East Hartford Legislative Delegation Responds
I received a letter yesterday dated March 9th from our Reps. Larson, Genga & Rojas and Senator LeBeau in response to the letter I sent them on Feb. 25th requesting emergency legislation providing an exemption for East Hartford from Minimum Budget Requirements and binding arbitration awards.
According to the letter they are working on it but can’t gt it done in time. I disagree, if they wanted to do it it would be introduced by now. Incidentally the MORE commission presentation on the first round of recommendations does not indicate at all that there is any intention of suspending binding arbitration or Minimum Budget Requirements now or in the future. There is however plenty of reference to the commission being significantly behind new and increased taxes at the state level. They call them “revenue streams”. See for yourself. http://housedems.ct.gov/more/More3_3_10.pdf
Make no mistake, because of inaction by our legislative delegation our taxes in this newly adopted budget are almost $200 per year higher than they would otherwise be if we were free to set our Board of Education budget at reasonable levels.
If they continue to not act on these issues our taxes will increase another $400 next year.
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Letter to East Hartford Legislators: HELP
I sent the following letter to our East Hartford legislative delegation.
As you are no doubt aware East Hartford is in a budgetary crisis. Mayor Currey has proposed an increase in property taxes of 9.2%, an increase the residents and taxpayers of East Hartford, you included, cannot bear.
With your past experience in our Town government you can no doubt relate to the Mayor’s plight and understand the difficulty she and the Town Council face in this time of economic hardship. It can be no light task to balance the runaway costs facing a local government such as ours and maintain community affordability.
We need your help as both a neighbor in our community and our representative in Hartford. East Hartford families already face a local tax burden exceeding 11% of their gross income, far more than their State and Federal burden combined. If this tax increase is implemented, the hardest hit will be those who can afford it least.
According to December CT Department of Labor data greater than 10% of East Hartford workers are currently unemployed. Yet, if implemented, this increase will impose non-negotiable increases in the cost of living for all East Hartford residents. For example, a homeowner on Chapman Street can expect an increase in their mortgage escrow of $40 per month. Their neighbor who rents in a multi-family will see a rent increase of $20 per month.
There is not often a lot that a State Representative can do for a municipality in these situations but there is something you can do. East Hartford is being brutalized by two well meaning State mandates; Minimum Expenditure Requirements and Binding Arbitration. These State laws share a common flaw in that they fail to provide a municipality with adequate room to make the difficult decisions required in hard economic times.
East Hartford’s schools are experiencing lower enrollment and the hard reality that we simply do not have the same level of spending ability today that we did yesterday or the day before. Yet, due to MER, East Hartford cannot realign its education budget without sacrificing two State dollars for every Town dollar in realigns. This is unfair and counterproductive for elected officials, taxpayers and students alike. East Hartford must have the freedom to set an education budget that serves the students and taxpayers, not State statutes.
East Hartford is also struggling with the reality of contractual labor cost increases. While East Hartford’s grand list has continued to decline and private sector workers have had to forego raises and in many cases accept permanent wage reductions and schedule cutbacks these same workers are required by past practice of municipal contract negotiators to carry the cost of raises for municipal employees. In some cases, these employees contractually receive multiple raises per year.
In order for East Hartford to achieve control over its budget, the Town must have the ability to negotiate labor contracts that are reasonable and in line with private sector compensation, free from the burdens of poor past negotiation choices. While we appreciate the work our municipal employees do, we are faced with the reality that although we may desire to provide Cadillac compensation, we cannot afford it at this time.
I ask you, along with the remainder of East Hartford’s legislative delegation, to consider introducing as new bills, or amendments to existing bills, two emergency measures to pull East Hartford from the brink. First, an appropriate amendment to Chapter 172 of the Connecticut General Statutes providing an exemption for East Hartford from Minimum Budget Requirements and Minimum Expenditure Requirements. Second, an appropriate amendment to Chapters 113 and 166 of the Connecticut General Statutes providing an exemption for East Hartford from binding arbitration awards.
Invitation for comment from Senator LeBeau
Mr. LeBeau expressed his disagreement with my analysis of his bills last night at the Lincoln Dinner in honor of Don Pitkin. While I did not think it an appropriate place or time for such a discussion I have invited him to make a response in an appropriate forum, this blog. A two sided conversation is almost always more productive and I expect that would be the case here. My invitation follows.
