Competitve Markets hold Bipartisan Support in Hartford

Maybe Washington could learn a thing or two.

Energy Committee Ranking Member Sean Williams today joined with Sen. John Fonfara (D-1),the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and residential consumers at a Hartford press conference opposing legislation seeking to re-regulate our state’s electricity market.

Representative Williams noted that more than 140,000 Connecticut rate-payers have signed up with competetive electricity suplliers, finding savings of more than 10% over the regulated utility rate. Williams and company stressed that customers wanted CHOICES when purchasing electricity, rather than state government deciding for them pointing to a stack of more than 800 consumer emails generated through the website http://www.nomoremonopoliesct.com/.

What does all this mean? Well it means that capitalism needs to remain alive and kicking here in Connecticut. It means that you know how to spend your money better than the government does. It means that we cannot allow the government to control our lives, even a miniscule amount more than they are now.

It means that market freedoms are essential freedoms- and when those disappear, so does the American dream.

In a time when the Beltway is tightening regulations that force consumers into government controlled entities, it is good to know that at least some sensible minds in Hartford are trying to protect the important choices of the residents of Connecticut.


Sean Williams website can be seen here.

Dodd Dominated in Apr. 2 Quinnipiac University Poll

Good Thing Chris Dodd already found a new job at Chilli's since his days left in Washington are severly numbered. April 2's Quinnipiac University Poll placed the disembodied and disenfranchised Senator from AIG at 16 points behind former US Congressman Rob Simmons, 8 points behind Former US Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley, and 4 points behind State Senator Sam Caligiuri (Quinnipiac University Poll, April 2, 2009- If the election were held today).

Perhaps even more astonishing- 33% disapproval rating. Almost unheard of for a 30 year incumbent. The coffin has begun being built on the senatorial career of the once powerful and respected member of the Washington Community.

Rob Simmons, appearing on Fox News's Hannity earlier this evening put it best: It means Connecticut residents don't trust Chris Dodd anymore.

And why should they? Considering 27% of respondents blame Dodd himself for the AIG bonus scandal. He moved to Iowa. He said Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were doing just fine, weeks before they would have collapsed (the $133,00 donated from these companies to his campaigns may have been an incentive). He wrote the amendment that allowed the AIG bonuses to go through. Then he lied about it (New Haven Register March 20, 2009). He took sweetheart mortgages and then never disclosed the documents. Bought an Irish "cottage" that makes Windsor Castle look like a cheap summer home.

Perhaps more than a vote of confidence in the Republican candidates, however, this may be a striking and resounding lack of confidence in Chris Dodd. With nearly 88% of respondents not knowing enough about Sam Caligiuri to form an opinion, and even 47% about Rob Simmons, these numbers really speak for themselves: Chris Dodd's days are over.

(The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. Its margin of error for the April 2 poll was +/- 2.9%)

The American Dream is Falling Down, Falling Down

There is a line. A fine line. One between functioning democracy, with government support and oversight, and a world with government control of a market, dictatorial in nature. No, Mr. President, you are not coming up on this line. No, Mr. President- look behind you.

In a shocking and daring move, the White House forced out the head of the General Motors Corporation, Rick Wagoner (Hartford Courant). There is a notion, one that assures me in my heart that small businesses can succeed and that the American Dream is still alive- the free and open market. If a small business owner has to be afraid that if his company is having an off quarter, he will be replaced at the will of the government, what incentive does he have to start his business and perform the truest act of economic stimulation?

Entrepeneurship, risk-taking in the business realm create jobs, create money. Not an Auto-Czar, an executive branch position with complete regulatory authority over one of our most suffering industries. Because we all know that government is the solution to our problems.

For years, Democrats have been saying that Republicans and George Bush and government caused the crisis we are in. Republicans have been saying that Democrats and Chris Dodd are responsible. When will either side smarten up and realize the simple issue at stake: government is responsible for the mess we're in.

Please, don't take this as an anarchal rant. I'm not anti-government. I'm just against more government than we can afford. Do we need a central, national authority? Yes. Does that central authority need to have the power to regulate everything that exists? No.

