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February
3, 2017
From: The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Org
Contact:
Susan Kniep, President
Website: http://ctact.org/
Email: fctopresident@aol.com
Telephone: 860-841-8032
CTMirror.org Presents
A legacy of debt / First in a series
The budget that Gov. Dannel P.
Malloy will present to the legislature Feb. 8, in an attempt to close $3
billion in deficits over the next two years, is only a portent of
a far greater, long-term challenge facing the the
state.
A legacy of debt: Connecticut standing
on its own fiscal cliff
The cost of paying down $50 billion in unfunded retirement
benefits, plus other state debt, is eating a growing portion of the budget,
squeezing funding for transportation, education, social services and,
perhaps next, state aid for municipalities.
Even if legislators ratify a new plan Wednesday to spread
out surging payments for state employee pensions, the costs for teachers pensions and a massively unfunded retiree health
care program still threaten to consume unprecedented portions of the state
budget.
And that leaves lawmakers with unpalatable choices. Continue Reading →
A legacy of debt: Whether taxing or cutting, CT faces
painful, contentious fiscal future
CTMirror.org By: KEITH M. PHANEUF | February 1, 2017
With no single solution capable of restoring Connecticuts
fiscal health, the state probably will need a multi-faceted solution that will
spark fierce opposition among all constituent groups. Third
in a series. Continue Reading →
A legacy of debt: As cuts get ugly, legislators forfeit
power, transparency
CTMirror.org By: KEITH M. PHANEUF | February 2, 2017
Legislators have left more decisions on cuts up to the
governor, avoided votes on state employee raises and have accepted less
information on fiscal matters. Fourth in a series. Continue Reading →
A legacy of debt: When fiscal reality meets political spin
CTMirror.org By: KEITH M. PHANEUF | February 3, 2017
As state governments fiscal
challenges became increasingly daunting, politicians for years nonetheless
downplayed the risk and wooed voters with unrealistic promises. Last story in a
five-part series Continue Reading →
Read
more by CTMirror.org at Budget/Economy!
Tomorrow: For the legislature, political cover
comes at a price.
Legacy of Debt: A Five-Part Series
************************
Tim Jensen (Patch Staff) Reports
Not Again: Another Major Connecticut Company Being Wooed by
Massachusetts
The governor of the Bay
State is in ongoing talks about a
possible relocation of the Connecticut company to the Boston
area. Read More.
************************
$15M Windfall Hurts Mayors Efforts -
Hartford Courant
DAN HAAR dhaar@courant.com
Feb 2, 2017
As the Hartford
mayor continues his no-bankruptcy tour of surrounding towns, he suddenly has a
$15 million surprise on the plus side. Good news, right?
Thats the likely
windfall the city will see from a boost in revalued property, chiefly
commercial buildings, over and above the projected amount for 2017-18 give or
take a million or two. Thats
if the city keeps its tax rate unchanged.
Great. Rising values are better than falling values.
Unfortunately, the reval windfall
comes at a cost that could hurt the city. It undercuts Mayor Luke Bronins quest for help from surrounding towns, as he asks
them to support his bid for more state aid for
the capital city. Continue reading at
http://digitaledition.courant.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=09100cd2-0af6-4413-b9e9-25daf3f1c8a3&t=1486131281481
************************
Wall St Journal reports
Islamic nation cited for alleged role in missile
development, terrorism, according to people familiar with the deliberations
By Jay Solomon Updated Feb. 3, 2017 7:32 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON The Trump administration
is set to impose fresh sanctions on dozens of Iranian entities for their alleged
role in missile development and terrorism, in a move likely to escalate U.S.
tensions with Tehran, according to people close to the deliberations. Read More
**********************
BREAKING NEWS ALERT
Despite federal court orders in Boston, New York, and
elsewhere allowing people from seven banned countries to come to the US, they
are not being allowed to board planes overseas because the State Department had
already revoked their visas, according to a federal court filing and a federal
official with direct knowledge of its significance.
The revocations were a direct result of the presidents executive order suspending travel for citizens of
Iraq, Iran, Libya,
Somalia, Sudan, Syria,
and Yemen,
all majority-Muslim countries.
To read the full story, visit BostonGlobe.com.
**********************
As reporters Brian Bennett and Noah Bierman
of the Tribune News Service recently reported that Trump Signs Order to Defund Immigrant Sanctuary Cities in turn reshaping how the U.S. deals with immigration,
security and the war on terrorism, Tyler Durden on
ZeroHedge reports New Rasmussen Poll Reveals Silent Majority Approves Of
Immigration Ban.
Durden notes that While vocal, and often violent, disaffected
Hillary protesters may get a lot of media attention, a new Rasmussen poll out today reveals that the silent
majority of Americans, men and women who dont have
time to protest 24 hours a day because they actually go to work to provide for
their families, support Trumps temporary immigration ban from 7 mostly-Muslim
countries in the Middle East and Africa. In fact, per the new poll, 57%
of likely U.S.
voters actually approve of the ban while only 33% were opposed.
In Connecticut, Eric
Bedner of the Journal Inquirer reports Sanctuary state bill divides legislators - Journal Inquirer
Republicans say no way, Democrats say its worth consideration. Reporter
Bedner writes:
Lawmakers are split along party lines
regarding proposed legislation that would make Connecticut a sanctuary state.
The bill, filed by Rep. Edwin Vargas,
D-Hartford, would prevent state police from demanding information concerning
citizenship from individuals with whom they interact, including those who are
in custody. Continue reading at http://www.journalinquirer.com/politics_and_government/sanctuary-state-bill-divides-legislators/article_693de59a-e7d6-11e6-ae5c-dbeeeb238de8.html
Sen. Tony Guglielmo, R-Stafford,
called the proposal one of the worst ideas in my 24 years in Hartford, saying it would threaten public
safety by creating a place where illegal immigrants with a criminal history can
come to avoid legal consequences.
Were going to be a magnet for people with problems, he said.
It makes no sense. Frankly, I think its grandstanding on the part of some
people.
Get a quick
glimpse of the News of the Day as provided by
- Fed Unlikely to Make Its Next Rate Move Wednesday (WSJ)
- Conservative Gorsuch nominated to top
court (Reuters)
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Confirmation Fight (Politico)
- Trumps Yen Comments Wide of the Mark, Says Japan FX Chief (Reuters)
- A barb at Germany
puts Trump administration on collision course with EU (Reuters)