Mr. Lebeau,
I appreciate your patronage of my blog (http://brainflation.wordpress.com) and your disagreement with my opinions in regard to the legislation you have introduced this session. While I did not think last night’s dinner in honor of the many years of public service Don Pitkin has performed for the town of East Hartford was the appropriate venue to have such a discussion I do invite you to comment in the same forum in which you were critiqued. If you are interested in writing a response to my analysis of your bills I will gladly post it unedited on the blog.
In Liberty,
Jon Searles
http://brainflation.wordpress.com
LeBeau for governor?
Capitol Watch is reporting that our own Senator LeBeau who after a decade in office ran on the platform of “new ideas” with state taxpayer campaign funds in his unopposed reelection bid has expressed interest in a run for Governor.
http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2009/02/blumenthal-to-run-for-ag.html
An independent review of LeBeau's submitted bills.
A JI article about a bill protecting the speech rights of students caused me to investigate the 28 bills 3rd district Senator Gary LeBeau has introduced so far this session. Here is my take on them:
The Good:
HB06229 AN ACT CONCERNING PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS.
This one made me think a bit. Ultimately almost any tax break is a good one. I can of three uses for this exemption with one being to cheat the system by renting the property exempted and not disclosing it. The others would be to provide the same exemption a permanent resident veteran would get to a veteran who resides in their CT home less than half the year or to provide an exemption for a second CT vacation property.
SB00370 AN ACT ENCOURAGING REGIONALIZATION OF MUNICIPALITIES.
It seems odd that towns wouldn’t already have the ability to participate in regionalization if they desired to do so leasing me to question whether this is a redundant bill. In any case if this bill is in fact necessary to permit towns to regionalize and because it does not force any town to do so I’d say yes.
SB00380 AN ACT CONCERNING A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION ON MOTOR VEHICLES OWNED BY THE ELDERLY.
This is a good bill. It enables towns to eliminate the tax on motor vehicles for elderly persons. Again, almost any tax break is a good one.
SB00478 AN ACT CONCERNING THE ELECTRONIC CORRESPONDENCE OF STUDENTS.
This is a bill which should not in my opinion be necessary, but due to the developments of the Avery Doninger case it has become so. This bill keeps students from being punished for communications conducted on personal time which school officials deem offensive or disruptive. This bill became necessary because of the case of Avery Doninger in which she was punished for calling the superintendent of her district a douche bag on her blog while at home. The courts ruled in favor of the school administration effectively destroying the ability of enrolled students to speak their mind or otherwise express their opinions or beliefs on their own time for fear that they may be contrary to that of school officials and become punishable.
SB00484 AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEFINITION OF BULLYING.
While it is debatable whether or not state statutes should address the time honored tradition of bullying in schools which the majority of us have been on the receiving end of this bill gives a basic level of defense to a student who may be accused of bullying, potentially anonymously, by allowing them a hearing before having bully stamped on their permanent record.
SB00498 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A REDUCED STATE PARK FEE PROGRAM FOR SENIORS.
This is another tax break. This bill would reduce the user fees for senior citizens at state parks. Again, almost any tax break is a good one.
SB00717 AN ACT CONCERNING IN-KIND DONATIONS FOR PROPERTY OWNERS PROVIDING FREE RENT TO CERTAIN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
This bill effectively provides a tax break for those who allow non-profits free use of rental space. Almost any tax break is a good one.
The Bad:
HB05104 AN ACT CONCERNING AN EXCEPTION TO THE EDUCATION COST SHARING FORMULA FOR THE TOWN OF EAST HARTFORD.
This was introduced by all 4 of East Hartford’s Representatives and gives East Hartford special consideration in keeping ECS funds the same as in the previous fiscal year. This may seem like a good thing but it’s important to realize that this sort of re-election campaign issue is the very reason that the state is billions of dollars upside down. We as East Hartford residents do not have the right to take tax dollars from our neighbors for our failing schools while at the same time telling them we are cutting their funding. We need to take this opportunity to prune the millions in growth the district budget has seen without corresponding improvement in education. This bill speaks to a lack of fiscal principle on the part of the submitters.
HB06249 AN ACT EXEMPTING CITIES AND TOWNS FROM STATE COURT FILING FEES.
This bill is a bad idea. The intention is good no doubt but it ignores the fact that when the city or town doesn’t pay the fee, also known as the income that pays for the courts, employees etc., everyone in CT must subsidize the fee. Local communities should pay for their local legal issues. It is impossible to justify East Hartford taxpayers paying for the court cases of Washington Depot out in Litchfield County or vice versa.
HB06318 AN ACT PROHIBITING SMOKING IN MOTOR VEHICLES WITH MINOR CHILDREN.