The economy goes up and down, much like a baseball team. Every once in a while, a manager is replaced because the team isn't doing so hot. We've all seen it. But that decision is up to each individual club, not the baseball comissioner. The comissioner's job is to ensure a level playing field (no pun intended) for each team in the league. Why can't government act the same way? If it had for the past 15 years, maybe none of this would have ever happened and we wouldn't be worried about government take overs of independent industries.

Director of Auto Communities. Seems like a fun job. I find it hard to believe, however, that individual freedom is not at stake. I find it hard to believe that the American Dream is not at stake. A dream that relies on independent risk. Only in failure can you know success. I sure hope success isn't too far off. But then again, maybe I'm just dreaming.

Dear Employees, Your Job loss is not my fault

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.

However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interest. First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a back story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home at last year's Christmas party. I'm sure; all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.

However, what you don't see is the back story.

I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 30 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.

My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the Goodwill store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.

So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child.

You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations... You never realize the back story and the sacrifices I've made. Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.

Yes, business ownership has its benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds.

Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:

I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough.

I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him.

Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.

The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.

The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.

Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government- mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.

When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and always has been.. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it.

Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.

So where am I going with all this? It's quite simple. If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I fire you. I fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future.

Frankly, it isn't my problem anymore.

Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.

If you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steam rolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about ...

Signed,
Your boss


(Supposedly an actual letter by a Chicago area business man. Special thanks to Louisiana YR Chair, YRNF Vice Chair, and YRNF Chair Candidate Audra Shay for the letter)

CT Democrats Want Change...From Your Pocket

A month into this year's legislative session. Millions added to the current deficit. And the Connecticut Democrats still don't seem like they want to do anything about it. For a while, I have been worried about a more socialist driven agenda coming from the federal government. I'll be honest, it doesn't seem like it is going to be that bad. Our own state, however, now thats a communist of a different color.

Governor Rell has been wise, if not down right daring, in her attempts to trim the budget deficit over the coming fiscal years. In this time when Connecticut families are feeling the crunch of hard economic times, the Governor is doing her best to make sure that the State Government is not living a life of lavish style while its residents are stumbling and struggling to get by.

Let's take a look at those families for a minute. They need more money in the bank. There are two solutions to achieve that: bring in more money, or put out less. Well, these days companies are nowhere near the ballpark of providing raises, in fact many are imposing raise holds on their employees. So no extra money coming in. That means that output needs to go down. It is a lesson that the Connecticut Democrats need to learn.

In a time when many residents are trying to scrape up money to pay rising bill costs and pay down debts so they can stay in their home, they hardly have extra money to throw around for higher taxes. But that is exactly how the Connecticut Democrats want to trim the deficit. They are selfish, and care more about their own positions in the State Government than the people they serve.

If Connecticut residents are sending more of their money to Hartford, that is less of their money they can use to spend in Connecticut businesses. That is less of their money that is being injected into the American economy, at a time when families and businesses all across the country are feeling the economic impact.

Business creates jobs. Business stimulates the economy. And the Democrats don't care. They are stuck in a tax-you-back-to-the-stone-age mantra. They don't mind killing business, rising unemployment, and stealing money from the residents of Connecticut, as long as they still have $30,000 to tell them Asian Americans live in Connecticut.

We need to decrease the size of the government, not the size of our bank account. As Ronald Reagan once said, "Government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem." It is time the Connecticut Democrats began keeping money in their constiutents pockets, rather than spend it for them. We need efficiency. We need to taper the size of our government. And the Connecticut Democrats need to stop being selfish.

Fiscal Irresponsibility: Now Showing at a State Government Near You!

It would seem that across the country, we see states in financial crisis, running up deficits equal to in some cases close to 20% of their operating budgets. At a time when families and citizens are tightening their belts and spending less, the governments across the country are doing nothing of the sort. Only a handful of state legislatures have taken steps to trim down the gross deficits of the recent and immediately forthcoming fiscal years.

In this country there are 27 state legislatures controlled by Democrats, 14 by Republicans, 8 are split between the houses, and 1 declared non-partisan. Of the 25 governments where party control is the same between the governor's office and the state legislature, 17 are Democratic.

