Invest our surplus in jobs and climate

Gov. Lamont and the General Assembly are to be commended for their fiscal prudence. Their management of the state government has resulted in significant budget surpluses. They have wisely invested $1.6 billion of our previous budget surplus in our underfunded state pension system. Their investment protected Connecticut’s commitment to valued workers and retirees and avoided future tax increases to bail out what could have become a bankrupt system.

Through the most difficult of times, their continued prudence has amassed another surplus of over $2 billion. Many worthy ideas have been floated; among them would be funding efforts to close our nation-leading wealth gap between some of America’s most wealthy and most poor. The vision and courage of Sens. Looney, Fonfara and Scanlon have shown a bright light on this terrible situation: Billionaires and the destitute living cheek to jowl while the state looks on in cold detachment.

But perhaps the best way Connecticut can invest our $2 billion surplus in the most important social program: Jobs! But, simultaneously, we can fund the fight against the biggest threat to our future: Climate change.

The $2 billion can fund the jobs to save our coast, reduce transportation pollution, generate renewable electricity and clean our water.

We have shown wisdom to invest in things with long-term benefits to Connecticut. At this critical time there is no long-term investment more important than fighting climate change and creating the jobs for our neighbors to do so.

Aziz Dehkan, executive director, Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs. Bill Finch, former mayor of Bridgeport.