Connecticut Democrat political leaders are despicable.  They control both the Senate and House in our General Assembly, and they have not yet produced a budget.  They are letting Malloy rule the roost as they bicker amongst themselves.  The only item they agreed on was cutting the unions a sweetheart deal as reward for helping them get elected and stay in power.

Now, they want to blame the Republicans, the minority party in both chambers, if their proposed budget fails to be passed.  And if it does, it will be the Republican’s fault that Governor Malloy is operating through Executive action.  It will be the GOP’s fault that aide to towns and schools are not being made or are being cut.  Cuts to social services are the Republicans fault.  If people die, it’s the Republicans fault.

The chutzpah is unbelievable.   Apparently, Connecticut Democrats define bipartisanship as:  we will not debate your ideas; you must accept ours.  And if you don’t do what we say, the people will suffer and it is your fault

Here’s what Democrat leaders are saying:

 “ voting against a two-year budget should be seen as an endorsement of Malloy’s executive order, which eliminates education funding for 85 communities.” – Democrat Senate President Martin Looney

“If you don’t want to work in a bipartisan way and you vote no, you are going to be just as responsible as everybody else for the cuts that go to your town. I truly believe that.  It’s time to start voting yes and get to yes if you really want to be a representative of your town.  If you can’t come in here and put a green button to something, you’re saying the executive order is better, I don’t believe that’s right for your town.”  – Democrat House Majority Leader Matt Ritter

Their comments, in addition to shifting blame for their incompetence to the Republicans, are a message of guilt to their caucus holdouts.  Comrade, “if you really want to be a representative of your town” you must pass our budget.

Think about it.  Connecticut Republicans offered over half a dozen budget proposals that were OFA scored.  To me, that seems like a party offering solutions, trying to work in a bipartisan manner.  They asked that their ideas be brought to the floor and receive a debate and vote.

You know what they got from the Democrat leadership?  The back of the hand.  The Democrats refused to even allow a debate on the ideas.  The Democrats could have had a public bipartisan discussion, and they chose not to, and now claim the Republicans are refusing to work in bipartisan manner.   It’s absurd.  Honestly, there is no shame.

The real problem for the Democrat leadership is that they cannot get enough votes in their own caucus to pass their budget.  Leadership wants another billion dollar tax increase, and there are some Democrats who will not vote for such an idea.  Make no mistake, if the Democrats had the votes for their budget, we’d have a budget.

In the State House, the Dems have a slim four vote majority, and currently they have 5-6 members that will not vote for another massive tax increase.   In the Senate, there is believed to be 1-2 holdouts. The arm twisting will be will be strong up to 14 September when the GA is scheduled to be back in session.

IMO, Democrat leadership is pissing their pants because they have to be the adult in the room and offer some really bad choices, and they want someone to blame.  They’ve been cowering under their beds since they passed the SEBAC agreement.  Democrat Speaker of the House “Union” Joe Aresimowicz doesn’t know what to do, obviously over his head, the peter principal playing out in our 2017 budget.

Democrats act like bystanders to the financial disaster that is our state.  They have controlled our General Assembly for well over thirty years, at times with super majorities.  And like Sergeant Schultz, they know nothing, it’s someone else’s fault.