Governor Rell Friday laid it out in fiscal lavender for the Democrats on trying to add more programs, taxes and spending to the second year of the state budget.

“”We may find, in the end, we are best served by living with the fiscal 2009 budget that we crafted last year,” Rell wrote to legislators.

Democrats have been rolling out several spending and program proposals in the recent weeks which would further burnish Connecticut’s credentials as the highest taxed state in the nation. Two in particular, a mandatory increase in staffing levels at all Connecticut’s nursing home facilities and a opening up of the state’s health insurance programs to small businesses, non-profits and cities and towns, would pile on another $600 million in costs and structurally alter the state budget significantly in the out years.

Now, even President Pro Tem Don WIlliams, D-Brooklyn, sees the hand writing on the wall.  He offered another tired metaphor, hoping to reposition himself against soon-to-be ex-Speaker Jim Amann as a moderating influence on spending.

“It looks like Connecticut must do what families across the state are doing, and that is tighten our belts,” Williams, D-Brooklyn, said in a statement released by his spokesman. “We need an agreement by early next week or there won’t be a new budget.”

This is an almost comical turn of opinion by Williams, another Gubernatorial wanna-be. He has been parading in front of the cameras for weeks, leading the charge on the increased nursing home staffing initiative and anything that get him attention or support from the public-sector unions.  With the economy souring, gas nearing $4 a gallon, local budgets averaging six to eight percent increases, the voters are now figuring out how we got here.

It has been simply the bitter harvest of 22 years of Democratic rule in Hartford.  Year in, year out, with the Income Tax as their lode star, the Democrats have pushed the envelope of spending increases and taxes to pay for them.  But for the efforts of two Republican Governors and last year’s effort by House Republican Leader Larry Cafero, R-Norwalk, the state would be considerably worse off. But now, the day of reckoning is soon upon us.

During this period, the ranks of the moderate Democrats have thinned considerably. This week, one of the smartest, most thoughtful members, State Rep. Chris Stone of East Hartford, announced his retirement. Stone was one of the few Democrats who kept his word and did not feel the government should be given a free check. With Amann’s departure and the further marginalizing of old school types, the Democratic caucuses liberal forces will be unleashed.

With days remaining in the session, liberals can still be counted on to do the bidding of Non-Profit Nation, which employs many of the Democratic rank-and-file as indispensable members of their organizations. We can now watch to see how hard they work at their day jobs and part-time jobs simultaneously.

President George W. Bush visited Connecticut today on a two stop tour of the Nutmeg State - first to the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford and then a private fundraising event at the home of Dr. Henry Kissinger in Kent, Connecticut.

In recent days, the mainstream media (MSM) had previously dismissed the President’s visit to the Boys and Girls Club as a sham event, deriding the President’s commitment to fighting malaria and helping those in need.  These derisions are callous to the concerted effort put forth by President Bush to dramatically reduce malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. 

The President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) sets an ambitious goal - reduce malaria deaths by 50% in 15 target African nations.  The cause for this Initiative is clear.  According to the Center for Disease Control, “In areas of Africa with high malaria transmission, an estimated 990,000 people died of malaria in 1995 – over 2700 deaths per day, or 2 deaths per minute” (CDC).  Since the beginning of the PMI, there have been discernable results in combatting malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.  According to the White House, “In Zanzibar, following the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITN) and indoor residual spraying, the percentage of infants infected with malaria has dropped from about 20 percent to less than one percent“. 

The media can ridicule the President’s efforts on Africa as mere charade, but the President rightly cited Luke 12:48 as a proper reference point: “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”  The assembled crowd, estimated at 150 people, listened intently to the President’s comments on malaria.  Those in attendance noted the President’s obvious commitment to the issue and the passion with which he spoke about fighting malaria. 

From the Hartford Boys and Girls Club, the President headed back to Bradley for a helicopter ride out to the home of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in Kent, Connecticut.  Kissinger hosted a private fundraising event for the joint committee of Connecticut Victory ‘08-Cappiello for Congress.  The event, attended by 450 people, raised over $700,000 for the two organizations.  The President was very relaxed and seemed to very much enjoy his time at Dr. Kissinger’s estate. 

His speech left many in the audience talking about just how compelling the President is in his element.  Gone were the malapropisms and halted phrasing that are common criticisms of the President’s oratory - replaced by impassioned, smooth rhetoric about America’s collective need to be guided by the better angels of our nature.  Bearing witness to the President’s speech today was to see the work of a master craftsman - an orator - who used the English language as a palette to express his views in a manner far different from the television caricature. 

Meanwhile, #43’s “englightened” critics wrote “No More Bush” in magic marker on their forearm.

You can view the photographs from the event by clicking here.

Click for the complete photo gallery!

President George W. Bush begins his speech to the guests at the home of Dr. Henry Kissinger.

Dr. Kissinger welcomes President George W. Bush to his home in Kent, CT.

President Bush with Henry Kissinger, 4/25/08.

 

State Senator David Cappiello gestures during his speech on 4/25/2008 at the home of Dr. Henry Kissinger.

United States Congressman Christopher Shays, the only Republican Member of Congress in New England

Congressman Chris Shays embraces Sen. David Cappiello

Congressman Chris Shays greets the assembled guests at the fundraiser for Connecticut Victory ‘08-Cappiello for Congress on Friday, April 25, 2008.

Chairman Chris Healy welcomes the attendees to the home of Dr. Henry Kissinger in Kent, CT.

Lt. Governor Mike Fedele offers opening remarks to the 450 assembled guests.