Despite a state law aimed at stripping such benefits from politicians who use their office for corruption and personal gain, former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland will be paid more than $1.3 million by taxpayers over the next 20 years in pension benefits, plus some darn good health care coverage..
Rowland and his wife are eligible to go on the state employee health plan at a cost of as low as $29 a month in premiums out of his pocket and a cost to taxpayers of as much as $1,900 a month. The cost for prescription drugs to Rowland under this plan? No co-pay at all for many types of medication, and a "maximum" of a $6 co-pay for others.
[...]
After Rowland resigned and was convicted of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, mail fraud and tax fraud, the state legislature passed a bill (later signed by Rowland's successor, Gov. M. Jodi Rell) that makes it possible for the state's attorney general to seek a court action removing pension and health benefits should a state employee be found guilty of embezzlement of public funds, felonious theft from the state, bribery or felonies committed through the misuse of a government office or job.
But it was not enacted retroactively. and according to the state attorney general's office, the state can't strip Rowland of his pension.
"It does not appear there is any provision under state law to support revoking or reducing the qualified pension of a former state elected official who was convicted prior to passage of the revocation statute, for crimes involving their office," spokesperson Susan Kinsman said. "We are also not aware of any provisions of the state pension plans that would permit pension forfeiture for bad acts."
Well, actually it wasn't the New York Post that said we are "killing hope in Connecticut" it was ConnCAN's executive director and "education reformer extraordinaire" Patrick Riccards, who said that we are killing hope in Connecticut.
Like a true "road-warrior", Riccards swept into town last year to take the helm of Connecticut's "Education Reform" advocacy movement and is now apparently playing to his next audience - New Yorkers.
Working for the advocacy organization set up by Achievement First Inc., the charter school management company that will benefit the most from Governor Malloy's "education reform" plan, Riccards has spent the last few months shilling for Malloy and insulting just about everyone he comes in contact with.
And like many "education reformers" he doesn't always discern the truth from the rhetoric.
After William Tong's presser, Gov. Malloy took questions from the media regarding his endorsement of Chris Murphy for senate, the state of the budget as well as his education reform proposal.
- When did John Rowland start helping with your campaign?
- If your husband and Rowland have been friends for decades, did he ever serve as a paid consultant before your run for Congress?
- If this was the first time Rowland worked as a paid consultant for Apple Rehab, what specifically triggered the need for his services?
- What was the exact nature of the work Rowland did for Apple Rehab? How many on-site meetings did he have with Apple Rehab staff? How many hours did he log? Did he prepare any written reports or recommendations?
- If Rowland was "volunteering" for your campaign prior to or right around the time that his work for Apple Rehab started, and it wasn't connected at all, didn't you worry that it might appear like an attempt to skirt campaign finance laws? If you were aware of the possible appearance of a conflict, why didn't you disclose the dual roles then or when reporters first started talking about Rowland's campaign role and asking you about it?
- How many other people have a paid role with one of your companies or your husband's companies and a volunteer role with your political campaign?
- Did you know that Rowland had suggested to Mark Greenberg that he volunteer for his campaign and be paid through his animal shelter when he became involved in your campaign or when he became a consultant for Apple Rehab?
- If the Greenberg revelation is new to you, what do you think it says about Rowland's ethics and whether he should still be representing the Wilson-Foley campaign?
The state Senate's Democratic majority is at least four votes shy of passing a compromise minimum-wage increase approved last week by the House of Representatives, leaving one of the House speaker's key bills on life support in the annual session's final seven days.
Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, said he texted House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, from the Democratic caucus room Tuesday, telling him he did not see a path toward passing a 25-cent increase in the $8.25 hourly wage.
"Barring some significant turnaround, we have a significant number of folks who would not support the minimum-wage bill as it is," Williams said.
He declined to give a hard vote count but acknowledged being at least four votes short. Democrats hold 22 of the 36 seats in the Senate. Democrats routinely support raising the minimum wage, but many in both chambers balked at an increase with the economy still fragile.
"It was the timing," Williams said. "They felt the economic times were not right. They supported minimum wage increases in the past. They strongly supported the earned-income tax credit last year, which provided a boost to low-income workers."
