Can't Afford To Leave The Country ??? - Consider Connecticut !!! - WooHoo !!!

[WillyT]

Democratic Rule Remakes Connecticut’s Legislature
By PETER APPLEBOME - NYT
June 7, 2011

<snip>

HARTFORD — In a year when conservative politics have dominated even traditionally Democratic states like New Jersey and New York, Connecticut is closing out its most activist, liberal legislative session in memory. Lawmakers over the last several weeks have enacted the largest tax increase in Connecticut history and approved the nation’s first law to mandate paid sick leave for some workers. They voted to extend protections for transgender people, to charge in-state college tuition rates to illegal immigrants, to extend an early-release program for prisoners and to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

As legislators wrap up the first session in 20 years with a Democratic governor, who is working with two chambers in the Legislature under Democratic control, it is clear that either they did not receive or they decided to tear up the antitax, budget-slashing, confront-the-unions script that has characterized state legislative sessions elsewhere.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and legislative Democrats characterize the session that is scheduled to end at midnight Wednesday as one in which tough and balanced decisions were made on fiscal and job-creation issues while social issues that had lingered for many years were addressed. Republicans say the last five months of lawmaking have been a liberal joy ride and a capitulation to the state’s powerful unions. The session provides a glimpse into the politics of a state that largely avoided the Republican tide that swept the country last year. And the way that voters respond could say a lot, not just about Connecticut’s future, but also about national politics as the fevers of the 2010 elections begin to cool.

The Senate president, Donald E. Williams Jr., a Democrat from Brooklyn, Conn., said the legislation passed on social issues was forward-looking and relatively modest, and he insisted Connecticut had made difficult but smart economic choices that would benefit the state over the long run. “We’re not interested in burning the bridges leading to our economic future,” Mr. Williams said in an interview. “Governor Malloy and the Democratic Legislature have decided to dig in and not do what other states are doing: using a flamethrower when it comes to municipal aid, state support for education, state support for pathways that lead to opportunity.”

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More: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/08/nyregion/democratic-rule-remakes-connecticuts-legislative-face.html?_r=1

:D

:hi:

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[crazyjoe]

1. "Biggest tax increases in history"?! I'm there !!

[WillyT]

2. If It's Mostly On The Wealthy... Me Too !!!

:evilgrin:

[90-percent]

3. Also

There's a lot of pot decriminalization laws in the works. My home state may soon become one of the leading progressive states in America! Why not, it's pretty blue here.

We seem to be embracing ANTI-STUPIDITY and catching up to the public's point of view. We don't seem to dance to the corporate drum as much as some other states, or, mostly Washington. So much is in line with the electorates beliefs. Holy Mackeral, we've elected a Gov that works for the interests of the people. For the folks that elected him. How refreshing!

-90% Jimmy

[Blasphemer]

4. Good for CT! I hope they follow Vermont's lead on Single Payer... nt

[CTyankee]

6. Oh, I am wishing and hoping so much!

We have the strongest gay marriage state supreme court decision in the nation. We've got mandatory sick leave, first in the nation. Griswold v. CT decriminalized birth control for every state and led up to Roe v. Wade. Now we have strong transgender anti-discrimination.

I do SO MUCH want us to go whole hog on Single Payer...

[Chan790]

8. That won't happen.

Hartford is not only still home to the HQ of 5 of the 6 largest health insurers in America (Hartford is the insurance city), it's also the HQ of their lobbying groups and trade associations. If the rest of the nation got single-payer via state grants (ie. like Medicare), CT's General Assembly would likely move to declare it illegal in CT and reject the grant-funds for no reason other than to keep out single-payer. Hartford is ground-zero of the war on health-care reform, health insurance is Hartford's last major industry.

Wonder why two of the most vociferous former Democratic Senators opposing any health-care reform at-all over the past 20 years came from CT? It's because those trade groups gave more to Dodd and Lieberman than all other groups combined. You can't get elected to high office in CT without pledging to destroy health-care reform if the opportunity presents itself...it'd be like running against corn subsidies in Nebraska. Special interest money would destroy you before the printer's ink on the primary ballots was even dry.

[CTyankee]

12. We'll see what Senator Blumenthal has to say on the subject...

stay tuned...

[Dappleganger]

14. Good info to know.

Sounds like health reform changes will happen when hell freezes over.

[Atman]

5. Richest state in the nation. We could to do it here.

A lot of people who work in NYC live here. It really is a beautiful state. And finally we have Dems in the legislature and the Gov.

[GP6971]

7. My wife's family is PISSED!!!

I was back in CT in April and the topic was all the rage. Tax my boat moorage????? WTF??????? Tax my boat winter storage???? Double WTF

Here in WA state, we enjoy all sorts taxes....no state income tax though. But I still remeber paying ungodley amounts to register our autos.

[opiate69]

9. damn.. after 22 years, is it time for me to return home?

[Dappleganger]

15. Seriously, my husband grew up there after they left NY.

He spent most of his elementary and middle school years in CT. before they left for Northern VA, he loved it and still stays in touch with most of his friends. Our other favorite state is MD, we hope they aren't far behind CT.'s lead.

[bigwillq]

10. I will say, I feel the legislature accomplished a lot recently

But it's still one heck of an expensive place to live. Heavy taxes. Everything's expensive.

But I've been very pleased with their efforts lately. A lot to be proud of.

[FLPanhandle]

11. Did they ever repeal the no selling alcohol on Sundays law?

First Sunday in CT I was shocked the liquor stores were closed. I thought that was limited to the deep south.

[CTyankee]

13. This has been consistenly blocked by the liquor store lobby. They say it will cost them

too much money to open on Sundays and they won't get it back in increased revenue. Of course, one of the things they really don't want is opening up beer sales in supermarkets on Sundays, which would happen if the liquor stores get to sell on Sundays. As it is now, the supermarkets put a tarp type of curtain over the beer in the aisles on Sunday...how stupid is that?

[yellowcanine]

16. Blue laws were widespread in the Northeast until quite recently.

When I was growing up in PA, the state liquor stores were closed on Sunday and actually I believe bars may have been closed also. I believe that even today only certain state liquor stores are open on Sunday. PA has always been very conservative about alcohol sales, even beer and wine could only be sold by distributors until recently and off-premise liquor sales is still only done through the state stores. And PA went to the no alcohol under 21 rule long before it became a Federal mandate to do so.

[cali]

17. I left CT for VT. Glad for what's happening in CT but can't see returning

for a minute- and you should see what the VT legislature has done this year beyond healthcare.