Category Archives: News
Senate Minority Leader Fasano: Forum: Time to create business opportunity for all, not just the privileged few
For years, Connecticut Republicans have called for policy changes to reduce business burdens. The less you tax a business, the more capital it will have to invest in growing services and jobs. That growth translates to more funding for the state through sales tax revenue, income tax generation, and individuals investing in their local economies.
The Democrats’ recent publicizing of job growth and potential benefits of the First Five Plus Program actually amplifies the Republican philosophy of reducing burdens to create a more vibrant economy. However, the big difference is that the Democrats have instead pursued a strategy of picking winners and losers, reducing the burdens of a select few through tax credits and grants while increasing burdens on the rest of the state to pay for their choices. In the typical hypocritical style of the Democratic majority, while promoting the First Five program they also argue that businesses need to pay more in taxes to make up their ‘fair share.’
Rather than reducing burdens on all businesses and allowing everyone the same opportunity to grow and keep revenue, Democrats want only those companies that they select to get special treatment. As a result everyone else pays more for those few. The logic is baffling and boarders on insanity.
Republicans have a different vision. We believe in creating an economy that incentivizes development by reducing burdens for everyone and moving government out of the way. We need to give every business large and small the same advantage. We have to show job creators that our state is dedicated to helping them succeed, not squeezing them for every penny.
To do this, we have to create new opportunities. We need to stimulate the economy by reducing taxes on businesses and individuals. We need to forge partnerships between new businesses and local schools to create the best trained workforces possible with curriculums tailored to local business needs. We must encourage businesses to breathe life into our cities through a tax exemption program open to any business capable of committing to brownfield redevelopment. We need to create a stable and predictable government so that employers don’t have to worry about what new taxes they might get hit with in a bad budget year.
While many Republicans initially voted in support of the Democrat majority’s First Five legislation, it has morphed into something we never envisioned, which is why we have demanded more accountability for years. We sought to require legislative approval for each participating company and we opposed the inclusion of certain businesses, such as the world’s largest hedge fund. But our protests were ignored by Democrats, and now the program has added a damaging amount of debt to our state placing more burdens on our families and children.
The true absurdity is that to defend their over sized program, Democrats are now latching on to the very argument they have shunned for years: in order to grow our economy, we have to reduce taxes, infuse capital and encourage businesses to flourish. But this rhetoric clashes with their calls for businesses to pay more, with their burdensome business policies, and with the insults Democrats have lobbed at businesses who dare to question state budgets that starve businesses of much needed capital.
Over the past two years, we have seen Democrats call business complaints about being overtaxed “overblown” and “childish.” We’ve heard them mock GE to the point where they up and left. We’ve watched them pass budgets that ignored the concerns of job creators. That’s not how you grow jobs.
Republicans believe that by decreasing the financial and regulatory restraints on employers large and small we can foster sustainable economic growth and job creation. Democrats may finally be seeing the value in that message for those businesses they want to help, but their approach forces more tax increases on all the rest of us. It adds to the problem. Picking winners and losers is no long-term solution.
Len Fasano serves as Senate Minority Leader and represents the towns of North Haven, East Haven, Wallingford & Durham.
Op-ed by Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano as it appeared in the New Haven Register
Senator Witkos: Sales Tax Free Week Shopping
Connecticut’s sales tax free week on most clothing and footwear runs from:
Sunday, Aug. 21 – Saturday, Aug. 27
The seven-day holiday exempts clothing and footwear priced under $100 from the sales tax.
The sales tax is applied to merchandise after the use of any coupons or discounts.
Any coupons or discounts that bring the final price of an item under $100 benefit from the exemption.
There are restrictions.
The state Department of Revenue Services says special clothing or footwear primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use, accessories, and jewelry do not qualify.
Please note: This benefit has been substantially reduced from previous years and will only apply to clothing and footwear that costs less than $100.
For more information, www.ct.gov/drs.
Connecticut Republican Delegation at Ohio Convention All In For Trump
Written by Juliana Simone
Speaking with the Connecticut Republican State Party Chairman J.R. Romano yesterday morning from his hotel room in Cleveland, the Republican Chairman who is serving his first term, when asked how the convention was going, said, “It’s been tremendous. The first night was tremendous.” He added all of the 125 delegates from Connecticut were very happy to be there.
