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It seems to me absurd that the Green Party, one of whose main goals in life is stricter environmental regulations, and the Libertarian Party, whose main goal in life is NO regulations, would endorse the same candidate, along with the Independent Party, who, for all that I can tell, would favor tax incentives for polluters.

I can’t find any information on the Independent Party, nor can I figure out what the “State Agent” is. All I know is that Mike Telesca, “State Agent of the Independent Party”, is on the board of The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations and a speaker at the right-wing CT Liberty Forum.

It’s hard to see Libertarians and anti-tax Independent Party types supporting solutions to some of the problems Mertens identifies: “…prisons that are bursting at the seams, urban schools that are struggling, a wounded economy with rising unemployment, a health care system that needs major reform, the lack of a coherent national energy policy that will protect our economy and the environment…”

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The Governor has proposed eliminating the unified gift and estate tax as part of her package of proposed budget changes to balance the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2010-2011 budgets. This repeal not only would reduce state revenues by $85 million in SFY 10 and by $177 million in SFY 11, it also would make our state tax code more regressive as this tax falls exclusively on the state’s wealthiest residents. At a time of unprecedented state budget deficits and demand for state assistance from residents adversely affected by the worst economic downturn in decades, Connecticut simply cannot afford to forgo this important source of revenues.

Very few households are subject to Connecticut’s unified gift and estate tax, which is only levied on taxable gifts and estates that exceed $2 million. On average, only about 1 percent of the Connecticut residents who die each year are wealthy enough to be subject to this tax. The estate tax makes Connecticut’s tax system more equitable, since Connecticut’s current tax system requires low-and middle-income taxpayers to pay a greater percentage of their income in state and local taxes than Connecticut’s wealthiest residents pay. Because Connecticut’s unified gift and estate tax is levied only on taxable estates greater than $2 million, it helps to address this inequity; repeal would exacerbate it.

Arguments for repeal of the estate tax are not based on strong evidence. The estate tax has been criticized for encouraging older Connecticut residents to move out of state, but rigorous research does not support this position. Indeed, data from the Census Bureau and Internal Revenue Service on migration show that a very small percentage of seniors (half of a percent) move across state lines for any reason each year, and most cite family, health, job, or housing-related reasons for the move. Moreover, any move to avoid Connecticut’s tax would have to be out of the region since Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland all have estate taxes.

In lieu of repeal, Connecticut’s estate tax should be repaired to eliminate its “cliff.” Under current law, an estate of $2 million pays no Connecticut estate tax while an estate of $2,000,001 pays $101,700. Repair, not repeal, of the unified gift and estate tax is the far better choice.

Click here for a more detailed discussion.

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I have previously written about Jim Amann’s campaign: Amann Goes From Inept To Ridiculous. But I am at a loss for words to describe to what a new low this campaign has sunk.

Colin McEnroe and his merry band of commenters point out the myriad of mistakes in an Amann press release and the redoubtable CT Bob highlights mistakes in a fundraising invitation.

Well, how about these words:

Incompetent illiterate immense idiocy illuminating ill-suitedness ?

By the way, I LOVE Elvis Presley, but what a misuse of his music (and want to bet if it’s authorized or not?)

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As one of the first members of the Connecticut for Lieberman Party, and its founding Vice-Chairman, I am distressed to learn that the current chairman, John Mertens, who succeeded the much loved, and recently departed John Orman, and wrote new rules is seeking the Connecticut for Lieberman Party’s nomination to run for the Senate in 2010.

Why does this distress me, and I am certain, would distress John Orman if he were still among us? Because John’s mission with CFL was to expose the hypocrisy in Joe Lieberman’s running for the Senate on a prty line for a party that had no registered voters, no by-laws, and no officers. The whole thing was a sham, and John exposed it brilliantly.

Those of us most closely identified with CFL have hoped that CFL would be around long enough to endorse the Democrat running against Joe Lieberman in 2012, and in doing so, re-enforce the history of cynical manipulation of electoral rules that so typified Lieberman’s 2006 campaign.

In order to be on the 2012 ballot, the the Connecticut for Lieberman Party needs to garner at least 1% of the vote in the 2010 Senate race. The BEST way to accomplish that is for the CFL party to cross-endorse Chris Dodd.

The WORST way to accomplish that is to have an unknown 3rd party candidate split whatever votes he may attract on 4 different minor party lines. But that is exactly what Mertens is trying to do:

Press Conference/Campaign Kick-Off Event:
Scheduled for September 9, 2009, 6:30 PM, 2071 Park St., Hartford.

West Hartford Resident John Mertens will publicly announce his candidacy for the 2010 U.S. Senate Race during a campaign kick-off event & press conference scheduled for September 9, 2009, 6:30 PM, at 271 Park Road, Hartford (the outdoor stage at Lena’s Pizzeria). The event will be followed by music and food.

Dr. Mertens is seeking the nominations of four political parties: the Independent Party, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Connecticut for Lieberman Party. Dr. Mertens was the Independent Party candidate for U.S. Senate in 2006. Dr. Mertens has been the chair of the Connecticut for Lieberman Party since March, 2008. (http://www.ctforlieberman.org/)

Accompanying Dr. Mertens at the event will be Mike Telesca, State Agent of the Independent Party, Stephen Fournier, State Co-Chair of the Green Party, and Richard Lion, State Chair of the Libertarian Party.

A tenured Professor of Engineering at Trinity College in Hartford, Dr. Mertens also teaches environmental science and public policy, and conducts research in combustion and air pollution. He earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from California State University, Chico, graduating summa cum laude, and earned a Masters and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. He began teaching at Trinity College in 1990. He has done volunteer work with Hartford public schools for over eighteen years, and is well informed about public school and urban issues. He has lived in West Hartford since 1996, where he has raised four children. They will join him on the stage on September 9th.

