McKinney, Cafero: “Four Years of One-Party Rule an Abject Failure”

May 8, 2014

Hartford, CT – State Senate Republican Leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield) and State House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero, Jr. (R-Norwalk) today reflected on the 2014 legislative session, expressed relief in knowing this was the final legislative session during Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s term in office, and looked forward to the 2014 election.

Senator McKinney, who last week said the recent budget adjustment passed by Democrats represents “a fiscal house in disorder,” said, “By almost every objective measure, four years of one-party rule in the state of Connecticut has been an abject failure. This governor started his term in multi-billion-dollar deficits and, even after imposing the largest tax increase in state history, he will leave us with multi-billion-dollar deficits. Unemployment remains above the national average, Connecticut is the only state in the nation with a shrinking economy, and a recent Gallup poll found that 49% of our residents would leave the state if they could. Those are just a few of the quantitative measures that demonstrate how poorly our governor and Democrat leaders have performed.”

The Republican Leaders said the projected multi-billion deficit for FY2016 and FY2017 projected by the non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) is a direct result of the failed savings promises from a poorly negotiated SEBAC agreement, combined with the record tax increases Malloy and legislative Democrats imposed on families and businesses during the crushing recession.

“Gov. Malloy and the Democrats refused to cut spending as revenues declined and taxpayers struggled. It was a toxic mix that will no doubt result in another massive tax hike or government layoffs after the November elections,’’ Representative Cafero said. “Republicans chose a different path, one of fiscal restraint, smaller government and common sense.’’

On the current path, Connecticut’s failures have led to poor national rankings including the following:

  • 49% of Connecticut residents want to live elsewhere (Gallup Poll, 2014)
  • Connecticut is ranked #1 in annual tax burden and #42 for business friendliness (Tax Foundation, 2014)
  • Connecticut is ranked #44 in economic competitiveness (American Legislative Exchange Council, 2014)
  • Connecticut has the 3rd highest taxes in the country (24-7 Wall Street, 2014)
  • Connecticut is the 11th worst state in the country for retirees (Bankrate.com, 2014)

In addition to the poor economic and tax ratings, the 7% unemployment remains a huge problem in Connecticut. Data from the Department of Labor shows that since Governor Malloy took office in 2011 the labor force has reduced by 52,500. Connecticut still has to add over 54,000 jobs before the state can return to the pre-recession employment peak.