Romano is one of the three super delegates of the twenty-eight given to this New England state. The other two are Republican National Committeewoman Pat Longo and and Republican National Committeeman John Frey for the state of Connecticut. Longo, a veteran member of the GOP who’s served under a variety of titles, is attending the 2016 national convention for the last time in this role. Leora Levy was elected earlier this year by State Central members to be Longo’s replacement in the RNC upon her retirement.
Frey, (R-111) is a state representative in the Connecticut General Assembly, serving his ninth term for the town of Ridgefield. He was appointed by RNC Chairman, Reince Preibus, to be one of three Sergeant-at-Arms, where his job will be to help keep order within the convention.
In the Connecticut presidential primary, Republicans voted big for the New York businessman Donald J. Trump, with 57.9% and 123, 367 votes. Ohio Governor, John Kasich, came in a distant second with 28.4% and 60, 481 votes. Third place went to Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, with 11.7% and 24,969 votes. Connecticut Republicans backed Trump and after his strong finish were always clear they would give all of their delegate votes to the candidate their party members strongly preferred.
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Connecticut Republican Delegation At Ohio Convention All In For Trump
TONIGHT: July 14th – ICYMI: “Conservative Chat” with columnist Don Pesci – 7PM Charter Channel 191
“Conservative Chat” – Tonight, July 14th, 2016, 7PM on Charter Cable Channel 191, Barkhamsted RTC Chair Juliana Simone hosts a new show with columnist Don Pesci. Juliana and Don discuss federal and state issues, such as the newly released Benghazi Reports from both the republican and democrat Houses, and how they reflect on former SOS Hillary Clinton; the CT democrat federal delegation’s recent stunts for more anti-gun laws; Former POTUS Bill Clinton’s half-hour meeting with AG Loretta Lynch on the tarmac; the closing of the Old State House; UCONN’s VIP raises; Malloy’s popularity in the polls and what this could mean in November, and more!
For those who are not Charter subscribers, or are outside of the viewing area, this show can be seen online on www.ctv13.net
Barkhamsted Voter Registrars Win First ROVAC Annual State Award for Best Team
June 2016
Written by Juliana Simone
Barkhamsted, CT – On April 15th, 2016, the Registrars of Voters of Connecticut presented their first annual award to Barkhamsted Voter Registrars, Susan Day (R) and Karen Martin (D) for “Best Team.” The award was created to illustrate a bipartisan example of voter registrars who could work honestly and well together to produce genuine results on voting days regardless of party affiliation. Republican Registrar of Voters, Susan Day, a veteran member of the Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee, has held her municipal position for over twenty years. Karen Martin became the Democrat Registrar of Voters in early 2009. The pair has worked together professionally and amicably for over seven years.
Voters in this small rural community all appreciate the fairness and thoroughness that is always delivered by Day and Martin. To the contrary, Connecticut is known nationwide for its Election Day irregularities, polling place mishaps and controversial election law abnormalities throughout its three large cities of New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford. These discrepancies, for the most part, are never fully or judiciously investigated by the Democrat controlled government at the capitol, and those that are dealt with due to higher publicity, are dismissed with a minor wrist slap or discharge.
Registrars of Voters throughout the state of Connecticut should strive to work in tandem like these two fine recipients of a newly created award that sets an example for others that hold this important title. Regardless of pressures applied on important voting days, these officers should remember they are elected to serve their constituents and follow the laws they are sworn to observe. The numbers that come in are the will of the people and any suggested tampering to change the results should not even be considered. Those actions almost always ends up poorly in the end, however strong the moment which leads to a bad decision with consequences.
Perhaps all registrars should just enjoy their jobs and be the experts they often are at the end of Election Day. Report the final count from the machine totals and the absentee ballots and call it a day – a very long day, for these officials. And, yes, any write-in such as “Daffy Duck” does need to be thrown out regardless of the passion behind that individual vote. Thank you, Susan and Karen! The town of Barkhamsted could not be more proud than to see you both awarded for this first-time distinction!
