ctblogger Posts

Dennis House

The two challengers of embattled House Speaker Chris Donovan in his race for congress are taking two different paths as the campaign enters its final days.     Dan Roberti is attacking Donovan in commercials, Esty is staying away from the scandal that surrounds the Donovan campaign.

During a taping of Face the State set to air Sunday, Roberti and Esty were asked several questions about the Donovan case, including whether they think the Speaker is worthy of being a congressman.  

ROBERTI:  Given the way that he has acted throughout this entire process, I don't think he (Donovan) is anywhere close to being ready to be a member of congress

ESTY:I am focusing on getting my record out there.  Voters will make that decision and I will abide the decision of Democratic voters.

Ahem...

It's easy for Esty to make that statement when she has outside groups smearing Donovan and like-minded Democrats at the State Capitol who worked tirelessly to pass a fair budget for working families.  

Fenster is on the case...

A Super PAC supporting 5th District Congress candidate Dan Roberti is attempting to keep the list of its donors secret until after the Aug. 14 primary election.

According to the latest Federal Elections Commission reports, New Directions for America has spent more than $270,000 so far attacking the two Democrats Roberti faces in the Aug. 14 primary

[...]

The treasurer of New Directions for America, which lists a New York City P.O. Box as its address, is Edward C. Sweeney, a managing member of Pius International Trading in New York, who has donated $6,000 to Roberti's campaign.

"We are compliant with all appropriate FEC rules and regulations," Sweeney said Thursday. "We previously filed a report on july 15th, and we will report again before August 21st."

New Directions filed a request with the FEC on Aug. 1 requesting a change in its filing frequency, from quarterly to monthly. According to an FEC spokesman, if a PAC like New Directions files quarterly, it, like campaign committees, must file a financial report 12 days prior to the primary.

Sweeney said the change is aimed at allowing the Super PAC to participate in other congressional races, not to avoid the requirement that donors be revealed before the primary. (At the same time, he would not reveal donors.)

This is exactly why SuperPACs are BAD, BAD, BAD.

Ironically two years ago, a Karl Rove backed Super PAC named the American Action Network (AAN) targeted Chris Murphy and Jim Himes with a blatantly false ad, which came under fire by both Congressmen.

To this date, we don't know who contributed to that group.

Democrats widely condemned the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling that opened Pandora's box and allowed the creation of SuperPACs that can conceal their contributors. If New Directions for America aims at getting a Democrat elected to Congress, then they should do the right thing and disclose who is contributing to the group before the primary.

Public Policy Polling

-Dan Malloy continues to be one of the most unpopular Governors in the country in our polling. Only 33% of voters approve of him to 51% who disapprove. Out of more than 40 sitting Governors we've polled on across the country the only ones with worse numbers in our most recent polls are Bev Perdue of North Carolina, Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, Pat Quinn of Illinois, and Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania.

Malloy only barely gets over 50% approval even with Democrats, at 52/33. Independents disapprove of him by a more than 2:1 margin, 25/53, and with Republicans he's at 15/73. Malloy would trail a hypothetical GOP opponent for reelection right now by a 46/39 margin. Certainly he has plenty of time to turn it around before November 2014 but for now he's not in a great position.

The latest

• Donovan speaks directly to the voters.

• Only in Bridgeport!
  

  Robert Walsh, former Bridgeport City Council Member and longtime political ally of State Senator Ed Gomes, announced today that he has filed a complaint with Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill and Chairman of the State Elections Enforcement Commission Stephen Cashman and seeking an investigation into the absentee ballot abuses taking place in the city of Bridgeport. Copies of the complaint were sent to the Chief State's Attorney, the US Attorney for the District of Connecticut along with the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI office in the state.

  "Once again the city of Bridgeport is experiencing an avalanche of Absentee Ballots applications that seem to fit a pattern that in the past has led to findings by the State Elections Enforcement Commission of abuses of the process that significantly taint the voting process, that coerce unknowing and innocent applicants to violate the law and that in the process harm other voters rights to a free and unfettered election," Walsh claimed.

  "Among these practices are voters in certain senior housing complexes, especially those on some sort of rent subsidy, are encouraged and coerced to vote by absentee when they are not legally authorized to do so. Quite often this effort comes from individuals who are employees, care givers or others viewed in positions of authority that intimidate or cause fear in residents that they might lose their residency privileges if they do not cooperate," Walsh continued.

