The Blogster just dove into the Blog-o-rama archives to sort out the relationship between veteran Sen. Joe Crisco, D-Woodbridge and the pending budget vote, which can come as soon as early next week.
Chris Healy, state GOP chairman, said yesterday that Crisco, in his attempt to win re-election signed a “no new taxes pledge” last year. Democratic Senate handlers yesterday said Crisco said he never signed it. Here’s the link to the Blog-o-rama of about six months ago.
Crisco is remembered here for being declared ineligible for public campaign funds back in 2008 after he forged names on an application for the Citizens’ Election Fund. Democrats this afternoon produced an e-mail from Crisco’s campaign, indicating that he did not sign the document:
“From: Jared Kupiec <jared.kupiec@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Oct 29, 2010 at 4:54 PM
Subject: Joe Crisco — CT State Senate (17th District)
To: jkartch@atr.org, pgleason@art.org
Good Afternoon John and Patrick:
This e-mail follows a recent voicemail left for Patrick. My name is Jared Kupiec and I am the campaign manager for Sen. Joe Crisco’s re-election campaign.
Ken Dixon of the CT Post reported on his blog this afternoon that Senator Crisco had signed the ATR “Taxpayer Protection Pledge in the upcoming election”. While Joe recalls having signed the pledge 7 or 8 years ago, he has not committed to the pledge for the last several election cycles, including this one. If a (Crisco) signed document exists for the 2010 cycle, I would very much appreciate receiving a scanned copy of same as soon as possible.
While Joe certainly appreciates the efforts of your organization, I am sure you understand that he does not wish to mislead the voters (and his constituents) in any way whatsoever.
I look forward to hearing from one or both of you.
-J”
The Blogster anticipates that Crisco, a former UConn football lineman back when men were made of steel, ships were made of wood and UConn students athletes were from in-state, will be a good team player and approve the Democratic budget, when it comes to a vote.
Here’s Crisco’s statement on the current budget proposal:
“My analysis of these budget bills is ongoing, mindful of the commitment Governor Malloy made for ‘shared sacrifice’ and with solemn concern about the burgeoning projected deficit we must resolve with this budget,” Senator Crisco said. “The legislature is obligated to provide for the state a balanced spending and revenue plan for the next two years and these committee bills seem to reflect a common sense notion that finding middle ground requires movement from each end in terms of spending and revenue; my vote on these bills will reflect the determination I make about whether a suitable balance has been struck.”
“The one-time pledge I made seven years ago to reject tax increases was made under entirely different economic conditions without the specter of the expected, colossal deficit we face today,” Crisco added. “In light of our state’s current needs I think it borders on irresponsible to suggest policymakers paint the state into a corner with absolutes.”