Home  »  February, 2011

February 25, 2011

Does Mr. Malloy Want to Be Mr. President?

Of the 44 men that have served as President of the United States, 20 served as Governor of their state beforehand, including four of the six most recent Presidents. Considering Gov. Dannel Malloy’s moves in recent days, one can’t help but wonder whether he might like to join that exclusive club. Over the past several [...]

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February 22, 2011

Being Circumspect about an Earned Income Tax Credit

Amid Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s budget proposals this week was the inclusion of an Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income families. The measure, much sought by Democrats and often derided by Republicans, has the unlikely impact of turning each party’s rhetoric against itself.

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February 22, 2011

Seventeen Trips to the Dentist

Governor Dannel P. Malloy began his first of seventeen town hall meetings last night in Bridgeport, taking questions from residents on taxes, state spending, competitiveness, and more. The first questioner of the night removed his dentures, so perhaps it is appropriate that the task that Mr. Malloy has volunteered for is, in many ways, like [...]

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February 22, 2011

Little New in Malloy Budget for East Hampton

Governor Dannel P. Malloy unveiled his plan to close the state’s $3.2 billion deficit this week to half-hearted praise and widespread grumbling. The plan relies on $1.5 billion in tax increases, $1 billion in salary concessions from state employees, and $750 million in spending reductions. East Hampton, however, will see little in the way of new revenue from the Malloy budget.

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February 15, 2011

Death by a Thousand Hikes

Even the most passive observers of the 2008 Presidential campaign will remember one of Republican nominee John McCain’s favorite jokes, “Remember the words of Chairman Mao: It’s always darkest before it’s totally black.” That’s how many residents are feeling one day after Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced a $1.5 billion tax increase that would raise rates [...]

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February 14, 2011

SustiNet: Will CT Compete in the Global Economy or Not?

For more than a century, the defense and insurance industries have been bulwarks of the Connecticut economy but within the last year, both are waving distress flags at the state’s leaders. United Technology’s CFO Gregory Hayes bluntly told reporters that, “Anyplace outside of Connecticut is low-cost.” Similar themes were again sounded this week by Aetna [...]

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February 7, 2011

Does Commuter Rail Have a Future in East Hampton?

The winter weather has wrecked havoc on East Hampton’s commuters over the past several weeks, turning journeys usually measured in minutes into hours-long treks on overcrowded highways. Amid these road hazards, rail is one option that always seems to score a great deal of attention. But would it really work to solve our traffic problems?

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February 6, 2011

Malloy’s Good Cop, Bad Cop Routine?

Any viewer of Law & Order knows the routine, but look for Governor Dannel P. Malloy to be the good cop and the legislative to take the fall as bad cop (or vice versa, depending on your perspective) as the budget battle starts to unfold in the coming weeks.

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