  Walsh alleges that past practices have also shown that persons who are at a disadvantage due to advanced age and the possible onset of dementia and or language difficulties where English is not their primary language and have difficulty comprehending the legalize contained on the application form are dependent on the interpretation of the person assisting them with the form.

• Where did I hear this before?
  

  "House Speaker Chris Donovan took money from a fight promoter, then green-lighted ultimate fighting," says the narrator of Roberti's ad, while a man vaguely resembling Donovan accepts a fat envelope and nervously stashes it in his coat pocket.

  "Took money from tanning bed operators," the narrator continues, "then killed a bill that protected kids from skin cancer."

  Those are fairly serious charges, so let's break them down. For both assertions, the ad includes a citation to an April story in the Torrington Register Citizen. That piece accurately reports that Donovan's Congressional campaign received $1,000 from the Indoor Tanning Association and another $1,000 from a PAC run by the parent company of an organization called the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

  [...]

  So what's the basis for claiming that Donovan "green-lighted" one bill and "killed" the other? "The background and basis for that is that he's speaker of the House," said Erik Williams, Roberti's campaign manager. "Speaker of the House controls the flow of legislation."

  The speaker's power is well understood at the Capitol, and few would challenge the assertion that he could affect the prospects for a piece of legislation if he tried. But this ad asserts that Donovan not only had the power to determine the fate of these bills, but actually exercised that power to move one along and block the other.

  Williams acknowledged the campaign had no specific evidence that Donovan threw his weight around on the tanning or martial arts bills. "I just refer back to the article on that. That would be my basis for it," Williams said.

  But the Register Citizen story never asserts that Donovan played a role in the outcome of either bill. To the contrary, reporter Jordan Fenster wrote: "Any suggestion that Donovan could have influenced the progress or stalling of any of these bills probably ascribes too much power to the House speaker. Though he is influential, the legislative process is one that requires a village, and Donovan, House speaker though he may be, is not all powerful."

  The ad also takes a quick swipe at another primary opponent, Elizabeth Esty, with the line: "Elizabeth Esty took money from polluters her husband regulates." Esty is married to Daniel Esty, commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Among donations to her campaign are several, totaling $2,500, from two high-ranking employees of NRG Energy, Inc., which operates several power plants in the state. Based on those contributions alone, that part of the ad is fair.

  Remember who pointed this out first (here and here).

• Jump ship
  

  The manager and spokesman for Justin Bernier's 5th District Congress campaign quit Tuesday, the day after a controversial debate performance in which he angrily attacked the other three candidates in the race and just two weeks before the Aug. 14 Republican primary.

• Only in Oxford?
  

  Former Oxford Tax Collector Karen Guillet accepted a plea bargain Tuesday morning that could see her serve five years behind bars.

  Guillet pleaded guilty to first-degree larceny, a felony. She faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison suspended after serving five years, plus five years probation.

  In addition, Guillet will have to pay back the $243,902.18 authorities charged her with stealing from Oxford.

  Her attorney, Dominick Thomas, has the right to argue for a lesser sentence.

  Ultimately, Judge Richard Arnold will decide how much jail time she will do, if any.

  A pre-sentence investigation report is due Oct. 29 at which time Guillet will learn her fate.

Video via CT-N (press play to view). MOBILE: Apple | Android

Paz

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is a former prosecutor, and he has praised federal prosecutors for moving quickly in their investigation of illegal campaign contributions to the congressional campaign of House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan. On Tuesday, he again called their performance "remarkable."

But with the Democratic primary fast-approaching on Aug. 14, Malloy also gave a little nudge to U.S. Attorney David Fein about perhaps bringing some clarity to the question of whether Donovan is a target.

"if it is at all possible for the US attorney to say whether the speaker is a target, that would be helpful and valuable information for the voters to make their decision on the 14th, " Malloy said. "Without telling anyone how to do their job, that might be a useful piece of  information."

Tom Carson, a spokesman for Fein, had no comment.

[...]

He neither endorsed nor criticized the call earlier Tuesday by Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, for a legislative inquiry. if the legislature is to investigate, he said, it should closely coordinate wiht the feds.

Capitalizing on the lovefest Elizabeth Esty has received from the Register-Citizen, the Democratic candidate for the 5th CD released a new TV ad that highlights the recent endorsement she received from the newspaper.

