Connecticut Commentary: Red Notes from a Blue State

The day after Governor Jodi Rell delivered her budget address to the legislature and the state, the reviews began drifting in. Quasi-socialist mayor of New Haven John DeStefano thought, "It was very powerful. It touched a lot of the right bases." Other Democrats said the plan was under funded by some $3 billion. Majority Leader Martin Looney of New Haven said, "It's another partial deficit-mitigation plan, rather than a comprehensive budget, and John Geragosian of New Britain said, “It punts to the legislature the politically hard work. It is a partial effort, but it is not a serious effort." Don Williams, President Pro Tem of the senate, sniffed at the plan and cautioned that it may not meet the fairness test. "As we go forward in the coming days and hours and hold the budget up to the light, it's got to pass the fairness test”said Williams, a canned response. Among Democrats, “fairness” is unrelated to equity; it is simply a command barked at the dogs...