couple of key issues that you have left out of your letter are that the cost side of the equation has to be reduced in the state. And most importantly the pension liability is a complicated issue that needs to in some manner be addressed. A good start is to have the Speaker of the State House, Joe Aresimowicz who is an employee of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, recuse himself from any discussions regarding future handling of pensions due to a significant conflict of interest. His negotiating for both sides has proven not to be good for the state.
Ian–where else can you have a conflict as large as Joe Aresimowicz’s for this many years and no one thinks its an issue–good point
Well said Ian. If only we had a ballot referendum on ethics!
Lofty words of great importance for the state’s viability. We wish you all the skill you need. We will be watching
Robyn Porter and her contingent disagrees with you on income taxes. Here’s to keeping your word/integrity and having better luck with them than every politician that has come before you:
https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/minivan_steered_into_blue_wave/
Two freshmen senators from New Canaan should be able to turn around the Joe Aresemowicz Democrats in short order. I guess that Toni Boucher and Scott Frantz just did not have the secret code. James, thanks for the link to the New Haven Independent. A dose of reality can’t hurt.
Thanks for your campaign statements and reply. I root for your success, Alex and Will.
State Fiscal Ranking
CT — 49th
https://www.statedatalab.org/state_data_and_comparisons/detail/connecticut
Question tied into the recent referendum –
Has Connecticut found a solution to underfunded public pensions?
OCTOBER 17, 2018 | by Barnet Sherman | FORBES
“As pension solutions go, those are all pretty standard stuff. But the other approach Connecticut is considering is truly fresh. The state’s inventory of real assets on its books, such as office buildings, parking lots, raw land or highway right-of-ways, identifies nearly 7,000 properties. An initial estimate is that these assets could have an overall value in the billions. If the state were to include certain state enterprises, such as toll-roads, that number could reach even higher. A question arose: In lieu of cash, can the state donate any of these real assets as an in-kind contribution to its pension funds?”
Alex and Will, thank you for your letter, enthusiasm and spirit. For every CT resident’s sake, I wish you success.
However, I am a realist and have visited the Capitol Building in Hartford on many occasions. Once you fall under the spell of the Democratic caucus, I fear all bets are off. I hope you have some very STRONG repellant, as you will need it. As per the above referenced New Haven Register article: “We need to increase revenues,” Porter said. “You don’t get to balance your checkbook without revenues. That’s why it’s been so hard to get out of the hole.”
Your fellow Democratic members of the Senate and House need a fundamental math lesson: You cannot commit to spend money that you do not have. It’s not about raising new revenues – it is about not spending the money in the first place. Unfortunately, so much of the problem has been baked in by years of overpromising on health and retirement benefits during the same time that most of us private tax payers were seeing our healthcare costs go up, coverage reduced, and promises of pensions all but made extinct.
I would urge you to find like-minded representatives in Hartford (if you can and regardless of party) and do your best to build a coalition around the concept of reducing spending first, creating jobs second, and cutting taxes third. Not ONE DOLLAR of new expenditures should be approved until at least THREE DOLLARS of cost has been eliminated.
For all our sakes, I wish you the best. And I thank Toni and Scott for their years of dedication, service and effort on our behalf.
Update: anticipating changes, Wells Fargo reclassified New Canaan as “distressed”, requiring a 25% larger down payment.