Comptroller Kevin Lembo projects 199.8 million dollar deficit for 2012 fiscal year.
Press release:
Comptroller Kevin Lembo today announced that he is projecting Fiscal Year 2012 will end with a $199.8-million deficit, on a budgetary basis, based on the latest information available on April tax receipts and refunds.
In a letter to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Lembo noted that his office and the Office of Policy and Management are in agreement on the most recent deficit projections, which have grown significantly over last month.
General Fund revenue for Fiscal Year 2012 is expected to fall $243 million short of original budget projections and total state spending is expected to exceed appropriated levels by $37.4 million.
If a contribution is made against the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) deficit the projected deficit would be $274.8 million.
"This deficit number confirms that Connecticut did not experience the short-term growth anticipated -- but there are some positive economic indicators pointing forward," Lembo said.
Recent economic indicators from the Department of Labor and other sources demonstrate that Connecticut 's unemployment rate continues to decline, with the professional and business services sector leading in monthly job gains, followed by the financial activities supersector, the government supersector and the information supersector.
Lembo also cited state and federal labor statistics that show personal income is slowly growing in Connecticut, as are new home sales in the Northeast.
You can read the rest of the press release below the fold...
UPDATE: Here's a transcript of Tong's remarks from this afternoon.
Thank you all for being here this morning.
Today, I am announcing that I will no longer be a candidate for the United States Senate.
After a year in this race, these are hard words to say. But I woke up this morning, grateful. I am grateful for the tremendous opportunity few have had, to run for the United States Senate. And I am grateful to the people of Connecticut, especially the thousands of convention delegates and primary voters who welcomed me into their cities and towns, their Democratic Town Committees, in many cases, their homes and hearts.
Thank you, Representative Larson, and my many supporters and contributors across Connecticut and the nation. 1,700 donors invested more than $1 million in this campaign, and I am grateful they dared to stand with me against difficult odds. We surprised a lot of people, and we accomplished much in this past year. I personally spoke to thousands of convention delegates and primary voters and we built a strong and lasting foundation of support across Connecticut. We visited over 90 Democratic Town Committees, attended hundreds of community and political events, and competed in four debates and several other campaign forums. The JFK Policy Center just gave us a coveted "A" rating for the strength of our policy positions, one of only 15 U.S. Senate candidates to receive that honor this year. This was my first statewide campaign. I do not expect it will be my last.
I want to thank my hardworking and dedicated team, led my Marc Bradley, our campaign manager; my staff here today, Mary Tong, Peter Fromson and Will Sharry, and the many other volunteers and campaign workers who worked hard day and night for over a year.
Thank you Governor Malloy, for being a great mentor, and for your guidance and encouragement since I first moved to Stamford. I want to thank both you and Lt. Governor Wyman for standing with me today, and for showing me, by your example, how to serve and run a statewide campaign with dignity and respect for my competitors and the constituents we serve.
I am grateful, above all, for my wife, Liz. Liz gave birth to our son, Sasha, during this campaign. I have asked her for too much, for more than I ever had a right to ask. It is only because of her sacrifices that I can stand here today. Thank you Sasha, Penelope, and my eldest, Eleanor. Now Ba Ba can teach you to fish in the Mianus River this summer.
I woke up this morning grateful, and with tremendous confidence as well. Confidence that Liz and I could make a living and provide for our children, that we'd be able to make our mortgage payments, that our kids will go to good schools and they will have every opportunity in life. That confidence comes from two people: Ady and Nancy Tong, my parents. Thousands of people across Connecticut now know the story of Ady Tong, how he came here to Connecticut with 57 cents to cook Chinese food in the Hong Kong Kitchen not far from here. My parents made every sacrifice so their son can dream things they never imagined.
I ran for the Senate because we need to get our confidence back in this country. I wanted to show people that the American Dream still lives in Connecticut and across our nation. I know because I am living it. We proved to people that in just one generation, you can still go from being the son of a cook in a Chinese restaurant to a major contender for the United States Senate. We inspired people to believe again in the Dream, and to fight for it like we have never fought for it before.
I am going to continue this fight in the General Assembly, and I will be proud to run again for State Representative. It has been my honor to represent the residents of the 147th District in Stamford and New Canaan. I look forward to continuing on as the Chair of the Banks Committee, and to continue working hard to help people struggling to hang on to their homes, to power our economic recovery, and to help create jobs across Connecticut.