Capitol Watch

In Wednesday's ad, titled "Backbone," Esty again voices her support for middle class workers and says that it one of the reasons that the newspaper endorsed her.

"They've increased they're bottom lines by cutting jobs in this country and shipping them overseas," Esty says, without specifying who 'they' are. "American workers can compete with the best if we have people in Washington who understand that and make sure we have a level playing field."

Kos:

CT-05: Well, here we go. EMILY's List finally filed an independent expenditure report for those mailers attacking Democrat Chris Donovan. To all Connecticut readers, if you live in the district and happen to get your hands on a copy, please scan it in or photograph it so that we can see exactly what EMILY is up to. Remember, just days ago, their spokeswoman said:

"No mail has been sent, and no Republican talking points have been used...."

Claim #1 is now proven bullshit. Let's see if they had the guts to stick with their plans to go after Donovan as a "tax hiker"... or if claim #2 winds up being bullshit as well.

If you receive a mailer from these clowns, contact me at ctblogger@yahoo.com or @ctblogger on Twitter.

BTW: Here's the report.

SCHEDULE E

INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES

FILING FEC-802200

Committee: WOMEN VOTE!

[...]

The Strategy Group

1606 20th Street NW

Floor 3

Washington, DC 20009

Purpose of Expenditure: Mailhouse

Name of Federal Candidate supported or opposed by expenditure: Christopher Donovan

Candidate ID: H2CT05172

Office Sought: House of Representatives

State is Connecticut in District 05

Date Expended = 07/31/2012

Person Completing Form: Caroline Fines

Date Signed = 07/31/2012

Amount Expended = $19096.57

Calendar YTD Per Election for Office Sought = $19096.57

News-Times:

Democratic candidates for the 5th Congressional District will go head to head with their opponents on Saturday in the first debate held in more than three months.

Saturday's debate, which is being sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Litchfield County, also marks the first time Democrats will battle it out since House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan's finance chief and campaign manager were arrested by federal authorities as part of an alleged influence-peddling scheme that the politician says he knew nothing about.

Besides Donovan, other Democrats seeking their party's nomination in the Aug. 14 primary are former state Rep. Elizabeth Esty and Kent resident Dan Roberti.

The debate will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Oliver Wolcott Library in Litchfield. Organizers said the debate will not be open to the public because of the small size of the venue. The event will be broadcast live by CT-N.

Here's the latest poll on the primary race for Senate (Public Policy Polling)

The Democratic contest is closer but Chris Murphy is still a clear favorite there, leading Susan Bysiewicz by 17 points at 49-32. That's up from a 6 point lead when PPP last looked at the contest in September and found Murphy ahead 39-33. Murphy is leading with voters in every ideological group we track across the Democratic spectrum, is up with both men and women (44-34), and is particularly strong with younger voters (52-25).

Murphy will start out as the favorite in his likely general election contest with McMahon. He leads her 50-42, almost identical to his 50-43 advantage over her on our last poll ten months ago. While McMahon is popular with the GOP base, she does not have good numbers with the overall electorate. 42% of voters rate her favorably to 48% with an unfavorable opinion. Murphy is not as well known yet but generally seen positively by the voters who are familiar with him. 38% rate him positively while 31% have a negative opinion.

...this is my favorite part of their write-up.

One thing interesting about the numbers on this race is that McMahon actually leads Murphy 53-36 with independent voters. Her problem is that she's getting only 74% of the Republican vote, with 19% of GOP voters crossing over to support Murphy. We see very few races anywhere these days where a Democrat's getting 19% of the Republican vote and it's an indication that McMahon is simply unacceptable to some voters within the party. By comparison Murphy's at 82% of the Democratic vote.

Here's the breakdown...

A new poll on the races in Connecticut is set to be released later today by Public Police Polling...they're offering insight into the soon to be released report on Twitter.

Dan Roberti's Super PAC, New Directions for America, launched a TV ad today that highlights Chris Donovan's troubles and Elizabeth Esty's terrible voting record.

While the material on Donovan is recycled stuff, exposing Esty's Republican-light history is a smart move and makes me wonder why the Roberti and Donovan have given Esty a free pass when it comes to her less than stellar record.

The latest on the Chris Donovan investigation.

Federal authorities have begun making additional arrests in the conduit campaign contribution case arising from House Speaker Chris Donovan's 5th District congressional campaign, sources said.

Several people may be arrested Thursday and are expected to be presented this afternoon in federal court in New Haven.