Dr. Mertens’ campaign will focus on solutions to long-term problems, using non-partisan, analysis-based public policies. According to Dr. Mertens, “The country is facing huge long-term problems: an $11 trillion national debt, a giant budget deficit, a $12 trillion social security shortfall this century, prisons that are bursting at the seams, urban schools that are struggling, a wounded economy with rising unemployment, a health care system that needs major reform, the lack of a coherent national energy policy that will protect our economy and the environment, and a government that has been encroaching on our civil liberties. The solutions exist. But we need to elect non-partisan problem-solvers who will fight for them. For decades we have lived with irresponsible public policies from career politicians in Congress who care more about increasing their party’s power and getting re-elected than they care about solving long-term problems. They haven’t been honest with us, and they have been lousy public servants.”

The Sept. 9th Press Conference/Campaign Kick-Off event at Lena’s Outdoor Stage in Hartford is free and open to the public. Dr. Mertens is holding the event in Connecticut’s capital city and New England’s ‘Rising Star’ to emphasize the need for coordination of federal and state policies to address issues such as education, health care, urban revitalization, and economic recovery.

This is against everything we who originally joined the CFL stood for. Even Stuart Korchin, who has also laid claim to the CFL chairmanship, is offended by this approach. It’s hard to see what the point of this exercise is, other than as a massive ego trip by Dr. Mertens.

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A great, surprising decision today: read all about it here (see comments). H/T: A Public Defender

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Read all about it here.

So, all public financing of campaigns is ended for now. Atty General Dick Blumenthal will certainly appeal, and ask for a stay. But new legislation will be required sooner or later.

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Around 150 members of Connecticut’s Working Families Party will meet Saturday Morning for the fast-growing minor party’s Annual Meeting.

Four potential candidates for Governor will be participating in the party’s Gubernatorial Forum, where WFP members will ask questions about Working Families’ priority issues, like healthcare, the economy, education and paid sick days.

Former Speaker of the House Jim Amann, Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, State Senator Gary LeBeau and Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy will be participating in the Gubernatorial forum.

The Annual Meeting will be held at CCSU’s Institute for Technology and Business Development at 185 Main St, New Britain, on the 2nd Floor. The Gubernatorial Forum will run from 9:30 to 10:30.

Unlike other minor parties, Working Families often cross-endorses a major party candidate who committed to the party’s priority issues, like affordable healthcare, good jobs and fair taxes.

In the 2008 elections, about 85,000 Connecticut voters cast their votes on the Working Families Party Line – or about 5% of the vote statewide. Many observers say that many votes could make the difference in a close statewide race.

Major party candidates who receive the endorsement of the Working Families Party appear twice on the ballot: once on the major party’s line and once on the Working Families Party line. Votes cast on the Working Families Party line count toward the candidate’s total. But Working Families leaders say, voting on the Working Families Party also sends a powerful message.

“When you vote on the Working Families Party line, your vote counts for the candidate, but it also sends a powerful message to all politicians that it’s time to focus on the issues that really effect working families, like affordable healthcare, good jobs, fair taxes and quality schools,” said Art Perry, political director of SEIU local 32NJ and member of the Working Families Party State Committee.

The Working Families Party has announced endorsements in municipal races around the state. In New Britain, the party is cross-endorsing Tim O’Brien for Mayor, Suzanne Bielinski for Town and City Clerk, Greg Gerratana for Tax Collector, Mike Trueworthy and Paul Catenzero for Aldermen at Large, Marie Lausch for Alderman, Ward 1 and Phil Sherwood for Alderman, Ward 4.

After the Annual Meeting, members of Working Families will hold a press conference in support of Tim O’Brien for Mayor of New Britain at City Hall.

“I have always believed that it is important to stand up for working people – for good paying jobs, affordable quality health care and family-friendly policies,” said Tim O’Brien. “That is why, as the Democratic candidate for Mayor, I am proud to accept the Working Families endorsement.”

The WFP has also announced cross-endorsements in Norwalk, Waterbury/ In addition, WFP is fielding some of its own candidates for Board of Education in Hartford and Bridgeport.

In Hartford, WFP members currently holds two seats of nine of the City Council and one of the four elected seats on Board of Education. In 2008, Working Families made history in Hartford by electing Urania Petit the first minor party Registrar of Voters in Connecticut history.

Working Families is a minor political party in Connecticut formed by a coalition of community organizations, labor unions and neighborhood activists who united to fight for a fair economy. The Working Families Party was formed to inject issues like healthcare, quality education, and livable wages into the public debate, and to hold politicians accountable on those issues.

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Three events specifically address health care reform:

Greenwich
Mon, August 31: 6:30-8:00pm
Greenwich Town Hall
101 Field Point Road, Greenwich

Norwalk
Wed, September, 2: 6:30-8:30pm
Norwalk City Hall
125 East Avenue, Norwalk

Bridgeport
Thu, September 3: 6:30-8:00pm
City Hall Council Chambers
5 Lyon Terrace, Bridgeport

And he has agreed to attend a Republican-sponsored forum on health care tomorrow (Saturday), which has engendered a great deal of controversy.

In addition to the specific health care forums mentioned above, on Sunday, August 30, he will be holding more of what he calls Congress on Your Corner sessions where he will be accessible to anyone who would like to discuss concerns with federal issues with me.

Weston
Sun, August 30: 1:00-2:30pm
Weston Town Hall Meeting Room
56 Norfield Road, Weston

Wilton
Sun, August 30: 3:00-4:30pm
Wilton Town Hall Annex
238 Danbury Road, Wilton

Finally, he has a new feature on his website that allows anyone to see where and whenhe will be holding public events across the district. available: