Thursday, December 16, 2010

YOUR WFP GOVERNOR

Just hours after promising a pro business group, "Connecticut will be open for business," when he becomes governor, Governor-elect Dannel Malloy has displayed his true, liberal colors.

Malloy issued his business declaration at the MetroHartford Alliance breakfast, Tuesday. Business leaders expressed optimism, following the talk, declaring the honeymoon was on. Within 24 hours, however, Malloy has done the following:

1. Tell religious and social group leaders, he is for state-run "universal health care."
2. Support paid sick leave.
3. Name two avowed liberals to his inner administration, State Sen. Andrew McDonald D-Stamford, and political operative Roy Occhiogrosso.
4. Attend the Working Families Party gathering with his soon-to-be Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman

In other words, every move he has made since the Tuesday breakfast, has appealed to the extreme leftist movement in Connecticut.

His appearance at the WFP event is especially telling, although not surprising. When the WFP endorsed Malloy for governor, during the campaign, his acceptance was lukewarm at best. To have shown enthusiasm, would have alienated the unaffiliated voter bloc he desperately needed to be elected governor. At last night's party, however, Malloy's cup runneth over with praise for WFP. "We're all part of one big family. We wouldn't be here without all of the hard work of the people in this room. I know that. I appreciate that."

WFP, founded in 1998, lists on its website its ideology: "Progressivism. Populism. Social democracy." If that doesn't sound like the platform of the old Communist parties of eastern Europe, then you haven't been paying attention, which Malloy certainly hopes.

WFP is a consortium of the old ACORN, labor unions and community organizations, the backbone of Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Furthermore, it has a powerful alliance with the Service Employees International Union, which helped get Obama elected, and some suggest influenced the inner city Connecticut gubernatorial vote. SEIU is known to have underwritten a sizeable amount of the WFP's budget. There have been rumblings some of George Soros' money has found its way to the WFP, as well. The WFP has been under investigation for voter fraud in New York. Sound familiar? The list goes on. This is the group, Connecticut's next governor has chosen to embrace.

Although Malloy has a knack for telling his audience what they want to hear - sound pro business to business groups, sound pro worker to workers' groups - make no mistake about it, his actions in this transitional period have tilted decidedly to the left. It's becoming patently clear we are about to inaugurate a governor, whose main objective is to redistribute the wealth, much like the current White House occupant.

Others may try to paint Malloy as a fiscally conservative Democrat. Do not be fooled. Socialism, already a cornerstone of Connecticut government, is about to accelerate full speed ahead, driven by a governor, for whom more people voted against, than for.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

USE THE STUDENTS. SAVE MONEY!

The media has been making a big deal about how Connecticut was left off a New England tourism group's website, because the state hadn't paid its annual $100,000 dues. "Discover New England," launched in 1992 by the governors from the six New England states, was designed to promote New England as a tourist destination to Europeans. On the site's latest display, Connecticut is wiped off the map.
At issue is the Nutmeg State's current budget shortfall. In the recent spending plan, the state's tourism commission was given a near zero budget. No money translated into no 100Gs for Discover New England.
The Hartford Courant, which chose to make the "slight" its lead story in Saturday's edition, quoted Sue Norrington-Davies, Discover New England's executive director. "Action had to be taken to show the implication of these budget cuts. It's an unfortunate situation. We want Connecticut back on board. I assure, you."
But does the Portsmouth, NH group want Connecticut on board or does it just want to squeeze out 100Gs of tax dollars, the Nutmeg State does not have? Besides, who claims it's an unfortunate situation? The Republican-American reported last year, the state's tourism revenue rose last year, with no money in the tourism promotion budget.
Typically, Connecticut Democrats, who never met a government expenditure they didn't like, were quick to pounce on the spending shortchange. Colleen Flanagan, spokeswoman for soon-to-be Governor Dannel Malloy, told the Courant, "This is a perfect example of ways in which our state has been penny-wise and pound foolish."
Translation, when Malloy takes the oath, cash-strapped Connecticut will put the dough back in the tourism budget, including the 100Gs for Discover New England.
But here's an idea, that could save the taxpayers that coveted 100Gs. Launch a competition among our high school and college students to design a website, touting Connecticut tourism overseas. We have teenagers in our family - and I'm sure you do as well - who could do dances around our government bureaucrats, with their computer expertise. One 13-year-old in our family designs websites in a snap. Why are we automatically handing over $100,000 to a government-promoted group, when the answer is in our own backyard at very little cost?
The governor-elect has promised a new approach to government. (Wouldn't you love to have a dollar for every time a newly elected official has uttered that comment?) Here's a chance to prove it, with a program that promotes Connecticut tourism and education. The approach would not only be penny wise, but pound wise too.