The names of those being arrested were not immediately available.

Stay tuned.

Today, a online petition drive by MoveOn.Org Political Action was launched in response to the Emily's List hitpiece on behalf of Elizabeth Esty which attacked the state budgets approved by House Speaker Chris Donovan, State Seante President Don Williams, and the majority Democrats at the State Capitol.

The petition calls on Esty to "renounce the attack campaign being launched by your funder, EMILY's List. Attacks that echo Republican talking points have no place in a Democratic primary. We are stronger when we work together than when we are torn apart by negative attacks that malign progressive values."

EMILY's List just announced that they're going to attack Chris Donovan on behalf of Elizabeth Esty, and according to their own press release, they're relying on some of the worst right-wing framing to do it.

When Donovan and Esty both served in Hartford, Donovan led Democrats in passing a budget that raised taxes on millionaires in order to protect education and health care funding. Esty led a renegade group that wrote a more conservative budget that made deep cuts in the programs progressives care about.

Donovan has fought for fair wages, access to healthcare, funding for education, voting rights, and fair taxes. These are the very issues conscientious citizens see as priorities to building a fair and equitable society.

But EMILY's List is attacking Donovan for his "record on taxes" and praising Esty for "returning taxpayer money." They call right-wing budget cuts "responsible budgeting." These attacks are based on code words that right-wingers use, and they don't belong in a Democratic primary.

If you're disgusted with Emily'd List attack on Democrats who fought tirelessly to pass a responsible budget as opposed to the laughable "alternative budget proposal" and the nonsense offered by Rowland-Rell and the Republicans, sign the petition.  

The latest

• Three ring circus.

  What was the tone of Tuesday's three-way forum for state Senate? By the time the evening ended, the oldest candidate was defending his age and another his criminal record while also apologizing for a disruptive sister.

  [...]

  Incumbent Ed Gomes, party-endorsed candidate Ernest Newton and state Rep. Andres Ayala, all Democrats competing in an August primary, spent an hour and a half inside the United Congregational Church talking state aid, economic development, affordable housing, education, crime and recidivism.

  Their discussion was highlighted by frequent outbursts from the audience, Gomes' criticism of predecessor Newton's criminal background and the incumbent's thunderous defense of his ability to return to the Legislature at the age of 76.

  [...]

  From the beginning Newton had a vocal cheering section, but other factions of the 50-person crowd cheered or jeered all three candidates as the night wore on. Newton's sister showed particular disdain for Ayala and also took verbal jabs at his family sitting about 15 feet away. She received some sneers in return.

• The public has a right to know.
  

  The New Haven Register and Register Citizen have filed a request with the state Freedom of Information Commission for an expedited hearing over the city of Waterbury's failure to produce documents related to former Gov. John Rowland's job as a taxpayer-funded economic development coordinator.

  "Connecticut voters have a right to know if any of their choices in the Aug. 14 [congressional] primary are tainted by corruption," contributing editor Andy Thibault wrote in the July 17 filing. "Vigorous and timely enforcement of our state's Freedom of Information Act is the necessary remedy to provide relief so citizens can make informed choices."

  The expedited hearing request follows a complaint filed with the FOIC June 22 after an initial request June 12.

  Rowland, the former governor convicted on federal corruption charges in 2005, is again the subject of a corruption inquiry. This time it is related to his work on behalf of a Republican candidate in the 5th District congressional race. While paid via the city of Waterbury-funded economic development position, Rowland also took money from Apple Rehab, a business owned by candidate Lisa Wilson-Foley and her husband. Rowland also promoted the candidacy of Wilson-Foley on his WTIC radio show while deriding other contenders.

• Problems for Donovan?
  

  Ray Soucy, the former state correctional officers' union official who has been identified as a co-conspirator in the campaign-finance scandal surrounding congressional candidate Christopher Donovan, appeared in the federal courthouse in New Haven on Tuesday - but federal officials won't say why.

  Soucy and his lawyer, Steven B. Rasile of West Haven, exited the courthouse Tuesday shortly before 5 p.m. Both declined comment as they walked north on the sidewalk and were approached by a Fox CT reporter and cameraman.

  Reached by phone later, Rasile said he could say nothing about why Soucy was at the courthouse or what happened there because it had been a "sealed proceeding."

• A debate is in the works?
  