The funny back story to this, I meant to add before first publishing, is at the event, when the award was being described to attendees, Sue leaned over to Karen and said in regards to who the recipients should be, that should be us – and right after she says this to her partner, their names are announced to all! All in favor? Aye!
Campaign Announcement from August Wolf 2016 U.S. Senate Candidate
June 21, 2016
Campaign Announcement
In May 2015 I filed my paperwork to run for U.S. Senate in 2016. I assumed, especially in the year of the outsider, that my background, passion, hard work and a good team would allow my campaign to offer the people of the State ofConnecticut a viable alternative to a career politician whose 32 years of service had contributed mightily to the decline of the state.
After 12 months of campaigning, an insider-rigged convention denied us primary ballot access–so we made a decision to petition. Sadly we learned this week that our effort fell short, and despite the efforts and encouragement of many, we are now forced to suspend the campaign. Our example will continue to discourage outsiders from taking the plunge.
The goal of this campaign was always to ensure the people of Connecticut 6 years of solutions, not 6 more years of political theater. Dick Blumenthal has ruined this state. He is a complete and utter failure. His tenure as Attorney General contributed to the demise of this once great state, and now he is hurting the entire nation. We deserve people who want to solve real issues; people who are willing to get stuff done!
I have gotten to know Representative Dan Carter at campaign events; he is someone Connecticut can be proud of–I wish him the best in his campaign this fall. Ultimately we share the same goal: sending Dick Blumenthal home. I will support Dan as I can, especially where I have demonstrated some strength, in fundraising.
We thank all the people who supported this effort with their donations, thoughts, public expressions of support, and time. You did make a difference, and I won’t forget the people who kept me going.
Sincerely,
August Wolf
{Editor’s note: Thank you to so many of you who signed the petition for August. He was a great candidate who experienced what so many have at the CT State conventions, whether holding prior office or not. Like them, Wolf has little to say about the experience and he is taking the high road in this statement. He is being a gentleman, which, of course, shows leadership… for now we should perhaps all focus on the Presidential race, which is the most important thing at present to our country and for future generations. Good luck to Dan.”}
Final Encore: June 9th “Conservative Chat” With U.S. Senate Candidate August Wolf – 7:00PM Charter Cable 191
Thursday, June 9th, 2016 on Charter Cable Channel 191 at 7:00 PM, the Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee presents an interview with Republican U.S. Senate Candidate August Wolf and Barkhamsted RTC Chair and Host Juliana Simone. August and Juliana discuss his background, why he’s running for political office, foreign policy and who our biggest enemy is today, immigration and what solutions there could be, unemployment and bringing back jobs to our youth, outsourced workers and middle-aged employees who once laid off can’t get rehired, the nation’s debt and how to reduce it, the Second Amendment, our military and our veterans, August’s thoughts on incumbent U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, why he is the best candidate to run against Blumenthal and why delegates should give him their vote at the state convention this Monday.
If you’re outside of the viewing area, it can be seen on the Internet – www.ctv13.net under the tab Watch Online – search “Conservative Chat” – click episode #106.
Barkhamsted Presidential Primary Results : Trump and Sanders Win
From our fine Barkhamsted Voter Registrars, Susan Day (R) and Karen Martin (D). Many thanks to all of the poll workers who regularly assist on our election days.
REPUBLICANS –
DONALD J. TRUMP – 242
JOHN R. KASICH – 127
TED CRUZ – 68
BEN CARSON – 9
UNCOMMITTED – 3
DEMOCRAT –
BERNIE SANDERS – 210
HILLARY CLINTON – 137
UNCOMMITTED – 4
ROQUE “ROCKY” De La FUENTE – 2
Barkhamsted Board of Finance Budget Town Hearing – Monday, April 25th 7PM – BES
April 24, 2016
Concerned Barkhamsted voters – please attend tomorrow evening’s town hearing being held by the Board of Finance at the Barkhamsted Elementary School, who will address itemized estimates of expenditures for the town’s fiscal year ending on June 30, 2017. All comments/questions will be heard by the Board for consideration, in regards to what they should ultimately confirm or reject.