It’s about time the Governor’s office has finally realized that state spending and taxes are, and have been, out of control and has decided to look at the spending side of the budget. We should expect our legislature to champion spending cuts, union concessions, greatly reduced and affordable social programs and a reversal of the anti-business climate they have created. In any plan to address the budget crisis we simply cannot afford to do otherwise.
While it is too late to save the many thousands of skilled and high paying industrial jobs that have left the State due to high taxes, an oppressive business climate and too much regulation, I applaud Governor Rell’s recent epiphany. I anxiously await some real movement to scale down the government and would especially like to address the exorbitant salaries and benefits paid to State workers and the trend over the years to keep sweetening the pot with benefits unheard of in private industry.
As an example – I retired early, after 30 years of service, from a well-known International Company that began in Connecticut in 1866. Corporate headquarters remained in Connecticut even after being acquired by a larger corporation in 1968. Business considerations including our state business climate as well as the posture of the company’s local labor union led to the 2003 sale of the company and recent abandonment of Connecticut operations. The effects of Connecticut’s business climate and union considerations aside, I do not, and did not expect to, receive a living income from my former employer on retirement nor do I believe one is in order for our retiring state workers.
It is past time to renegotiate state union worker’s contracts and demand concessions to bring their compensation back to reality. Programs such as heart and hypertension, full retirement and gold plated medical benefits after ten years must be eliminated. Sick day policies and other special compensations must also be revisited and reduced or eliminated.
As taxpayers and voters we should expect no less.
