Letter: Exclusionary politics prevent state from getting best solutions [Norwich Bulletin]

Letter to the Editor as it appeared in the Norwich Bulletin

Residents are seeing the effects of trying to tax away problems. The way any organization works to its best potential is by utilizing all assets. Governing with only one side in the room is not moving this great state forward. Instead we get tax hikes on practically everything that moves.

As first selectman in East Lyme, facing the Great Recession, I asked to speak to the Democratic Town Committee, a dedicated and passionate group committed to the best interest of our town. Although Republicans held majorities on every board and commission, we did not have all the answers. By working together and forging solutions, all of East Lyme benefited.

This year, Republicans offered no tax increase alternatives. Our ideas alone would not cure Connecticut, but we had to try. Legislators who do not share our ideas have a right and an obligation to disagree. But are we so representative of a broken system that we can’t talk to one another?

With your help, let’s convince the majority party to put down the poison pens. Connecticut deserves our very best collective efforts.

PAUL M. FORMICA
East Lyme
The author is the Republican state senator representing the 20th District