RTCindex

This is not the official Weston RTC site - for official Party line, check out the terrific,official site: http://www.westonrtc.org

A GRAND WESTON TRADITION: From the official RTC website, a gracious thanks!   Our reports on Campaign 2011 here.

NEWS FROM ALL G.O.P. LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION IN HARTFORD

THE REPUBLICAN TOWN COMMITTEE

“Our town is at an historic crossroads. Weston is a small residential community whose taxpayers are faced with the challenges
of keeping Weston educationally, economically, recreationaly and socially strong.

“The Weston Republican Town Committee respects the residents and applauds the volunteers, who, over the years, have
made our town such a welcoming and desirable place to live.”

W. Glenn Major, Chairman, Weston Republican Town Committee

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Serious talk about the extent of power...
What was the real story about the Humvees?
"Slippery-slope" to regional government in the wings?

The CT Legislature: "Bulletins" showing when Committees meet, Public Hearing info...CONGRESSIONAL MAP TO COURT.

In advance of the new short session, beginning February 8, ending May 9, 2012, we note Governor Malloy recognizes that his approach is usually "top down":

Connecticut Legislature: CT preparing for another snow job?

OFA report on how the budget is doing here
Malloy to Plug Connecticut in Switzerland
by CTNewsjunkie Staff | Jan 19, 2012 4:03pm

(Updated) Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced Thursday he will be traveling to Davos, Switzerland to participate in the annual World Economic Forum where he plans
to promote the state’s bio-science initiatives.

The governor was invited to the event, which will take place from Jan. 25 to Jan. 29. The UConn Foundation will pay for Malloy to attend at a cost of about $4,500,
according to a press release. Because Malloy was invited to attend he doesn’t have to pay the hefty $50,000 admission fee.

“I’ve been invited to participate in three panels and I intend to scramble to make sure that people are aware that Connecticut’s open for business,” he said after an
unrelated press conference...

And while Malloy is going to Switzerland to promote Connecticut, there are some who are questioning the timing of the trip.

“And once again, when the going gets tough the Governor gets going — this time, he’s off to Washington tomorrow for a union gala and next week to Davos, Switzerland
for an exclusive $20,000 gathering at a luxurious Swiss ski resort,” GOP Chairman Jerry Labriola Jr. said in a statement. “The governor’s appreciation for travel makes
Conrad Hilton look like a recluse.”

Labriola cited the recent consensus budget estimates with show Connecticut teetering on the verge of a $95 million deficit.

“The millions of over-taxed hardworking families of this state deserve better,” he said...

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Redistricting here. official legislative site; article here. Weston has been in the 4th District recently, but in past years was sometimes in the district to the north.

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Wall Street Downgrades CT’s Bond Rating
CTNEWSJUNKIE
by Christine Stuart | Jan 20, 2012 12:48pm

(Updated 5:28 p.m.) In a week of already disappointing fiscal news, one of the three Wall Street credit rating agencies downgraded its bond rating Friday citing pension
fund ratios and the lack of a rainy day fund.

Moody’s Investor Services downgraded Connecticut’s rating from Aa2 to Aa3. The rating comes on the heels of news that the state may end the year nearly $95 million
in the red if it fails to take corrective action.

“The rating downgrade is based on Connecticut’s high combined fixed costs for debt service and post employment benefits relative to the state’s budget; pension funded
ratios that are among the lowest in the country and likely to remain well below average; and depleted reserves with slim prospects for near-term replenishment,“ Moody’s
wrote in an explanation of its decision...

Legislative Analysts Say Deficit Is Bigger Than Initially Thought
CTNEWSJUNKIE
by Christine Stuart | Jan 26, 2012 5:22am
(Updated 8:29 a.m.)

If you believe the non-partisan staff at the legislature’s Office of Fiscal Analysis, Connecticut’s budget picture is worse than anyone could have imagined.

Late Wednesday night the office pegged the current general fund deficit at nearly $145 million. It said the amount reflects an estimated net increase in spending of
$130.7 million, and a net reduction in revenue of $94.7 million.

However, the numbers don’t include the nearly $79 million in rescissions Gov. Dannel P. Malloy released earlier this week in an effort to try and keep the budget his first
budget in the black and in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

The Office of Fiscal Analysis is conducting an analysis of the rescissions and is expected to let lawmakers know if any of them overlap with existing lapses.

