Ken Dixon's Blog-O-Rama

The well-heeled in Connecticut are squirreling their money away from tax liabilitites and big-bucks financial masters of the universe might not have scored those big bonuses. Here’s Gov. Dannel Malloy’s late-breaking news release:

“(HARTFORD, CT) – In response to consensus revenue figures announced today by the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) and the Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA), Governor Dannel P. Malloy directed OPM Secretary Ben Barnes to develop a budget management plan that will limit spending to available resources in FY12.

“Last year at this time, we were staggering under the weight of a 3.5 billion dollar deficit,” said Governor Malloy.  “As a result of the actions we took last year, we eliminated that deficit, and we did it honestly.  All today’s announcement means is that, as is the case in other states with high wage earners, fourth quarter revenue is coming up short of expectations.  That’s why today, I’ve instructed Secretary Barnes to pare back on current year expenses.  But let there be no confusion – we will end the current fiscal year in the black, and in a more stable fashion than this state has seen in many years.”

The agencies today announced an agreement on consensus revenue that shows a decline of $94.9 million in FY12 or one-half of one percent of the annual budget.  Additionally, the estimates for FY13 show a decline of $139 million or seven-tenths of a percent of the annual budget.

According to OPM, the decline in revenue is almost entirely due to a decline in income tax revenue, particularly among higher income taxpayers that file quarterly returns, a trend that is occurring in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and California.  The most likely explanation is that this is a result of taxpayers shifting capital gains and income as a result uncertainty at the federal level, specifically the uncertainty surrounding the extension of the Bush-Era tax cuts.  Declines in bonus levels in the financial service industry are also a contributing factor.

The FY13 consensus revenues will be the basis for the Governor’s mid-term adjustments, which will be announced on February 8.”

During a news conference this morning in the Capitol about voter rights, Gov. Dannel Malloy revealed that he did not opt for the advanced-security provisions of the 2005 federal REAL-ID law when he recently obtained a new driver’s license. But it’s not because he agrees with civil libertarians that the REAL-ID Act is an invasion of civil rights by offering higher levels of ID to native-born US citizens, with its little designation on the new license. He simply forgot to bring the necessary documents (passport, original birth certificate, original Social Security card) when renewed the licence with the now year-old Prospect Avenue home address. The Blogster asked him about it during the news conference, which had focused on voter-rights legislation planned for next month’s legislative session.

Blogster: “Governor, speaking of civil rights, you said you just renewed your driver’s license. Did you bring your passport and go for the REAL-ID?”

Malloy: “You know, I would have except that I had forgotten it, so I’ve got to go back there at some point and get that as well. But the new license indicates on its face whether you have gone through that process or not. So I did not. No. I wish I had.”

Here’s a link to the federal Department of Homeland Security describing requirements for what some say is the national ID card. Civil libertarians including the ACLU and the Cato Institute, however, call it intrusive and underfunded to the point that it will never attain widespread use, except to scare illegal immigrants. 

http://www.dhs.gov/files/laws/gc_1172765386179.shtm

Of course, since the governor has a State Police detail who drive him everywhere, he’s in the eviable position of not needing a driver’s license, except maybe as ID to buy wine if/when his Sunday-sales legislation goes through the General Assembly.

 Rep. Chris Coutu, who has staked out a far-right agenda as a candidate for the GOP nomination challenging U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, will be going on “active duty” for the United States Army from February through April, when he should be seeking convention support. His positions include denying the existence of global climate change. It also seems to be fluid on what he will actually be doing for the reserves.

 “Over the last 17 years, since I turned 18, it has been an honor to serve in the United States Air Force and Army,” Coutu said. “Aside from starting a family, this has been the most rewarding experience of my life. But in order to continue my military service, I must fulfill the obligations that I signed up for. Right now, that means completing a mandatory two month training. There will be no disruption of constituent services while I’m away.  My staff and my legislative colleagues are committed to stepping up and responding to constituent service issues in my district.”

Coutu served as a sergeant in the Air Force for 13 years before entering Officer Candidate School to be commissioned as an Army officer.  He now serves as a second lieutenant in the Army National Guard.

In addition to his service in the Air Force and Army, Coutu founded the non-profit organization American Warrior which raises money to send veterans to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II, Korean War and Vietnam memorials.

An hour later, Coutu issued a rewritten first paragraph:

“Hartford- State Representative Christopher Coutu (R-Norwich) announced today that he will be going on active duty training to complete Branch Qualification Course in the United States Army. Representative Coutu will be leaving Connecticut from February through April.”

 Speaking on WNPR’s “Where We Live” this morning, Gov. Dannel Malloy revealed his secret for the Upcoming Leap Year celebration, which falls on a Wednesday. ”Feb 29 is a work day,” he said. “I get to work an extra day.”

The governor, speaking on WNPR’s “Where We Live” a few minutes ago, praised Child Advocate Jeanne Milstein’s dozen years heading the agency. “First of all I think she’s a great public servant. I do look forward to the day when that position is not necessary, but that won’t be happening in the foreseeable future.” He noted that the state has been under federal supervisor on child protection for 20 years. “I don’t imagine that that position is not going to be filled.” Milstein’s retirement is effective March 1.

The DEEP has floated the idea for a bear hunt, similar to revenue-producing hunts in New England and most recently, New Jersey, where nearly 500 black bears were blasted by hunters.

Gov. Dannel Malloy, on WNPR in Hartford this morning: “I’m not anxious to be engaged in this. When and if this thing gets to me I’ll take a look at it.”

Legislation creating a bear hunt would have to go through the General Assembly.

Yesterday, Gov. Dannel Malloy told reporters that with a new federal ruling last month, it’s inevitable that Internet gambling is on the way and that if it comes to one state “it comes to all states.” Today, a local TV reporter who apparently missed the Monday story staked out the governor’s visit with the Working Lands Alliance. As soon as Malloy emerged from the 45-minute session in the LOB, the TV reporter tossed up the gambling question. “How the weather?” Malloy offered up with a hint of sarcasm. “Gaming is something that’s already legal in this state, it is about to become legal on an Internet basis in the country and certainly some states are portending that they’re moving aggressively.”

TV Reporter: “How do you think this will affect the casinos?”

Malloy: “Ah, adversely.”

A couple minutes later the TV reporter tried again for a sound bite: “If I could just ask you how do you think on-line gaming is going to affect the two casinos?”

Malloy: “I think I said that. It would be hard to argue that it’s good for their business model.”

Malloy told reporters today that his upcoming budget will not include new highway tolls. He also obliquely addressed Republican criticism of the state’s gross receipts tax on petroleum sales. “There will be nothing legislated,” he said of new tolls. “I think things are being looked at on an ongoing basis by the DOT. I think you were asking whether we were going to look for anything legislatively and I don’t believe that is the case this go-around, just because we’re not there.. You can drive up and down the eastern seaboard and people have lower gas taxes, but they all have tolls…So when you’re only comparing the gas tax, we come up perhaps as less competitive, but when you look at the totality of charges connected with operating a motor vehicle in almost every state up and down the eastern seaboard, we’re actually not at the kind of disadvantage that someone like a state senator would make out to be the case.”