Michael Downes

Residents of this state are facing tough economic times and it could get worse.
House and Senate Republicans on Wednesday said it’s time lawmakers did their part to erase a $300 million budget deficit that’s been confirmed by independent analysts. Republican House Leader Larry Cafero and Senate Republican Leader John McKinney held a news conference where they described the problem.
Both leaders said it’s time for a bipartisan effort to tackle the mounting deficit.
Cafero provided examples of projects around the Capitol where money could have been saved, including replacing expensive marble tile in the Legislative Office Building even though there is no safety issue and installing brand new Liquid Crystal Display screens in hearing rooms.
Cafero talked about the importance of prioritizing projects.
Both McKinney and Cafero said the legislature can’t afford to put off dealing with the deficit as some Democrats have suggested.

Weekly Vodcast: 9-24-08
With the state’s budget deficit looming at over $300 million, House Republican Leader Larry Cafero talks about the ways we can address this problem.
House and Senate Republicans are holding an informational budget forum on Thursday morning, September 25th at 10:00 a.m. in the Legislative Office Building. 
Democrats are apparently not interested in doing anything until November 18th… after the election.
Rep. Denise Merrill, D-Mansfield, co-chairwoman of the budget-writing appropriations committee, said it was “fine” for the Republicans to hold a forum, but the full, Democrat-controlled budget and finance committees will not hold a hearing on the issues until Nov. 18 - after the elections.
“To me, that’s soon enough,” Merrill said.
-Hartford Courant, September 23, 2008

 Naturally, waiting until after the election couldn’t possibly mean that Democrats are planning on solving the problem by raising your taxes.  Right?
Check back at House Rules on Thursday for more from the scheduled budget forum.

Weekly Vodcast: 9-18-08
This morning House Minority Leader Larry Cafero participated in a forum at the Capitol hosted by the Connecticut Association of Realtors.  The discussion also featured Fred Carstensen of the Center for Economic Analysis, Rep. Brendan Sharkey(D-Hamden) and D. Dowd Muska .
The above video captures some of the highlights of Rep. Cafero pointing out the economic troubles that face Connecticut workers, and the burden of taxation on Connecticut residents and businesses.

House Rules, the official blog of the Connecticut House Republicans will be launching weekly vodcasts starting today.
Today’s vodcast by House Republican Leader Larry Cafero focuses on the message from Governor Jodi Rell on the projected budget deficit for next year, and spending.
We can weather this storm, but we need to continue to practice fiscal prudence,” Governor Rell said. “Connecticut can stay ahead of the national economic curve, but only if we make the right decisions. The right decisions do not include an increase in taxes or spending money we just do not have. Our families cannot afford new taxes. We must force government to live within its means - just has families across Connecticut must do each and every day.
-Governor M. Jodi Rell

The next vodcast will be Thursday, September 18th, and will be every Thursday afterward.  Be sure to return every Thursday for a new vodcast on the issues effecting Connecticut.

Click above to watch riveting legislative action!
The General Assembly is supposed to vote on energy assistance legislation today.  However, after coming in this morning, it appears that the plan has hit some road bumps in the negotiation process, and the difficulty is lasting into the evening as legislators and staff await the session to convene.
As Brian Lockhart reports at the Stamford Advocate:
House and Senate members were still meeting privately Friday evening over proposed bills to divvy up the $75 million surplus to help low- and middle-class residents, seniors, schools and non profits pay their energy bills this winter.
House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, outlined the situation during a visit to the capitol press room.
Cafero handed out a convoluted diagram, hand drawn by his staff, which he said outlined the various ways that lawmakers, the governor’s office and her budget staff would be able to review and approve, reject or modify how the funds are distributed before the checks go out.
The diagram, intended by Cafero to illustrate what he considered the absurdity of the situation, was a cross between a map of football plays and a Wile E. Coyote plan to capture the road runner.
“The quickest way possible this could happen is somebody might get some help in late March,” Cafero said, accusing Democrats of trying too hard to control the flow of cash to ensure their individual constituents get some money.

State Reps. Larry Miller and Jason Perillo greeted the best Little Leaguers in New England at the Capitol on Friday, when the General Assembly honored Shelton National Little League for representing the region in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Republicans Miller and Perillo, R-113, posed for pictures with the boys, who were greeted with a standing ovation when introduced to members of the House of Representatives. Perillo and Miller, R-122, accompanied the team to Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s office, where the boys presented her with a few gifts as coaches and parents snapped photographs. Both Miller and Perillo represent Shelton.

Six-Point Plan Offers Millions for Fuel Assistance, Small Businesses, Conservation
Thousands of Connecticut families will not be left out in the cold this winter under an energy assistance plan unveiled today by House and Senate Republicans that directs an additional $25 million to insulate consumers from the rising costs of home heating oil, help pay electric bills and combat soaring gasoline prices.
Republicans want to use an additional $9 million of the state surplus to increase the Operation Fuel account to help middle class families earning up to $94,000 a year. Republicans would add $5 million to the Energy Conservation Load Management Fund and offer sales tax breaks for small businesses. Republicans will push their agenda this Friday when the legislature meets in special session to enact fuel assistance programs.
We have the funds available to provide relief for those struggling to heat their homes and businesses, as well as the neediest who are at risk this winter,” House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., of Norwalk said. “We need to act now.”

Senate Republican John McKinney of Fairfield said, “Energy prices have increased to levels beyond what most families and businesses ever budgeted for. This is the number one issue affecting our economy and how to address this problem in both the short and long-term is one of our state’s most pressing challenges. It is unfortunate that the majority party did not make this a priority during the regular session but I’m pleased that both parties are focused on solutions now. Our proposal will provide relief to the families and small businesses that need it most.”
Under the proposal Republicans would:
• Allow a family of four earning up $94,000 a year to qualify for Operation Fuel assistance;
• Increase tax exemptions for small businesses for the first $500 on electric bills;
• Increase by $5 million the Conservation Load Management Account that rewards conservation efforts;
• Provide $3 m

House Speaker Jim Amann announced last week that the idea of considering placing tolls on our state highways is off the table, and suggested that House Republican Leader Larry Cafero and other GOP leaders were “proposing” tolls.  This is, of course, nonsense.
What is interesting is that last summer Speaker Jim Amann was perfectly happy to consider tolls on the highways, as well as higher gas taxes which are hurting Connecticut residents and businesses. 
House Speaker James Amann , D-Milford, said Monday he’s willing to consider tolls and increased gas taxes to beef up safety inspections and repairs to the state’s transportation network.
“I’ll support any idea that supports this program,” he said. “Whatever it takes to make our bridges and roads safe.”
 -Waterbury Republican-American, August 7, 2007

But now Amann is against tolls. 

Amann also continues to deflect blame from the Democratic majority for the role they play in Connecticut’s high gas prices.  According to Amann’s July 17th, 2008 press release:
We all know that this is a global problem compounded by a failed national energy policy, and the state is acting to help motorists where we can,” Amann said.
If high gas prices are a global problem that is made worse by a “failed energy policy” nationally, then why is Connecticut paying prices higher than anywhere else in the continental United States?  With a current average price of $4.32 per gallon, this state is paying more than the rest of the nation due simply to state taxes.  Legislative Democrats continue to refuse to offer any relief from them to Connecticut motorists.
The familiar refrain from Democrats is that the gross receipts tax, which Republicans want to cap, goes into the transportation fund to build and maintain roads and bridges.  Unfortunately, this is simply not true.  Roughly 60% of the gross receipts tax goes into the general fund instead.
Today legislative Republicans called on Democrats to joi...

House GOP responds to Senate Dems on Telecommuting. July 17, 2008.

 
House and Senate Republicans got some unusual support for their pleas to make changes to the current state budget today: Big city mayors pushed the Democratic majority to restore early reading program cuts and realtors said the GOP plan to cut real estate taxes should be considered.
A day after the Republicans unveiled their alternative to the Do Nothing Democratic budget stance that includes gas tax cuts, state payroll reductions and adding back $20 million to save 316 teaching positions, the mayors and

Republican budget proposal will protect municipal state aid, fund Early Reading Success, encourage small business growth and reduce state gas taxes
Amid skyrocketing gasoline prices, worsening economic indicators and pleas for help from taxpayers, educators, nursing homes, private providers, public housing authorities, Mayors and First Selectmen; Legislative Republicans today reintroduced their alternative budget proposal and again called on Democratic legislators to pass it.
The Republican budget, first in

House Republicans announce a pilot program they are proposing to save fuel, and taxpayer dollars while alleviating traffic congestion.

CT House Republican Leader Larry Cafero speaks about a proposed cap on the gross receipts tax on gasoline.