Perhaps even more shocking, of the 37 states who face deficits 22 are increasing spending in 2009. Of those 22, 17 are controlled completely by Democratic legislatures. Only 3 are controlled completely by Republicans and 2 are split. In the two split states, Ohio and Pennsylvania, the House of Representatives, wher in most cases budget processes begin, are controlled by Democrats.

There is a simple explanation for this seemingly striking phenominon. President-Elect Obama. All of these state governments are waiting for a bailout package from President Obama that they believe will save them. But even if they do get a bailout package, how much is that honestly going to help? They will just use it to run up another deficit one, two, three years down the road.

Here in Connecticut, all of the bipartisanship and "roll up your sleeves for the sandbags" from new Speaker Chris Donovan has stopped. It seems to be just that: sand bagging. Governor Rell has already made it clear that cuts have to be made and she has started herself. Just the other day, she announced that Connecticut will begin to rollback its state vehicle fleet. She also announced looking into the necessity of junior level staff and commission jobs throughout the government. It is the price you pay when a do nothing legislature is in control.

Today was supposed to be the hearings in the State House for Governor Rell's required deficit mitigation plan. $300 MILLION were offered as cuts by Governor Rell. Only $134 Million were accepted by the Dems. We cannot sit back and let our legislatures take our money and then waste it!

The House Republicans offered an amendment that called for a 5% pay cut for the state legislators. AND ONLY ONE DEMOCRAT SUPPORTED IT! Here, in the simplest most obvious way for legislators to show they are serious about being fiscally responsible. And that is what it wall comes down to. The IRRESPONSIBILITY of Connecticut Democrats to do a single thing to stop wasting the money of Connecticut Taxpayers.

I don't mind paying some taxes and helping people out. I really don't. But the money needs to be going somewhere for good. But we need to find a way to KEEP money in the pockets of Americans, rather than put it there. We need to find a way, not to allow government to get control of us, but for us to get control of government.

But until we find legislators willing to do what is hard, not what is best for them we will never see that day. As long as democrats across the country expect President Obama to bail them out completely while doing nothing to mitigate the circumstances, we will see wasteful government spending and a ticking clock before we see our towns, our states, and our country run out of money.

Apparently, the Deficit Is a Myth

I have to admit, I wasn't planning on resuming Deficit Patrol posts until the session started a week from today. And it also looks like the Dem's weren't planning on resuming Deficit Ignorance for another week after that. The Day reported today that Democratic Leadership in the General Assembly will not begin working on the deficit until January 14. (http://tinyurl.com/6wh5hj).

Results will not come from inactivity, they won't just fly down out of the sky and say "Hey, I'm a surplus and I'm here to help!" Discussion, debates, ACTION need to happen and they need to happen sooner, not later. Delays will only allow the deficit to grow and become even more embedded in our already troubled economic times. There is no time for complacency in the mounting financial problem that looms over our heads.

Now, I understand some of the qualms about the special session that the Dems balked at for Friday. It comes only five days before a new session begins, and exerting influence after voters have elected some legislators out of office is an ethically grey area for me. So take the special session and use it for debate. A session does not have to come out with a vote, only a possible solution. But how can anyone talk, how can anyone debate if they are not in the same room? A solution will only be accepted when it is presented. And it cannot be presented there is no way to do it.

For 30 years, we have sat back and watched as the Democrats in Hartford have sat back and watched the world unfold without doing anything about it. We've had an income tax rammed down our throats. And now an unbalanced budget projecting a $6 billion dollar deficit 3 years out. A Balanced Republican alternative shot down as not germane. That's right, the incoming Speaker of the House objected to discussion on alternative budget saying that it has nothing to do with a budget. I guess he just wanted to save himself from doing any work.

Financial Crisis Quote of the Day

"It's never any fun when you lose money"

- Captain Obvious (AKA International Olympic Committee Finance Chair Richard Carrion in response to the risk of $4.8 million in investment losses from the Madoff Fraud Scheme) http://tinyurl.com/8q94qn

Business: On the Road Again

The Hartford Courant reported today that the Connecticut unemployment rate is now at 6.6%, its highest mark in fifteen years (http://tinyurl.com/3fwwpk). If anyone had any doubts that the economic crisis was hitting hard at home, this should quell all rumours to that effect.