Office of Policy and Management Secretary Ben Barnes admitted Tuesday that some of the $79 million in rescissions may have already been counted as lapses. Early
Thursday morning he released this list which shows about $44 million of the $79 million have already been counted as lapses and about $34 million are new spending
cuts.

As it stands currently, OFA believes “The budget is heavily reliant on budgeted lapses to achieve balance.”

A lapse is an unallocated sum of money, which has been held back so it can’t be spent and it’s a normal occurrence in any budget. But this year’s lapses were larger
than in previous budgets because many included targeted savings which were part of the union concessions deal.

“Of the $777.9 million budgeted, we have been able to identify $651.4 million in lapses,” OFA wrote in its report Wednesday. “About five months remain in the fiscal
year and the remaining $126.5 million may still be achieved through various savings or budgeting mechanisms.”

The remarks about the lapses support the argument Republican lawmakers made earlier this week.

Sen. Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, said Tuesday that he believes as much as $41.7 million of the governor’s proposed rescissions have already been
identified as lapses. That leaves about only $37 million in new reductions, which means the budget will still be out of balance after Malloy makes the cuts.

Malloy has the power to cut up to 5 percent of any one line item in the budget without legislative approval. Before leaving for Switzerland Tuesday Malloy released
the list of nearly $79 million in rescissions.

“Now Governor Malloy has a $145 million budget hole - $220 million if he intends to keep his promise to comply with GAAP - and only $32 million worth of ideas to fill it,”
McKinney said Wednesday in a statement. “His math simply doesn’t add up...“

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A Year in Review...Looking ahead to the 2012 session, the following issues will take center stage:

Education – ECS funding, teacher tenure and evaluations, teacher layoff provisions, charter schools, and universal kindergarten are sure to be debated. There will also be
a renewed focus on vocational schools at the urging of the manufacturing industry.

Transportation – We also spoke about the many aspects of transportation infrastructure that should be addressed in 2012. These areas include rail, roads, bridges, ports,
freight, and airports.

Hot topics that are sure to come up in the next session also include tolls, transportation funding, online gambling, and Sunday sales of alcohol, same day registration
and voting, as well as online voting.

The next session begins February 8th. I look forward to working with my colleagues on these and other priorities. In particular, state leaders must address the reasons
why Connecticut is the subject of national headlines that proclaim:

    Connecticut is the most heavily taxed state.
    Connecticut has the highest debt per capita of any state, and just received a bond downgrade from Moody’s.
    Connecticut is the worst state to retire in due to taxing of income, pensions, cars, inheritance and real estate.

We can no longer afford to delay taking positive action to reverse these negative trends and make Connecticut once again, a great place to live. As always I welcome
your ideas and offer my office to you if you have any questions or concerns.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Ranking Member Boucher reports on what the Education Committee has sent out to the floor for consideration so far and what she has done to improve #1160

FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE SENATE TUESDAY, JAN. 11, 2011:
Some of Rep. Shaban's first bills:

Proposed H. B. No. 5169 Referred to P&D 'AN ACT CONCERNING INCENTIVES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT', to incentivize municipalities
to promote affordable housing instead of punitive burden shifting.

Proposed Bill No. 5127 Referred to Committee on Environment
AN ACT AUTHORIZING SUNDAY HUNTING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
That section 26-73 of the general statutes be amended to authorize Sunday hunting on private lands.
Statement of Purpose: To authorize Sunday hunting on private lands.

PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION PLANNING
Will our new representative in the 135th help out our Bicycle-Pedestrian Committee get funds for projects?

TRIAL ON LAWSUIT ON FAA OVER - NO APPEAL HEARD AT SUPREME COURT!
FAA re-routing of flights over CT

Transit Oriented Development (T.O.D.) and other outside funding
"Stimulous Package" focus on transportation - not much for Weston. But wait...Representative Stripp secured maybe the last of its
kind for Weston - a STEAP grant in 2010 to try again to repair Revson! THANK YOU JOHN!

Energy, etc.:
What effect will Gulf oil spill have on these issues? How about Japan's triple disasters?
"Broadwater" issue...a victory handed down by New York State to opponents, but the fight goes on. Latest news
interesting...Islander East case in Federal Court goes in favor of Connecticut's position re: preserving natural value of L.I.S.