  The state Democratic Party has asked the League of Women Voters to put together a Democratic debate in the 5th Congressional District prior to the Aug. 14 primary.

  "It's in the very, very early planning stages right now," Elizabeth Larkin, communications director for the Connecticut Democratic central committee said.

  Pat Donovan (who assured us she has no relation to the 5th District candidate of the same last name), the voter service coordinator for the League of Women Voters, said state Democratic party Executive Director "Jonathan Harris asked us to do it."

  "We don't have a definite date or location yet, but it will be the absolute earliest in August we can," she said.

Cross post from Jon Pelto's Wait What?

Not a Conflict says Malloy school board appointee whose family company will get 60 of 130 new preschool slots in Bridgeport.

The Connecticut Post has picked up on the news that two daycare facilities that are personally connected to one of the Malloy Administration's seven appointees to Bridgeport's illegal board of education has "won" nearly half of all the new preschool slots the state is funding in Bridgeport.

According to the CT Post, "Nearly half of the new preschool slots awarded by the state to the city are going to a program that is part of the ministry of Rev. Kenneth Moales Jr., a state-appointed city school board member."

The article continues that "Kingdom's Little Ones Christian Academy, an East End daycare and after-school program run by Moales' mother, Peggy Moales, and his sister, Kenya Moales-Byrd, is getting 60 of the 130 new slots awarded to the district and some $500,000 that goes with it"

Wait, What? Readers may remember a June 21st post about Moales and his conflict of interest.

More below the fold...
Moales presently serves as the Vice Chairman of the school board that was appointed by the Malloy Administration when the State of Connecticut attempted to take over the Bridgeport Schools.  Following a Supreme Court ruling that the State's action was illegal, the appointed board was allowed to continue its work until a special election could be held to select democratically elected members of a new Bridgeport board of education, an election that will take place in September.

Moales, who is also one of the Democratic Party's endorsed candidates for the new board, not only voted to hire Bridgeport's present $229,000 part-time superintendent of schools Paul Vallas, but helped lead the effort to extend Vallas' contract in order to prevent the new board from selecting a different administrator.

As I wrote about a month ago, Kingdom's Little Ones in Christ, Inc., a company affiliated with Prayer Tabernacle Church of Love, Inc., [Moales' church] had received approximately $600,000 in public funds for day care and after school services" from the City of Bridgeport over the past year and more than $2.2 million since 2006.  You can find the details here: http://jonathanpelto.com/2012/...

As part of Governor Malloy's "education reform" effort, the City of Bridgeport is now getting its share of an additional 1,000 early care slots.

The CT Post writes that according to Bridgeport's director of early childhood education, the slots were "awarded based on strict state criteria that took into account whether providers had spaces immediately available, were already receiving early childhood slots from the state, had adequate and qualified staff and which were accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children."

Bridgeport's School Readiness Council also plays a role in the allocation process and Moales' sister serves on that committee.

When the allocations were announced late last week, the City of Bridgeport took 40 additional early education slots, Moales' centers received 60 new slots and the remaining 30 will be given to other entities that provide these types of services.

When the CT Post asked Moales about the situation, he said that "it is not a conflict ... I cannot apologize for being a leader in my community. I am not taking away anyone's business"

While their corporate filings have not been properly maintained at the Secretary of State's Office, Peggy Ann Moales, Kenneth Moales' mother, appears to serve as the President of Kingdom's Little Ones in Christ, Inc. and the President of Prayer Tabernacle Church of Love, Inc.

The full CT Post story can be read at more: http://www.ctpost.com/local/ar...

Emily's List (the organization that wants "to create a progressive change") stooped new a new low today with this piece of their latest hitpiece slamming Democrats at the State Capitol who fought against the draconian budget proposal from the GOP.

EMILY's List, the nation's largest resource for women in politics, today announced a new WOMEN VOTE! project in Connecticut's fifth congressional district. As the nationwide voter mobilization and education project of EMILY's List, WOMEN VOTE! will communicate with key primary voters about Chris Donovan's fiscal record in the state legislature.

The Connecticut WOMEN VOTE! program will target more than 26,000 Democratic primary voting women who are age 45 or older. The women will receive five pieces of direct mail highlighting Chris Donovan's record on taxes and raising his own pay. Three of the mailers will also showcase Elizabeth Esty's commitment to Connecticut taxpayers: returning 10% of her own salary and working towards responsible budgeting in the state legislature. The first mail will be sent on July 26th.  

