Victories or defeats? Session creates template for campaigns
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont made it clear Thursday, the day after the General Assembly adjourned, that he’ll be campaigning on what he sees as the big successes of the 2022 legislative session, ranging from “historic” tax cuts to new funding for child care services.
Republicans, however, are likely to campaign on how those supposed successes fell far short of what they say voters want.
“This is a bumper sticker budget for the Democrats for November. It is not a budget crafted for the future well-being of the state of Connecticut,” said House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, referring to the Democratic claims that the roughly $600 million in tax cuts and credits is the largest in state history. The list ranges from extending the 25-centper gallon gas tax holiday until December to creating a new, one-year child tax credit.
“Yes, you can message that,” said Candelora. “But when people don’t feel it in their pockets, that’s going to be a problem for them.”
The election season officially kicks off today, when Democrats and Republicans gather for their respective two-day party conventions to endorse candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. Senate and other state constitutional offices.
Lamont, who is expected to receive his party’s backing on Saturday in Hartford, said he plans to make the case that Connecticut’s financial picture has greatly improved following years of state budget deficits, daunting unfunded pension liabilities, sluggish revenues, cuts in state programs, labor concessions from state employees and the depletion of the state’s rainy day fund to help offset the shortfalls.
The revised, one-year $24.2 billion state budget that is awaiting Lamont’s signature benefited from $1 billion in federal relief funds, as well as a $4.8 billion surplus. The plan includes an extra $3.6 billion to reduce unfunded pension liability, in addition to roughly $1.6 billion in supplemental payments made last year, which Democrats predict will save $444 million annually over the next 25 years.
As of 2021, the state employee pension plan was 44.5% funded while the teacher pension plan liability was 51.3% funded as of 2020, the most recent figures available from the Office of Policy and Management.
Republican businessperson Bob Stefanowski, who is expected to receive the GOP’s backing tonight, already has raised questions about how Lamont “magically claims to be a tax-cutter.” In 2019, Lamont proposed a contentious plan to “modernize” the state’s sales tax base and impose the state’s 6.35% sales tax on a long list of goods services, in additional to proposing highway tolls as a way to fund transportation.