Powell: Empty suggestion box is Malloy's budget joke

Columns

Written by Chris Powell
Sunday, May 20, 2012 06:00 AM

At least the Malloy administration's rankest cynicism yet has come with a sense of humor.

The administration's concessions agreement with the state employee unions a year ago called for all sorts of largely speculative savings, none more speculative than the $180 million that was to be saved over two years because of efficiency suggestions from state employees themselves. While the number seemed plucked out of the ether, both the administration and union leaders insisted that it was achievable. So the amount was built into the state budget and forgotten until the other day, when, as the budget sunk into a big deficit, the Journal Inquirer's state Capitol reporter, Ed Jacovino, asked budget director Benjamin Barnes about what had been called the "suggestion box" portion of the concessions agreement.

As it turned out, Barnes acknowledged, the Malloy administration never kept track of any such suggestions, could not identify any that had been received and implemented, and in effect had shut down the "suggestion box." That wasn't to say that the administration didn't adjust the budget anyway after it was enacted — just that the budget chief and state agency heads did the cutting on their own.

Ryan: Is it safe to come out yet?

Columns

Last Updated on Thursday, May 17, 2012 07:09 AM Written by John J. Ryan
Thursday, May 17, 2012 12:00 PM

Editor: So have those fine people at the state capitol gone home yet?

Ryan: Yes, this year’s state legislative session has concluded. Will the capitol media be the only folks that miss them?

Editor: And a discussion of this past legislative session could provide topics for weeks upon weeks. So let’s not waste time. It always seems like there are so many bills that pass around the same time, it’s tough to keep up. Is there anywhere we can get a good rundown on everything that happened?

• Editorial: Money vs. victory; or McMahon vs. Shays

Editorial: McMahon vs. Shays; money vs. victory

Editorial

Last Updated on Thursday, May 17, 2012 06:19 AM Written by Joshua Fisher
Thursday, May 17, 2012 06:11 AM

Connecticut Republicans will gather in Hartford Friday to nominate their candidate for U.S. Senate. And for the first time in a generation, the GOP actually has a shot to win. But instead, many party leaders appear ready to proudly back money (by calling it “business sense”) over experience (by calling it “the old way.”)

Linda McMahon has been gathering up town committee and Connecticut Republican endorsements all over the state. Including endorsements from Darien’s first selectman and RTC chairman. Some are saying the former WWE CEO has the experience to create jobs in Connecticut — something the U.S. Senate has little influence on. And even if you look past McMahon’s history of creating jobs by peddling a product that is barely above pornography, her ideas and platform are weak and her chances of actually winning the general election in November are even weaker.

Editorial: They’ll drive like you

Editorial

Written by The Darien Times
Monday, May 14, 2012 06:00 AM

It's time for adults to start modeling good driving habits for teens. How can we expect new drivers to ignore a text or phone call, obey the speed limit, wear a seatbelt, leave the make-up application, shaving, and bagel/coffee juggling for another time, and never ever get behind the wheel after (or while) drinking when they see more experienced drivers doing all of the above all the time?

Darien teens recently won an award for a video they made that showed exactly that. Your kids are more likely to drive as you do than drive as you say.

May is National Youth Traffic Safety Month. Not coincidentally, it's also prom season (Darien's is this Friday, May 18) and the beginning of graduations and end-of-the-school-year party time. These are occasions that mark a transition in American teenagers' lives, a move from childhood to adulthood. But when the adults they look to for guidance and example-setting are making bad choices, the road to adulthood can be bumpy at best and disastrous at worst.