"Chris Donovan's 20 year record for Connecticut speaks for itself: exorbitant pay raises and the biggest tax hike in Connecticut history. Middle class families are paying the price," said Denise Feriozzi, Director of WOMEN VOTE! "Elizabeth Esty returned taxpayer money and is committed to responsible budgeting. We are confident that once voters learn Chris Donovan's record, they'll choose Elizabeth Esty to represent them in Congress."

I try my best to stay out of the mix and not pick sides when it comes to primaries but this rant from Emily's List slamming the Democrats at the State Capitol who pushed back against the outrageous the "alternative" budget Esty supported, which looked like a template from Minority Leader Larry Cafero, is complete nonsense.

Lets take a look at the "responsible budgeting" Esty supported and how that would translate helping out the middle class and working families.

Significant Program Expenditure Changes from SB 1801

The majority of the Democratic Alternative [DA] Plan's reductions fall in the Human Services and Educational functions of government. See Table 2. Following the table are descriptions of the major changes to spending that are contained in the DA Plan.

[...]

Department of Labor

● Reduce funding for Connecticut's Youth Employment Program by $ 2. 0 million in FY 11. Funding is provided at the reduced level of $ 1. 5 million in FY 11.

Department of Public Health

● Eliminate funding for Fetal and Infant Mortality Review by $ 315,000 in each year of the biennium.

[...]

Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

● The Democratic Alternative budget concurs with the Governor's proposal to reduce funding for housing supports by $ 2. 5 million in both FY 10 and FY 11. This includes a reduction of $ 1. 2 million in FY 10 and FY 11 to reflect the delay of planned housing expansions and a reduction of $ 1. 3 million in FY 10 and FY 11 for housing subsidies.

● Funding for Local Mental Heath Authorities is reduced in the amount of $ 3. 5 million in FY 10 and FY 11.

● The Democratic Alternative budget concurs with the Governor's proposal to close Cedarcrest Hospital. This will result in a net savings of $ 6. 7 million in FY 10 and $ 8. 7 million in FY 11.

[...]

Department of Social Services

The DA Budget includes various reductions originally proposed by the Governor, yet not included within SB 1801. Major items and associated savings by fiscal year include:

● Eliminate most adult dental coverage under Medicaid and SAGA

● Impose cost sharing (co-payments) under fee for service Medicaid

● Increase HUSKY B premiums for Band 2 to $ 50 for families with one child; $ 75 for those with two children, and $ 100 for families with three or more children

● Eliminate coverage of most over the counter (OTC) drugs under Medicaid and SAGA

Other major changes included within the Democratic Alternative budget are:

● Concurring with the Governor's original recommendation to fully eliminate state funded Medicaid for non citizens (for a savings of $ 23. 6 million in FY 10 and $ 24. 5 million in FY 11). SB 1801 had provided for continued service provision to children and pregnant women (for a lesser savings of $ 9. 3 million FY 10 and $ 9. 75 million FY 11).

State Department of Education

● Reduce School Readiness by $ 1. 0 million in both fiscal years. This change eliminates the additional funds for professional development but does not impact the number of slots.

● Reduce Sheff Settlement by $ 1. 0 million in both fiscal years.

● Reduce Omnibus Education Grants by $ 1. 0 million. This will reduce the per meal reimbursement for Healthy Foods, from ten cents to five cents.

● Eliminate the After School Program (which results in a savings of $ 4. 5 million).

● Suspend the operation of Wright Technical School and eliminate the additional funding contained in HB 1801 for Wright Technical School. This results in a savings of $ 5. 075 million in each fiscal year.

● Reduce Open Choice increase only to reflect current services needs. This results in a savings of $ 1. 37 million in FY 10 and $ 4. 12 million in FY 11.

● Eliminate additional funding for Edison and Wintergreen magnet schools, which results in a $ 1. 5 million savings in each year.

● Reduce funding for the American School for the Deaf, which results in a savings of $ 1. 0 million in both years.

● Eliminate funding for Early Reading Success, which results in a savings of $ 2. 3 million in both years.

● The July 30th plan passed by the Appropriations Committee included a $ 13. 4 million reduction to the Excess Cost grant, which will result in a 10% reduction to municipalities.

Judicial Department

● Eliminate funding to expand Family Support Centers, with a reduction of $ 1 million in FY 10 and $ 2 million in FY 11.

