Defining Moment: Tackling the Deficit

The hottest issue in this six-week 99th House District campaign has been taxes. Both candidates, Democrat James Albis and Republican Linda Monaco, have been marching to their party's mantra: Dems insist taxes have to be raised in order to lower the projected $3.6-billion state deficit; Repubs cry no tax hikes no matter what.

Patch asked Albis and Monaco to explain.

To Albis: "You said realistically taxes have to be hiked. You also said you favor spending cuts. Where would you cut? And please be specific and give a rough idea of how much your proposed cuts would add up to. Many people are against raising taxes and are having a tough time paying the current taxes. What do you say to them?"

Albis responds.

"I think the governor’s proposed cuts are a good start. But we need to look to maximize efficiency even further in state departments, agencies and programs. Health care is one of the biggest expenses in the state budget, but also a place I think we can find savings. I’ve been speaking for a while about the wisdom of shifting the focus of care for our seniors to home care instead of care in nursing homes. Studies have also shown that providing care at home can save the state up to $250 million in the first year and $900 million a year in the long term.

"In addition to big things like this, we can do a lot of little things to save money. For example, making the switch to mandatory direct deposit versus mailing out paychecks for all state employees. Using email and other forms of electronic transmission more than we do now. We can explore the possibility of using services like Zipcar to reduce the size and cost of the state’s fleet of motor vehicles. In addition to the agency consolidations Gov. Malloy has already proposed, there may be other ways agencies can pool resources and work cooperatively.

"But I also realize that cuts such as those I have mentioned, and any additional cuts that may be found, will not be enough to produce the balanced budget we need in the face of the looming deficit.

"Despite her pledge to vote against all tax increases, I believe my opponent realizes this as well. One of the biggest cuts she advocated -- agency consolidation -- has already been included in Gov. Malloy’s budget and will save the state $10 million. That still leaves well over $3 billion to go."

To Monaco: "You said you are against any tax increase. With a $3.6-billion deficit predicted for the next year, how would you plug that? Please give me specifics that could amount to roughly $3.6 billion. Also, if East Haven's ECS (Educational Cost Sharing) grant was cut due to not raising taxes, would you still be in favor of not raising any taxes?"

Monaco responds.

"Connecticut must utilize our community providers in place of government providing the service (at a much greater cost), privatize of certain government services, and consolidate state agencies. This privatization of services, with appropriate Medicaid reforms, would produce almost $350 million in savings and revenue.

"We must consolidate our business agencies, including CT Innovations, Community Development Authority, and CHFA into the Department of Community and Economic Development; our health agencies including DPH, DCF, DDS, DMHAS and DSS into the Department of Human Services; and our public safety including Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security into the Department of Public Safety. This proposal would reduce our state agencies from over 80 to 11 bringing approximately $35 million in savings. Finally, Connecticut must review its state assets, including our six airports and mortgage assets, for the purpose of outsourcing or selling these items in order to reduce government’s size and raise revenue of over $850 million.

"Connecticut must also roll back its spending within state agencies to 2006 levels, which would produce approximately $900 million in savings. Gov. Malloy calls for $1 billion in union concessions, and every effort should be made to achieve these savings. Connecticut employees have the most generous health care packages in the world, and some of these employee concessions could include a 24-month wage freeze, six furlough days per employee per year and changes in medical co-pays from $3 to $10 for generic drug prescriptions, $6 to $20 for name brand drug prescriptions and $10 to $20 for doctors’ visits. Finally, Connecticut should create a third tier for future state hires which would include greater concessions in items, such as pension contributions, in order to address our unfunded liabilities in our pension and post-retirement health care plan.

"I would not support any cuts in municipal aid. Any reduction in aid to cities and towns translates to an immediate real property-tax increase to residents."

Special Election Day is tomorrow, Feb. 22. Get out and vote!

Here's where:

Voting District                   Location of Polling Place

District 01                                       Tuttle School, 108 Prospect Road

District 1S                                       East Farm Village, 55-56 Messina Drive

District 02                                       Momauguin School, 93 Cosey Beach Road

District 03                                       Does Not Vote

District 04                                       Overbrook School, 54 Gerrish Ave.

District 05                                       Deer Run School  Route 80 (changed from Hays School)

District 5S                                       Woodview,  1270 North High St

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.