By Chris Powell Is state government in Connecticut in a financial emergency because of its likely loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal assistance under the Trump administration? Most Democratic state legislators think so. Led by House Speaker Matt Ritter, they want to remove the “fiscal guardrails” that have restrained state government spendingContinue reading “Plenty of money for political patronage despite danger to state budget”
Tag Archives: ‘fiscal guardrails’
Plenty of ideas for taxes but few for economizing
By Chris Powell Members of the Democratic majority in the General Assembly have a new tax idea. They would impose a 28-cent tax on every delivery of a retail product. Anything that comes to your door from Amazon, Walmart, UPS, Federal Express, Door Dash, pizza shops, and other restaurants would be charged. A sanctimony cityContinue reading “Plenty of ideas for taxes but few for economizing”
A ‘moral budget’ needs more than pious poses
By Chris Powell Members of the clergy held a press conference at the state Capitol this week to protest restraint in state government spending, the infamous “fiscal guardrails.” They called for a “moral budget” — that is, a lot more spending on social services, schools, and housing. Ending poverty isn’t the aim of state policy;Continue reading “A ‘moral budget’ needs more than pious poses”
Ending poverty isn’t the aim of state policy; enlarging it is
By Chris Powell Nearly everyone on state government’s payroll, directly or indirectly, is beseeching Governor Lamont and the General Assembly to loosen the “fiscal guardrails” that have constrained spending and have allowed state pension funds to grow slightly faster than their obligations. Stewart goes for governor with giddy superficiality Trump and Democrats trade license forContinue reading “Ending poverty isn’t the aim of state policy; enlarging it is”
Chris Powell column 