I could go on and on but I think you get the point.

Democrats at the State Capitol worked tirelessly to slash and burn cuts proposals presented by the Republicans, many of which are included in the so-called "alternative" budget proposal that was supported by Esty. For Emily's List to criticize all the hard work the Democrats did during that time is a profound disappointment.

UPDATE: Here's a listing of all the Democrats Emily's List insulted (here and here).

You know it's getting close to Primary Day when candidates roll our their TV ads at a faster pace. Here's the latest from Elizabeth Esty.

Former State Representative Elizabeth Esty launched the second ad of her Congressional campaign today. The ad, titled "Hear It," focuses on her plan to boost the economy in central and northwest Connecticut by helping small businesses, reinvigorating manufacturing, and investing in infrastructure and education.

"We're excited to have our second ad on-air," Esty Campaign Manager Julie Sweet said. "The more voters get to know Elizabeth, the more they like her, and she's working hard to earn every vote. Our second ad will ensure that Elizabeth can reach as many 5th District voters as possible with her message of commonsense solutions to get Washington focused on job creation and get our economy back on track."

Is it Groundhog Day?

Susan Bysiewicz mischaracterized Chris Murphy's campaign contributions Sunday as she defended keeping on the air an attack ad that falsely accuses him of taking more hedge fund money than any other Democrat.

In remarks to reporters after a debate of the two Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, Bysiewicz said she stands by the central point of her admittedly flawed ad and a major thrust of her campaign: Murphy is too cozy with Wall Street.

"The big point about our ad is this: That Chris Murphy has taken $700,000 from Wall Street," Bysiewicz said. "That's more than any other Democrat in Congress."

Actually, it is not even the most money accepted from donors associated with the securities and investment industry by a Democrat in Connecticut's small delegation of five U.S. House members and two senators, much less the entire Congress.

The $754,885 donated by industry sources to Murphy since 2006, when he was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, is about half the nearly $1.5 million donated to U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, in less time, since 2008.

Among candidates for U.S. Senate in 2012, Murphy ranks 10th among all candidates and fifth among Democrats with $328,195. Bysiewicz has raised $77,800 from the same sector.

Those totals were tabulated by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org, which Bysiewicz cites as a key source for her commercial.

Ugh!

The news...

• Finally, Chris Shays and I agree on something...

  I have never run against an opponent that I have respected less - ever - and there are a lot of candidates I have run against. I do not believe that Linda McMahon has spent the time, the energy to determine what a senator really means.

• Chris Murphy's new TV ad hits the airwaves.
  

  Tomorrow, Chris Murphy will begin airing his second television ad in the campaign for the U.S. Senate. The 30 second ad will run on network and cable television stations across Connecticut.

  "We're looking forward to launching our second positive ad tomorrow," said Kenny Curran, Murphy's campaign manager. "Chris has spent his career fighting for American jobs. While the 5th District knows Chris's record of standing up for American manufacturers and small businesses against outsourcing, we're excited to share that with people all across Connecticut."

• Tax rate = 15.3
  

  Republican Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who is running for the U.S. Senate, released her 2010 tax return Friday afternoon after being hounded by the media just a few days ago.

  [...]

  The 2010 return, which McMahon filed with her husband Vince, showed the couple made about $30.6 million in income. Most of the income, aside from the $827,500 salary Vince takes from his role as president and CEO of the WWE, comes almost entirely from stock dividends, which are taxed at a rate of 15 percent. The McMahon's earned $29.6 million from stock dividends. However, Mrs. McMahon did receive about $155,000 in income from a movie she produced with her son and daughter-in-law.

  The McMahon's paid about $4.7 million in federal taxes in 2010, putting their effective federal tax rate at 15.3 percent, the lowest tax rate of all the U.S. Senate candidates.

• "I Told You So"
  

  Almost exactly a year ago, I expressed my incredulity when Emily's List endorsed Susan Bysiewicz as for Senate.

  Since that time, I've stopped donating to Emily's List, because I no longer trust their ability to vet candidates worthy of support. Their endorsement of Bysiewicz made that clear.

  [...]

  Dear Emily's List: I don't want to say I don't you so but...I kind of did, 12 months ago. Wish you'd asked some of us folks on the ground before making your endorsement.

• Columbine Part II
  

  Another heavily-armed misfit took out his rage on a bunch of innocent civilians in Colorado early today.

