The Capitol Beat: February 16-20, 2015

Never base your budget requests on realistic assumptions, as this could lead to a decrease in your funding. –Scott Adams, Dilbert cartoonist GOVERNOR’S 2016-17 BUDGET LEAVES FEW UNTOUCHED; NONPROFITS, BUSINESSES COLLEGES SHARE PAIN IN FORM OF CUTS OR COSTLY TAX POLICY CHANGES Businesses, state universities, hospitals and other nonprofits were left scratching their heads and …
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The Capitol Beat: February 2-6, 2015

Speaker, Municipal Commission Back Incentives to Generate Revenues for Towns In the latest push to give municipalities more flexibility and relieve them of their over-reliance on the regressive property tax system, House Speaker Brendan, D-Hamden, and the municipal commission he created several years ago, this week came out with a list of legislative initiatives for …
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The Capitol Beat: January 26-30, 2015

I shall never use profanity except in discussing taxes. –Mark Twain STATE TAX PANEL HEARS PRIMER ON CONNECTICUT TAX PRACTICE AND POLICY As part of an ongoing information-gathering process, the State Tax Panel charged with reviewing Connecticut’s myriad taxes and policies this week received primers on the state’s property tax system as well as its …
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The Capitol Beat: December 8-12, 2014

May you and yours enjoy the blessings of the season throughout the year. – Your friends at Gaffney, Bennett WEEK FEATURES MANY COMINGS AND GOINGS IN CAPITOL CIRCLES This week has been punctuated by more major changes in staffing and personnel in state government and legislative circles. All these individuals bring fresh perspectives, ideas and, …
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The Capitol Beat: November 10-14, 2014

Democracy is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder; and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike.” — Plato Budget Ax Falls as Malloy Administration Seeks to Eradicate 2015 Deficit The Malloy administration Thursday fired a pre-emptive strike to eradicate a persistent 2015 FY deficit of $59 million– action …
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The Capitol Beat: November 2014 Election Recap

November 5, 2014 Connecticut 2014 Election Results Federal Congressional Races: – Incumbents John Larson (D), Elizabeth Esty (D), Rosa DeLauro (D), Joe Courtney (D) and Jim Himes (D) all won re-election. There were no US Senate races in Connecticut. Governor – Governor Malloy (D) won his bid for a second term. Attorney General – Incumbent …
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The Capitol Beat: November 3, 2014

“Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable.” – Mark Twain November 4: The Day We’ve all Been Waiting for…to be over The day of reckoning and release from the onslaught of statistics, political ads and solicitations is almost upon us. It won’t feel like closure until we actually fill in the bubbles on …
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The Capitol Beat: October 6-10, 2014

“We hope someday, there will be the same level of services for children with mental health care needs as there are for children with medical needs,” — Dr. Lisa Namerow, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Institute of Living who practices at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, reacting to Governor Malloy’s plan released this …
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The Capitol Beat: September 29-October 3, 2014

Quote of the Week: I didn’t want to do it out of anger…I stood there and took his best. Governor Malloy responds to reporters Thursday night after a debate with Republican candidate Tom Foley, which featured many two-way personal recriminations. Here’s a Question for the Sociologists: Do Debates Make a Difference? Arguably, it remains an …
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The Capitol Beat: September 25, 2014

Quote of the Week: Connecticut is excessively reliant on the property tax, which is stunningly unequal across the state….A comprehensive reframing of revenue sources, including vastly simplifying, broadening, and lowering the sales tax, and learning from best practice in other states would both make the tax system more transparent, easily to administer for both the …
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