Let’s keep in mind, Maureen, that without “Porkulus”, as you put it, our state would be in a horrible tailspin now. Both Rell and the General Assembly Republicans rely on those federal stimulus funds for nearly 20% of their entire budget in the coming year. You tell me that the Republicans were right to vote against the stimulus, then tell me how you would balance Connecticut’s budget without it. Really, tell us how you’d manage. Even with the stimulus funds, Rell is borrowing $2 bn from fictional gambling revenues.
Ken Dixon, instead of making snarky remarks about the Democrats, should be pointing out that both Rell’s and the Republicans’ budgets are based on pure fiction: they use revenue forecasts that are pulled out of thin air. Instead of crediting the Democrats with being realistic and using real deficit figures, he prefers to pretend that Rell’s budget is actually real and honest.
How about some journalistic honesty, Ken? Why don’t you point out that Rell’s budget is still a billion dollars in the red according to the only credible estimate out there, the Office of Fiscal Analysis? Or would that destroy your pro-Republican spin?
But let’s also keep an eye on Himes … will he vote for the Energy Bill (i.e., Cap and Tax) tomorrow the way he voted for the Porkulus (i.e., Obama’s Stimulus Plan)? If Himes votes for it, here is what that means to you and our country: It will
Reduce aggregate gross domestic product (GDP) by $9.6 trillion
Destroy an average of 1-3 million jobs, every year
Raise electricity rates 90 percent after adjusting for inflation
Raise inflation-adjusted gasoline prices by 74 percent
Raise residential natural gas prices by 55 percent
Raise an average family’s annual energy bill by $1,500 annually
Increase the federal debt by 26 percent, which is $29,150 per person
Let’s keep in mind, Maureen, that without “Porkulus”, as you put it, our state would be in a horrible tailspin now. Both Rell and the General Assembly Republicans rely on those federal stimulus funds for nearly 20% of their entire budget in the coming year. You tell me that the Republicans were right to vote against the stimulus, then tell me how you would balance Connecticut’s budget without it. Really, tell us how you’d manage. Even with the stimulus funds, Rell is borrowing $2 bn from fictional gambling revenues.
Ken Dixon, instead of making snarky remarks about the Democrats, should be pointing out that both Rell’s and the Republicans’ budgets are based on pure fiction: they use revenue forecasts that are pulled out of thin air. Instead of crediting the Democrats with being realistic and using real deficit figures, he prefers to pretend that Rell’s budget is actually real and honest.
How about some journalistic honesty, Ken? Why don’t you point out that Rell’s budget is still a billion dollars in the red according to the only credible estimate out there, the Office of Fiscal Analysis? Or would that destroy your pro-Republican spin?
But let’s also keep an eye on Himes … will he vote for the Energy Bill (i.e., Cap and Tax) tomorrow the way he voted for the Porkulus (i.e., Obama’s Stimulus Plan)? If Himes votes for it, here is what that means to you and our country: It will
Reduce aggregate gross domestic product (GDP) by $9.6 trillion
Destroy an average of 1-3 million jobs, every year
Raise electricity rates 90 percent after adjusting for inflation
Raise inflation-adjusted gasoline prices by 74 percent
Raise residential natural gas prices by 55 percent
Raise an average family’s annual energy bill by $1,500 annually
Increase the federal debt by 26 percent, which is $29,150 per person