  Yes, it's such a good thing our leaders (specifically that complete shitbag George W. Bush) allowed the assault-weapons ban to expire. The Aurora Colorado shooter had apparently purchased all his weapons legally during the preceding six months.

  For fuck's sake people, I understand that the 2nd Amendment allows for an armed civilian populace. But I'm sure they never intended the average citizen to be free to accumulate enough firepower to fight off a cadre of police or soldiers.

Anything else?

The following guest post regarding the strike against HealthBridge Management is from Deborah Chernoff, Communications Director for the New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1199 (SEIU Healthcare). -ctblogger.

It's not clear what exactly the tipping point was.

Maybe it was the outpouring of support for striking HealthBridge nursing home workers from residents' family members and the surrounding community.  It could have been the high-profile media attention HealthBridge's record of lawbreaking to get its way was receiving.

Or perhaps it was Governor Malloy walking the picket line and standing with the caregivers that the 1% owners of HealthBridge would rather stand on.

Who knows?

But something got under the skin of the corporate strategists at HealthBridge. And when they realized that their scheme to transfer millions of dollars out of the pockets of Connecticut families and into their own bank accounts wasn't going according to plan, it was time to shift into a new mode:  Attack and accuse.

They are now attempting to divert attention away from their own crimes by accusing caregivers of sabotage - as if people who have given their lives to caring for the residents in their nursing homes would suddenly choose to endanger them.  Here's how workers reacted when they learned about the accusations from a Hartford Courant reporter:

On Wednesday, health care workers walking the picket line outside the Newington nursing home - one of five in Connecticut targeted by the 700 strikers - learned of the allegations. They were so indignant that they talked over each other, as rain clouds burst and small hail pelted them.

"That's ridiculous!" said Yolanda Amos, a nursing aide.

"We would never sabotage our residents," said Elaine Ewart.

"They're our family," Amos agreed.[...]

Several union members in Newington were so disbelieving of the accusations that they speculated that the managers staged the sabotage to make the union look bad.

Don't buy that HealthBridge has other motives for these accusations?  Consider that HealthBridge waited to release the accusations until two whole weeks after the events allegedly occurred.  Despite repeated requests for comment on dozens of stories since the strike began on July 3, the company officials said nothing.

Apparently, HealthBridge forgot it had filed police reports until a post magically surfaced on a right-wing blog on Monday. This was followed a few days later by a HealthBridge press release which was a heavily-politicized statement blasting not the alleged saboteurs but the Governor's administration and other elected officials who offered their support to workers.

According to the police report, there is no camera footage to review.  And only the regular caregivers, their strike replacements and HealthBridge supervisors had access to the equipment and materials that night before the strike began.  The investigations are ongoing, and no one knows what the outcome will be.  Despite the sensational headlines and disingenuous outrage churning in right-wing blogs, these accusations remain just that.

Let's be clear.

The allegations are surfacing now because, in the eyes of HealthBridge's owners, these workers are guilty of a much graver offense: daring to stand up to its larger economic agenda.

Because of this, HealthBridge, its right-wing enablers, and 1% apologists everywhere would love to discredit all of those on the picket lines, whether they are direct caregivers or those who support them.  HealthBridge is carefully calculating ways to try and divert attention away from the very real costs of its relentless pursuit of greater-and-greater profits:

• More than 700 residents are now receiving care from complete strangers, after HealthBridge illegally forced  caregivers to strike if they were unwilling to agree to its agenda of economic misery for the 99% and riches for the 1%.
• More than 600 caregivers remain out of a job while HealthBridge orchestrates its largest and most vicious campaign yet to destroy their union and break their will to fight to preserve quality resident care and good jobs for Connecticut's healthcare workers.

HealthBridge has told workers their hopes to maintain a decent standard of living are simply not "realistic".  Meanwhile, HealthBridge principals. Meanwhile, HealthBridge is reporting annual profits of around $45.4 million from its New Jersey headquarters in 2010.

And HealthBridge principal, brothers Daniel and Moshael Straus, their subsidiaries and related companies were paid a whopping $234 million from HealthBridge coffers in the same year.

As the strike continues, we can expect to see more diversions and distractions by HealthBridge to try and demonize those who stand up to their greed and expose the company's long history of unlawful actions.   The public can now expect to see a whole new side of HealthBridge-one that its workers and residents are all too familiar with and one that will stop at nothing to get what it wants.