This bill is an intrusion into the private lives and property of private citizens. The next logical progression from this is for the state to tell you that you can’t smoke in your home and to tell you what other things you can’t do in or with your private property. This is a violation of the natural right to Property wrapped in a banner saying save the children.
SB00051 AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A YMCA IN ELLINGTON.
This is a bad bill. Local projects need to be funded with local dollars. Why should 100% of the taxpayers carry the load for a facility 1% of the taxpayers will benefit from? If the residents of Ellington feel they need this YMCA than they ought to be willing to bond it in their own local budget. This is another campaign issue which benefits Mr LeBeau come election time but hurts the rest of the state every day.
SB00249 AN ACT CONCERNING THE FILM PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT.
This bill is bad. It reduces the availability of tax credits for certain film production activity. In other words it raises the tax burden on some types of film production. In other words it’s a tax increase.
SB00254 AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A BMX AND SKATE PARK IN EAST WINDSOR.
This is a bad bill. Here is another election issue for Mr. Lebeau. Again this should be funded at the local level. With the amount in question, $25,000, it should be no problem for a local fund raising initiative to raise the funds for this project. Bills like this should never be introduced, they compromise the principles of good government.
SB00260 AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL FEES FOR TELECOMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANIES.
This is a bad bill. This bill would impose a tax on companies which would become a tax on all users of their service as the costs are passed through to the rate payers. In other words this is a tax increase.
SB00399 AN ACT ESTABLISHING THAT WOOD SMOKE SHALL BE CONSIDERED A PUBLIC NUISANCE UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH CODE.
This is a bad bill in that it callously and without thought harms the original, cheapest and most abundant heating resource in New England. The state already has laws in place which prevent most noxious wood smoke issues in dense residential areas and this extra step would have significant economic effects on many CT households which are not appropriate in this or any economic time.
SB00415 AN ACT CONCERNING RETURN AND REUSE OF MEDICATIONS BY HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS.
This bill seems like a bad bill because in it’s brief descriptive text it appears to interfere with property rights, pose potential safety hazards and impose undue burdens on businesses without explanation of how it contends to reduce medication costs.
SB00418 AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR A FIRE TRUCK.
This is a bad bill which once again gives Mr. LeBeau a campaign issue at the expense of all other CT residents. It would provide funds for a fire truck which benefits one town and sends the bill to the residents of all 169 towns in the state. The truck if needed should be purchased with local funds and bonding.
SB00496 AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR RAYMOND LIBRARY IN THE TOWN OF EAST HARTFORD.
Yet another bad election issue bill. East Hartford needs to pay for this on our own. The cost for this without bonding would be just $100 per household in a single tax year.
SB00570 AN ACT CONCERNING THE ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, MOTOR BUS IDLING AND BENEFICIAL USE OF SOLID WASTE.
This bill has too many individual and unrelated issues in it. The implications of this bill as written are numerous and the issues should be addressed separately.
SB00611 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FULL-TIME UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE.
Wow, just wow. All in one bill here. Raise legislator salaries, reduce representation in the state, extend terms of election, remove the check of dual chambers. This bill is awful and Senator LeBeau ought to be embarrassed for introducing it. One thing is certain, this bill would make the legislature more efficient, just not at the things citizens appreciate.
SB00665 AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FUND FOR THE BENEFIT OF SUPPORTED LIVING IN GROUPS HOMES.
This is government intrusion into private charity. This exists in the private market and does not need to be destroyed by the hands of legislators.
SB00666 AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR BROWNFIELDS DEVELOPMENT.
This bill raids funds set aside for land protection, affordable housing and historical preservation to provide an election issue for Mr. LeBeau by financing the remediation of brownfields in his district.
SB00726 AN ACT CONCERNING SURCHARGE CLAUSES IN RESIDENTIAL LEASES FOR HEAT AND UTILITIES
This is a bad bill. It would allow a landlord to include a clause to unilaterally spring rent increases labeled as heat or utility surcharges on a renter violating the basic principle of contracts. The clause this bill attempts to authorize was specifically banned to remove the ability of landlords to impose abusive unilateral increases.
SB00735 AN ACT REQUIRING THE USE OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FOR NONMOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION.
This bill is unnecessary and harmful to efficient use of transportation funds. Earmarking of fund in this manner ensures that funds will be spent needlessly and yet more funds will be needed to replace the hole created by this earmarking.
SB00736 AN ACT IMPROVING STATUTORY AND REGULATORY PROVISIONS CONCERNING PARKING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
This bill smacks of bureaucracy and administrative costs for government and private business. To my knowledge the law already limits the use of handicapped permits and spaces to the handicapped. Abuse of the system could already be enforced where problems exist.
The Neutral:
HB05622 AN ACT CONCERNING THE INCLUSION OF GLUTENS ON THE LABELING OF ALL FOOD PRODUCTS
I’m ultimately against this bill because the list of gluten-free foods, most of which are already proudly advertised as such, is significantly shorter than those containing gluten. For this reason I’m of the opinion that a wiser path is to assume all foods are made with and contain glutens unless they are specifically labelled otherwise. The intention of this bill is obvious. Glutens are an allergen to a good portion of the population and as such the need to know about their existence in foods is important. The difference between peanuts, which are labelled, and glutens which are not is that peanuts would not be a normal ingredient in most foods whereas gluten is.
HB05930 AN ACT REQUIRING SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT ANALYSES FOR PROPOSED REGULATIONS.
This bill is another one that could be a curse wrapped in a blessing. I am in favor of the concept of reviewing all regulations to determine their impact on all businesses and citizens. What troubles me is the the cost, beurocracy and accuracy of any analysis that would occur. I don’t know how I’d vote on this one without more information.
SB00721 AN ACT HOLDING COMPANIES HARMLESS FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY EX-OFFENDERS IN THEIR EMPLOY.
This bill seems good on it’s face, but it’s unclear what responsibility the employer has to ensure their customers aren ‘t harmed especially when the employer has reason to believe that the employee may be of poor character. How would you feel if Bernie Madoff were employed by a local bank after being released from prison and stole the money from your checking account. I would expect the bank to be responsible having knowledge that he has a significant ethical and character flaw in that area.
Conclusion
7 Good, 18 Bad, and 3 Neutral Bills.
That means on my scale LeBeau scores 25% good, or alternatively 75% bad.
It’s worth noting that the things I have listed as good are mostly only listed as such because they are tax breaks. It appears that LeBeau’s strategy is to introduce bills that create election issues to win segments of the voting population including senior citizens and veterans. There is nothing in this list of bills that helps CT as a whole and in fact a good portion of it is downright bad for the state.
LTE: "Yes we can" or "Because I can"?
So many times this election season I’ve heard the slogan “yes we can”. I’ve heard it sung, chanted and spoken with authority. It’s been spoken by the young and the old, rich and poor. It’s truly a unifying message. Yes we can.
It’s easy to get lost in the positive of ‘the yes’ or the ‘can’, but the real power is in us, the ‘we’. Now that the election is over it’s vital that we, there it is again, don’t forget the power and meaning of what this election represented to both parties. It’s vital that in the days, weeks, months and years ahead each of us remain part of the ‘we’. Without exaggeration our country, our state and our town depend on it.
With Nov. 4th behind us I believe “yes we can” has come to mean “yes we will”. Yes we will start paying attention. Yes we will hold elected officials accountable. Yes we will actively seek better solutions. Yes we will see an end to decades of gradually increasing imposition from government at all levels.
Because I believe these things I was greatly offended when I learned that two of our recently reelected incumbents seem to have misheard “yes we can” as “because I can”. Henry Genga and Gary LeBeau when faced with a question of integrity and principal, whether or not they should take taxpayer funds to run a campaign against nobody in their unopposed reelection bids, chose the path of selfishness and greed. Instead of saying “yes we can” and honoring their duty to ‘we’ their constituents they said “because I can” and stole food from our tables and gas from our cars for no reason other than self promotion to aid their political climb. Shameless, greedy, unapologetic self promotion. Can we hold them accountable? I say yes we can. Tell Mr. Genga (860) 240-8585 and Mr. LeBeau (860) 240-0511 what you think and don’t forget it in 2010. Tell them to give back our money.
Senator LeBeau & Rep. Genga – CENSURED
Last night the East Hartford Republican Town Committee took decisive action on the abusive participation in the Citizens Election Program by incumbents Genga and LeBeau during their unopposed races.
The Republicans were unanimous in a call for the return of CEP funds and an apology to the taxpayers.
From the press release:
East hartford, ct, november 11, 2008: East Hartford Republicans have censured State Rep. Henry Genga and State Senator Gary LeBeau for exploiting the Citizens Election Program, which was intended to foster political competition, and betraying taxpayer trust by exploiting taxpayer dollars in their unopposed reelection bids and have called on Genga and LeBeau to return all Citizen Election Program funds received. Jon Searles, Chairman of the EHRTC 6TH District, said “This is the opposite of what the CEP was intended to accomplish. These two believe that when faced with a choice of self promotion or responsible stewardship of our tax dollars the former is always the better choice. It put a sour taste in my mouth to see them wasting taxpayer dollars before the election was even over. I’d like to see them give that money back.”
