Let’s try more bipartisan cooperation, please
Earlier this month, when Gov. Ned Lamont stood in the state House chamber and called on lawmakers and residents to stop badmouthing our state, he got a standing ovation from members on both sides of the aisle. But only hours later when the television cameras were off, Republicans — in particular those who failed to convince voters that their reckless and dangerous ideas were right for the state — reverted back to criticizing our great state.
Bob Stefanowski — who ran in 2018 on plans to gut the state’s social safety net, cut funding to our cities and towns and eliminate the state’s primary revenue source — continues to spread misinformation and negativity.
Just days ago,
Gov. Lamont announced a historic
$157 million economic development agreement to turn New London into an industryleading windturbine assembly hub, creating 460 construction jobs and 400 permanent jobs in the process. This, after turning around the Connecticut Port Authority, and working to make it even more accountable to taxpayers. But Stefanowski ignores this success.
Last year, the Governor signed paid family medical leave and $15 minimum wage into law, two policies Stefanowski blames for businesses leaving the state. What’s confusing is the state they left for — Massachusetts — had both of these policies in effect before Connecticut passed them.
He also points out about the pension plan being a problem for this state, but let’s remember how it got to where it is. Republican Gov. John Rowland shorted payments, changed the funding of the plan to that of a balloon mortgage, and gave out the state surplus in rebates instead of funding the Budget Reserve Fund, all so that he could win re-election. Dannel Malloy was the first governor since then to make full payments to the pension plan, and his successor has continued to do so.
Democrats have been working to put people before politics: ensuring everyone in our state can earn a fair wage, making sure working families have the ability to care for their loved ones and not worry about paying bills and future generations aren’t saddled with debts from the past. These are the policies Ned Lamont campaigned on, and the voters showed they agreed by electing him.
Democrats are building a better Connecticut, while Republicans continue to use the tactics of Donald Trump to try to knock it all down.
When I was in the legislature, Democrats and Republicans worked together on many issues to make Connecticut a better place to live and work. And in 2017, we passed a bipartisan budget.
Gov. Lamont’s positive message and commitment to growth is the leadership we need. Badmouthing our state is contagious among Trump Republicans. Let’s not let it cloud the good work happening here and continue to give the pledge to end it a bipartisan standing ovation.
Badmouthing our state is contagious among Trump Republicans. Let’s not let it cloud the good work happening here.