I've talked a lot about my story in this race, but this campaign was not about me. My story is just a way to talk about the working people of this state, to focus on the challenges we face, and lay out a vision for how we get back to where we ought to be. This campaign was for the 150,000 people who are unemployed in Connecticut; the 100,000 families who will go to bed tonight in a home that's underwater; and the children and families who fight to overcome the achievement gap. This was a campaign to rebuild their dreams, and to build a dream we all can live.
But nobody can do this alone. I am ever mindful that I am part of something greater, a greater commitment all of us share. And I am proud to say, I am part of a team. I am proud to be a Democrat. Throughout their careers, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor have done what is best for our state, our nation and our party. We all believe that electing a Democrat to the United States Senate in 2012 is what is best for our state and nation.
In that spirit, I will continue to work hard in this campaign, not as a candidate, but as a member of a team. Today, I am proud to announce that Team Tong is merging with Team Murphy. I am proud to endorse Chris Murphy for the United States Senate and join his team.
I've learned a lot about Chris in this campaign. We were born the same year. We are both sons of Connecticut who love our home state. And I have learned that he has the same fight, the same grit, the same commitment to working people like my parents. Every time I see him at a debate or a campaign event, I have the chance to look him in the eye and to take his measure. And I know he has the heart, the backbone and the integrity we need in the United States Senate.
Chris and Cathy, Liz and I, look forward with the same confidence and hope as we raise our young families in this state. I am proud to call him my friend. I will be prouder still to call him my Senator.
This morning, senate candidate William Tong sent the following email...
CANDIDATE FOR U.S. SENATE WILLIAM TONG TO JOIN GOVERNOR DANNEL MALLOY, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR NANCY WYMAN,
REP. TIM LARSON AND CONGRESSMAN CHRIS MURPHY TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ON UNITED STATES SENATE RACE
WHAT: Press Conference with Rep. William Tong, Governor Dannel Malloy, Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman,
Rep. Tim Larson and Congressman Christopher Murphy
WHEN: Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 12:30PM
WHERE: Goodwin College, Community Room, 1 Riverside Drive, East Hartford, CT
When I saw that Tong and Murphy were going to be at this media availability, it didn't take a rocket scientist to know what the event was about.
State Rep. William Tong is dropping out of the Democratic race for U.S. Senate and will endorse U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, according to multiple sources.
Tong called former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, another candidate for Senate, this morning to say he is dropping out of the race and endorsing Murphy, the front-runner, Bysiewicz spokesman.
With Tong dropping out of the race, the Governor and Lt. Governor announce their pick to replace Joe LIEberman...
Gov. Dannel Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman will also endorse Murphy, sources said.
Susan Bysiewicz campaign had this to say...
"It is no surprise that the party establishment would support the party insider for the May Democratic Convention. Voters will have an opportunity to speak during the August Primary and Susan will be there to provide voters a clear choice on how to hold Wall Street Accountable and stand up for the middle class. During the primary Congressman Murphy must answer for why he voted to keep the hedge fund loop-hole open which allows people like Mitt Romney to pay less in taxes than middle class families," said Jonathan Ducote, Bysiewicz's campaign manager.
The Malloy/SEBAC agreement included some significant savings thanks to the salary concessions that were agreed to by state employees, but the moment Malloy claimed that there were $1.6 billion in savings; he condemned Connecticut to a budget deficit.
However, rather than explain the truth, the Malloy Administration, once again, remain wedded to their campaign mode approach rather than adopting the governance approach that the state so desperately needs.
