Connecticut Commentary: Red Notes from a Blue State

Connecticut needs a mini-revolution. A state budget, like a federal budget, is the single most important piece of legislation produced in any fiscal year.  The reason for this is obvious: A budget is an appropriation and expenditure engine for a getting and spending vehicle that drives us into the future. It also is a destiny map. Without the engine, the car does not move.  Precisely because a budget is central to the welfare of the state, all the representative organs of the state should participate in its formation.

Lee Whitnum of Greenwich, running for the U.S. Senate seat that soon will be vacated by Joe Lieberman, is not likely ever to be mistaken for Mr. Lieberman. In the course of a Democratic debate with other candidates vying for the seat, Ms. Whitnum told moderator Gerry Brooks of NBC Connecticut that she would have to amend her prepared closing statement just a bit , after which she tailspinned into language the normally quiescent Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo later would call inappropriate: “I believe she crossed the line of inappropriateness.” Gesturing toward U.S. Representative Chris Murphy on her left, Ms. Whitnum said, “I'm dealing with [a] whore here, who sells his soul to AIPAC [ American Israeli Public Affairs Committee ] , who will say anything for the job," and then turning to her right and indicating State Rep. William Tong , she fired yet another bazooka, slamming Mr. Tong as “ignorant.” It does not take much to bait Ms. Whitnum on all things Isra...