Of the ten major industries in Connecticut seven lost jobs in the past month. Congratulations, we're hitting .700, a remarkable career in professional baseball. Companies and workers are leaving Connecticut at unprecedented rates. With the highest per capita taxes in the country, it is amazing people would want to live here at all.

In 2006, Connecticut ranked 39th in Business Tax Climate (http://tinyurl.com/4k543r). With that terrible of a business climate in these dire economic times, how can we expect anyone to attempt to open up a new business in Connecticut, something we desperately need. For that matter, why would any struggling business want to stay? They could easily save money by moving somewhere else, and too many of them do.

New business creates jobs. Jobs lower unemployment. It is a simple answer, although by no means easy. But maybe we can make it just a little easier. Maybe we can create a business environment that appeals to attracting business, rather than one that punishes them for making money. Maybe, we can begin to turn all of this around

Doing our part

So tonight I'm going out to eat and seeing a movie. If we could get everyone to do that for just one night, maybe we'd have a fighting chance again. Isn't capitalism great?

Hypocrisy at its Best

So in the latest rounds of hearings at the United States House of Representatives, Lord Speaker Pelosi admonished the CEOs of the Big 3 (Ford, Chrysler and GM) for using taxpayer-footed private jets. In fact, Congress delayed the hearings on the auto bailout amid criticism of their use.

But alas, who could forget the head lines in early 2007, "Pentagon Rejects Spealer Pelosi's Request for Military Aircraft" (ABC news). Apparently, the plane used by the previous speaker, Dennis Hastert was not good enough for Pelosi who wanted a plane that could reach California without refueling. I know. Heaven forbid a Congresswomen must subject herself to the same tortures of a layover faced by everyday Americans.

So what exactly did Princess Pelosi want? A 45 passenger C-32 Aircraft. Features: A private stateroom, communications center, entertainment center, changing room, oh and a small, trifle of a $22,000 per day operating budget. Now that's what I call a private jet.

But let's hold up more deficit spending (which I know, may actually work according to leading economists) to admonish executives just for getting what we wanted and were denied. Double standards are wonderful aren't they?

Spend Money to Save Money?

28 States, the District of Columbia, and the Federal Government are all facing enormous deficits, the likes of which have ne'er been seen before. Many of the states are attempting to do something, yet the federal government is not. Many Democratic congressmen won their seats on the promise of stopping the overspending in Washington DC, this grandiose deficit run up by George Bush (never mind the fact that Congress controls the budget).

For those of you who are scared of numbers or are hardly economists, here is a quick economics lesson for you: a deficit occurs when a body spends more money than it has. Simple enough. In reality, you have two options: raise revenue or cut spending. In the minds of many elected officials, apparently a third option is to reverse the two, and raise spending while cutting revenue.

But wait, what's that you say? You say that's insane? You say that can't work? Tell that to the democrats, who think that they can hand out 1.4 trillion dollars (700 billion last FY and the possibility of another 700 to come on Jan. 20), and still maintain their promise of middle class tax cuts.

Never mind the fact that the state governments will have no way to overcome their own deficits, if new federal programs require state monetary input. There is an old formula from way, way back in the early 1990s created by Father Bush and used to success by the Republican Congress under President Clinton, called PAYGO. It is simple, if you want to increase spending in an area of the budget, you have to offset it by raising revenue or cutting another area of spending by an equal amount.

PAYGO leads to something very scary: a balanced budget. So I guess I can't help but ask a question. In his campaign, President-Elect Obama promised a return to the PAYGO principle. But now he's promising another $700 billion dollar bailout. He promised a middle class tax cut. Where is the rest of the spending cut? Where is the revenue increase? Where is the balance?

Apparently he believes that spending money will lead to saving money. But that has never been, nor will it ever be true. There is something missing in our economic crises, and I'm not talking about everybody's money. I'm talking about accountability. Where is the government help when Doc Baker's Pharmacy on Main Street has to close his doors? Maybe if he opened up on Wall Street, he would have had a better shot.