Here is the text of the motion.
It’s about time we start seeing activity like this from the R side of the aisle.
The morning after…
The voters have spoken and have certainly brought change, though only of one type.
Massachusetts voters blocked a ban on the income tax by a wide margin while Connecticut residents blocked a constitutional convention which proponents hoped would lead to term limits, initiative and referendum. Apparently these items were not change that the voters could believe in.
What voters did believe in was purging the republican party from office. Locally we remain totally democrat controlled with Jason Rojas winning over Clif Thompson in the 9th while Tim Larson and Henry Genga walked into their seats unopposed. LeBeau remains our State Senator also unopposed and John Larson easily defended his seat against Visconti with Visconti only receiving the normal baseline vote.
Our state congressional seats are now 100% democrat as well with the loss by Shays in the 4th, though that may not be a bad thing with Shays being the poster boy for two sided politics.
How did this happen? The driving force, Barack Obama, swept CT leaving a wake of change in public office. Reports indicate record turnouts inspired by Obama which will probably exceed 75% on average.
With the election over and the novelty of election promises soon to wear off here are some changes which are likely coming to CT and the nation as a whole under the new D president and D state and Federal Legislatures.
Universal Healthcare
Carbon Cap & Trade
Fossil Fuel Taxes
New International Environmental Standards
Reversal of Bush Tax Cuts
Increase in Capital Gains Rates
Further Monetary Debasement
Expansion of Social Security
Make Work Programs
To be quite honest, I feel bad for Barack. He has won a historic victory but he’s done so in the worst possible economic times. The monetary system is collapsing as has been predicted by Austrian Economists for decades and those in charge of the system are following the same system which caused the Great Depression. Along with the nationalization of private entities I expect we’ll see bank holidays to thwart runs on deposits and a federal mandate halting foreclosures. JP Morgan, immune to the economic woes as federal reserve owner, has already implemented a voluntary foreclosure freeze to set the stage. Despite what the Obama presidency achieves, good or bad, it is his misfortune that his presidency may be marked by the most desperate economic times in the living history of the American People.
Inquiry Into Genga Campaign Expenditures
I made a call to the SEEC’s legal division to inquire about the legality of the Genga Campaign’s thinly veiled donations to the Democratic Town Committee as well as the Podunk Bluegrass Festival and Summer Youth Festival organizations. The guidelines are clear that donations to political committees and non-profits are forbidden but the campaign may have exploited a loophole to make the donations legal.
It’s also confirmed that both Genga and LeBeau are utilizing their campaign funds with postal mailers and color full page ads showing up this past week in our mailboxes and the Gazette. For a short while I had hoped that these candidates were simply showing their support for the Citizens Election Program by participating but would return the funds unused at the end of the election season as the CEP rules provide for. Sadly it appears that these two do not have any respect for our tax dollars.
If the SEEC legal department indicates any wrong doing you can be certain I will file a full complaint against the Genga Campaign which would hopefully result in disqualification from the CEP and an order to return all CEP funds. I want my tax dollars back from these two crooks.
As an aside, I’m glad so many people are interested in voting this year. My most prevalent search engine query in the last 24 hours has been for voting locations in East Hartford.
[polldaddy poll=1072615]
*Tax Payer Abuse* Genga donates state funds to EH Democratic Town Committee
According to Genga’s latest filings it appears that rather than campaigning, which he doesn’t need to do since he has no opponent, (so why take our money?) Henry Genga has been utilizing his election grant, also known as our tax dollars, to support political and pet organizations.
So far Henry has used our tax dollars to support the Podunk Music Festival, a Democratic Town Committee Golf Tournament and The East Hartford Summer Youth Festival. While I encourage Henry to support these organizations on his own, it’s wrong plain and simple to be using a reelection campaign as a front for taxpayer abuse.
I can only hope that Genga will return the remaining 7K of his state funds and LeBeau will return his 30K or so. Or, maybe we’ll see a barrage of LeBeau/Genga ads come Monday night.
As an aside, sitting Town Councilor and MDC commission member Bill Horan is Genga’s treasurer. Sitting by while Genga abused us by receiving state funds in the first place and not stepping down as treasurer when seeing our tax dollars abused in this manner makes Bill just as culpable.
Also, town halls was swamped with last minute registrations tonight. Turnout will likely be through the roof Tuesday.
*Update*