Case in Point:
November 15, 2011: "The enacted budget returns the state to structural balance for the foreseeable future, with operating surpluses projected in each of the year of the biennium" - Ben Barnes 11/15/11
Thirty Days Later: "We are projecting a General Fund balance [budget surplus] of $83.7 million this month, an improvement of $4.6 million from last month's estimate, and $8.7 million above the amount reserved per Sec. 46 of Public Act 11‐48 to address the GAAP deficit" - Ben Barnes 12/20/11
Then: "We are projecting a $73.6 million operating deficit on a GAAP basis for fiscal year 2012, down $82.3 million from last month's estimated $8.7 million balance. On a budgetary basis, we are forecasting a balance from operations of $1.4 million, down from last month's estimate of $83.7 million." - Ben Barnes 1/20/12
"We are projecting a $39.1 million operating deficit on a GAAP basis for fiscal year 2012, an improvement of $34.5 million from last month's estimated $73.6 million shortfall. On a budgetary basis, we are forecasting a balance from operations of $35.9 million, up from last month's estimate of $1.4 million." - Ben Barnes 2/20/12
"We are projecting a $62.6 million operating deficit on a GAAP basis for fiscal year 2012, an increase of $23.5million over last month's estimate. On a budgetary basis, a positive balance of operations of $12.4 million is anticipated." - Ben Barnes 3/20/12
"We are projecting a $141.9 million operating deficit on a GAAP basis for fiscal year 2012, an increase of $79.3 million over last month's estimate. On a budgetary basis, a shortfall from operations of $66.9 million is anticipated. This change in balance is due mainly to two factors: an increase of refunds of taxes and an emerging shortfall in the Medicaid Program." - Ben Barnes 4/20/12
Then, late yesterday, faced with the release of updated reports from the non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis and State Comptroller Kevin Lembo's fiscal statement due today, Governor Malloy and Secretary of OPM Ben Barnes held a press conference to announce that - low and behold - the state was suddenly facing a deficit of almost $300 million this year (not counting the $75 million that Malloy had promised to make as the initial payment moving the state toward GAAP Accounting). In their eyes - the state went from a balanced budget (including a significant surplus) to a massive deficit in the course of 150 days.
And as if that wasn't bad enough, the entire deficit for next fiscal year will be in the range of $700 million.
Add in Malloy's promised $50 million GAAP implementation payment for next year and the budget that the Malloy Administration said "returns the state to structural balance for the foreseeable future, with operating surpluses projected in each of the year of the biennium" is now, five months later, three-quarters of a billion dollars out of balance.
And even after all this; the Malloy Administration's remained in political spin mode.
Election Day registration passes after HOURS of senseless nonsense from House Republicans.
In a 83-59 vote, the House passed a bill Monday night allowing for citizens to register to vote and cast a ballot on Election Day.
[...]
Under Connecticut's bill, the secretary of the state would be required to set up an online system for new voter applications that could cross reference the verifying information provided by the applicant with state and federal databases. The goal is to ensure the person applying to vote isn't already registered somewhere else.
The Secretary of State Denise Merril released the following statement:
"This is a major step forward in our effort to modernize elections in Connecticut and increase voter participation," said Secretary Merrill, Connecticut's chief elections official. "I commend Representative Russ Morin, the House chair of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, Speaker Donovan and Majority Leader Sharkey for bringing this long overdue reform up for a vote and seeing it through to passage. I look forward to a debate and vote on this bill in the State Senate before the end of the current legislative session. Change is sometimes hard, but we have a voting system strong and secure enough to allow people to register from any computer or on Election Day. These are reforms that 10 other states have already enacted. Some states such as Maine, Minnesota and Wisconsin have had Election Day Registration on the books for decades, with no compromise in the security or integrity of their elections. These states have seen an increase in voter turnout, which we certainly need in Connecticut."
Governor Dannel Malloy and Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman released the following:
"Passage of this legislation demonstrates Connecticut's commitment to fair, accessible elections, and I applaud the House for their action on this bill. We've sent a clear signal to the rest of the country that Connecticut will not go in the direction of other states," said Governor Malloy. "Using the technology we have available to preserve the integrity of our elections, expand access to the ballot box, and improve participation in the public process will allow our democracy flourish. By making our elections as open and accessible as possible, we will make sure that our residents have the representation they demand at every level of government."
"Voting is power, and these reforms will give more Connecticut residents the power to decide who they want to represent them in government," said Lt. Governor Wyman. "That means more of our residents will have a voice in how their tax dollars are spent, what kind of health care system we have, how their children are educated, and so many other aspects of their lives. This is a bill that will allow their voices to be heard in a place where it truly matters - the voting booth - and the importance of that cannot be overstated."
MLN is powered by