The Darien Times

Powell: Empty suggestion box is Malloy's budget joke

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?

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

Powell: Malloy's 'change' is only more of the same

Written by Chris Powell
Sunday, May 13, 2012 06:00 AM

Congratulating the General Assembly and himself this week as the legislature adjourned, Governor Malloy said, "Over the last 16 months we have pushed more change through these two chambers than has occurred in Connecticut in a long time."

Yes, government in Connecticut has gotten bigger, more pervasive, more expensive, and more complicated, a mechanism only Rube Goldberg could appreciate. The most recent Quinnipiac University poll suggests that the public does not yet perceive any improvements. For most of what state government has done lately is only the same old thing -- running up costs unnecessarily.

"Let's keep squeezing every dollar we can out of state government," the governor said. "Let's make government more efficient. Let's continue the conversion of the state's books to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles."

Powell: Fixing schools requires more than remediation

Written by Chris Powell
Thursday, May 10, 2012 04:00 PM

With the education bill on its way to his desk, Gov. Malloy can claim victory on the biggest points in contention.

His education commissioner is authorized to take over as many as 25 failing local schools, creating the "commissioner's network." While the commissioner won't be allowed to abrogate teacher union contracts in these schools, his proposals to change contracts will go to an arbiter who "shall give the highest priority to the educational interests of the state ... as such interests relate to the children."

That is, for once the public interest will be superior to the union interest.

The standard for dismissing teachers will be eased, reduced from utter incompetence to mere ineffectiveness. Annual rather than just occasional evaluations of teachers and principals will be required. Student performance will be a factor in teacher tenure decisions.

Cameron: Support the busway

Written by Jim Cameron
Thursday, May 10, 2012 08:00 AM

You think rush hour traffic is bad in Fairfield County on I-95 and the Merritt? Try driving on I-84 or I-91 into Hartford. That’s why the planned busway from New Britain to downtown Hartford makes such sense.

Yet, the project has been widely scorned and almost scuttled by rail advocates and lawmakers who would rather see rail service than buses. Even though I’m all about trains, this busway project makes sense.

But first, what is a “busway,” you ask? Let me explain:

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