At GOP Forum, No Mention Of Rell's Income Tax Proposal (CT)

The Hartford Courant ^ | February 12, 2007 | LYNN DOAN, Courant Staff Writer

[nutmeg]

WEST HARTFORD -- A panel of Republican notables urged conservative party members at a forum Sunday to unite, but it failed to bring up a topic that's divided the group: Gov. M. Jodi Rell's budget proposal.

Not once during the forum, hosted by the Connecticut Conservative Congress, did newly appointed GOP head Chris Healy mention Rell's two-year, $35.8 billion budget, which was unveiled Wednesday.

And yet her budget plans seemed to be on the tip of every member's tongue as Healy and five other Republicans spoke of defining the Republican Party in Connecticut.

Rell has proposed a 10 percent increase in the state income tax to pay for record-setting increases in education spending.

"That's one of the main reasons I'm here," said Dave Moulton, who drove to the Elmwood Community Center in West Hartford from Barkhamsted Sunday. "I want to find out if [Healy] is going to lead the fight against Rell or if he's just going to be a yes-man for her."

Instead, Healy focused his speech on what he described as one of the party's main issues, finding candidates for office.

[nutmeg]

I'm stunned that Jodi Rell's insane income tax proposal wasn't Topic #1 at this Forum on Sunday. Talk about the giant Elephant in the Room! What on earth did the speakers talk about?

[nutmeg]

Connecticut ping!

Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.

[nutmeg]

Thanks, Dutchy, for the heads up on this article! :o)

[Eva]

What's with all the so-called moderates that turn out to be as far left as you can get. There's a Dem. congressman in WA that
ran as a moderate in a Rep. district and won and the first thing that he's doing is proposing impeachment of Bush. There are more of these charlatans, but I can't think of them right now.

[nutmeg]

We're pretty shocked here in CT over Gov. Jodi Rell's income tax proposal. We all know she's a RINO, but she had a fairly decent reputation before as a fiscal conservative. This is leaving many CT residents scratching their heads and thinking of leaving the state for good.

[N. Theknow]

When the last recession, brought about by raising taxes, was finally over I got a new, and HIGHER, unemployment tax bill from the State of Connecticut.

I looked upon it as, "Congratulations, you've managed to somehow stay in business, now here is your reward. Thank you and Screw you."

Started my business there when Connecticut was one of the lowest taxed states in New England and we used to laugh at the poor, over-taxed folks that lived in Massachusetts.

14 months ago I said, "Enough."

The best thing about Connecticut was the sign, "Welcome to Connecticut"......in my rear view mirror.

[DTogo]

Sounds like the whole shindig was a waste of any good FReeper's time?

[Eva]

Well, we're in the same position in WA STate, but we didn't elect our govenor, she stole the election. The election was so obviously stolen that her name is now Fraudoire, instead of Gregoire. She is trying to pass a state income tax to support the Kyoto like executive order that she signed the beginning of this month. Then to top it all off, the Democrat state legislature is trying to change the constitution to eliminate the initiative process.

Watch Rell for executive orders on environmental issues.

[Andonius_99]

Is there any chance of us recalling her? If so, who would replace her?

[right-wingin_It]

THIS is exaclty the kind of thing that Rudy would do for Republican party on a national level. That is, instead of the party bottoming out and regrouping upon our principles, it's instead going to be a long painful death under his watch, as is happening in CT under Rell.I realize now, itd probably be better for DeStefano to have won for Governor. The Republican party would then reach bottom sooner and then quickly bounce back. No, instead Rell is going delay our return at least 6 years, and in the mean time slice us a million times so we can't be victorious against the next Dem challenger.