Today the House and Senate will be passing different versions, maybe, of a proposed energy bill. The real fight is in the House where Steve Fontana, co-chair of the Energy and Technology Committee is pushing a bill that would, as one Democrat said, “do things to the energy market that there are not doing in Russia today.” Fontana would try and bring back a managed form of the old system of monopoly oriented energy - with all the bells and whistles that government brings to the table.

The Senate version, offered by the other co-chairman, State Sen. John Fonfara, would make some changes around the edges on conservation, new energy development, blah, blah. It’s a big nothing and the Democrats have been at this game for two years with no results.

The Republicans have offered tax cuts for businesses who pay energy taxes while promoting real competition, not the managed competition that has driven costs up.

Once again, the Democrats will spend the better part of a night debating themselves while homeowners and businesses pay higher and higher electric bills with no end in sight.

Today’s Journal Inquirer captures the details and the background on the issue the best.

Thank you Speaker Amann and Senator Don Williams for showing the people of Connecticut how truly incompetent and dangerous you truly are with the public purse.

Within less than 24 hours of each other, the Senate and then House Democrats passed an unprecedented (Williams called it historic) tax increase on the citizens of our state - despite $1 billion in surplus, $600 million in the rainy day fund, and thousands of fleeing citizens and businesses who see the hand writing on the wall.

In the Senate, Williams squeaked out a 19-17 vote for their plan that will lard on thousands of new ASFME employees, stick it to every small business owner who files under their personal returns, pulls the tax exemption on clothing under $50 and continues to assault on estates and pensions.

Say Goodnight, Ed

One of the Williams’ late converts was State Sen. Ed Meyer, D-Guilford, who said it was important to “stand together” as a caucus. He also claimed that some of the new taxes would go to special education needs.
Say goodnight, Ed. We are coming for you. Trust us, every resident in the 12th District is going to learn about your concern for the working people over the next year and a half. And no amount of sleazy double-talk is going to save you.

Amann Does a Fan Dance

The House was as the Courant put it, pure “burlesque.” Imagine, the Courant ridiculing the Democrats for raising taxes by a 90-58 margin in such a capricious and silly manner. Even the High Priests of Broad Street aren’t buying it.

State Rep. and Former GOP Chairman’s Bill Hamzy’s amendment to remove taxes on pensions, 401K’s and other retirement instruments was defeated, 104-44 as were other similar Republican tax cutting initiatives. Amann presided as if he didn’t have a care in the world and seem to relish the moment. He’s going to show Gov. Rell who the real boss is, you see.

The Dems even got cute by attaching the summer gas tax cut that House Republicans - thinking that somehow that would compel the Governor to sign the biggest tax incrase since 1991. But not one is buying it.

“It’s a farce,” said House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk. “Everything that was up is down; everything that was down is up.”

Watching Amann cavort on the dais was like watching a fat old stripper doing the fan dance half in the bag. How can any of these Democrats look themselves in the mirror?

A few Democrats, fearing for their lives, didn’t take the bait, but enough did to get the ball rolling and show the voters in 2008 that the majority party has squandered any right to represent the people’s interests.

It is up to Republicans to hold the line, get the word out and not give an inch. Thanks, Jim. Thanks, Don, for bringing us together again.

The SuperMajority Democrats stayed up late last night to pass a tax hike for thousands of Connecticut families and small businesses. While Connecticut’s working men and women slept, their elected officials were busy tinkering with the income tax brackets so that they can find a way to afford their massive increases in government spending.

With just a week left in the legislative session, and despite the Governor’s steadfast refusal to sign such a measure, Senate Democrats are moving forward with their plan to make the tax structure in Connecticut much more progressive, as though the big problem in our state is having too many successful businesses and families.

Most notable of course was the principled stand by 12th District Senator Ed Meyer, as quoted in the Hartford Courant today. “I decided to try to break the budget logjam” by joining with Williams, Meyer said. “We need to stand together.” Senator Meyer’s constituents certainly will have something to say about his voting to significantly raise their taxes simply for unity among Senate Democrats.

Call your legislators today, send them an e-mail, and blog about the need for a NO TAX INCREASE budget.

2007 Prescott Bush Awards Dinner Epilogue

The 2007 Prescott Bush Awards Dinner met with great success last week as the Connecticut Republicans exceeded all previous records in terms of attendance and funds raised. With the much appreciated support of former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson and the dedicated efforts of all involved, more than 650 guests and in excess of 50 members of the media were at the Stamford Sheraton on Thursday May 24, to enjoy the Connecticut Republicans signature event of the year.

LIVEBLOG Review: The Prescott Bush LiveBlog was a moderate success. We’ve received some favorable reviews and some complaints about the frequency of posts, the detail of the posts, etc. We had 6x as many visitors to the site on Thursday as we had the previous Thursday. It was our first rodeo with this type of effort, and we are going to make some improvements for the future.

Call for Pictures, Video, and Sounds: Do you have some good media from the 2007 Prescott Bush Awards Dinner? Send them to us at news@ctgop.org and we will post them on the Photo Gallery of the www.ctgop.org website.

Looking Ahead…
Connecticut Republicans Blog Project: Check back here soon for information about a new project by the CTGOP to make The Everyday Republican the premiere blog for Republicans in Connecticut.

Calendar of Events: We would like to keep the Calendar of Events up to date so that Republicans across the state know what is going on in their area. Please email news@ctgop.org to submit an event for the Calendar. Include as many details as possible.

Volunteer Project: Sign up on the Connecticut Republicans website to volunteer your time for the Connecticut Republican Party. By signing up, you’ll be contacted with a list of opportunities to help fellow Republicans across Connecticut as they run for office. We need your help to be successful. Sign up today at www.ctgop.org .

At three different cookouts through Sunday, there was the usual banter of upcoming proms, problems with the mites in the lawn and why didn’t we get a Warthog flyover at the parade. I tend not to talk politics unless bated which is pretty easy, but most of the real people I chowed down with were talking about two issues that ground their gears.

Is is clear the Republican efforts to cut the gas tax and the Democrats efforts to stop it has broken through to the mainstream. They have heard about it on the news and they are pissed. No one believes the current dunning at the pump finds its way back into asphalt, better rail cars or cleaner buses. And many in the crowds I mingled with were state workers or knew DOT workers and get the joke. Many, and many are Democrats, are tired of paying $40 to fill the SUV and find themselves mired in smoky traffic jams and one-shutdowns where three guys are staring at one guy in a hole with a shovel.

The trick for Republicans is how do we keep the pressure on aside from the House Republicans attempting to amend every bill that can in the closing days of the session. I like a lunchtime shutdown around the Capitol next week with cars blowing their horns - right out of the CCAG playbook.

The other, where we have a little time to keep the homes fires burning, is the disgraceful vote to allow illegal immigrants to attend UConn and other branch campuses through an in-state rate of tuition. With high school graduation dates still a couple of weeks out, we should be able to alert parents and students, many of whom are turning 18 and ready to vote, why the Democrats chose to validate law breaking and reward it with a discount education.

So, we are getting there folks, one hamburger at a time.

Send your ideas on how to keep our lasers focused on the Dems to healy@ctgop.org