 |
|
 |
|
Serving the Town of Stamford, Connecticut
|
|
To the editor:
When will the people of the world stop believing that the world's most vital resource is oil? For too long the world, and our government, have neglected the one and only resource that will pull us out of this throat-gripping dilemma and into the sunlight again — our children.
The children are the resource that will rebuild a world that will work in harmony. Not the oil. Our children will be the resource that will explore far better forms of energy than the fossil fuel we depend upon today. The present oil crisis of the world has caused nothing but evil and greed to rear their ugly heads, costing our nation the lives of more than 4,000 young men and women and more than 20,000 wounded and crippled for life, and for what? Control, power and money. And also leaving in its wake the highest rate of unemployment since the Great Depression.
Where is the camaraderie, the old national spirit we once had? The hang-out-the-flag pride? And, it's not just in America, but all around the globe. I remember when the Persian Gulf, Iran, Iraq, Egypt and Saudi Arabia were once far away places we only dreamed of because of the warm sands, the sheiks and the camels. Remember? Now, it's the oil they produce and the grip they have around the throats of us all.
The current administration is concerned with only and how much each member in our higher ranks of government can squeeze out of today's chaos with all the under-the-table contract deals.
The politicians of today are leaving in its place a staggering, crippled, bankrupt government as a legacy for our children.
My God, they deserve better than that.
By writing this letter, I'm doing all I can to stop the vermin that suck the life-blood out of our nation. What are you doing about it?
Paul S. Domizio
Stamford
The 'do
something' budget
To the editor:
With just 10 days remaining in the legislative session House and Senate Republicans crafted a balanced tax and spending plan that does not raise taxes, streamlines government and avoids budget deficits in the coming years.
Our Connecticut economy is facing hard times. And, the hard times are predicted to get worse. Just in the last few months a $200 million surplus has been reduced to $15 million and it continues to dwindle on daily basis.
The Republican response has been dubbed the "Do Something" Budget because it anticipates lower revenues in the coming year and takes immediate action. The proposal is not a slash and burn budget. It includes an increase for our nursing homes; and it adds funds for preschool programs, criminal justice reforms, and energy assistance for low-income families.
Every driver in Connecticut is facing $4/gallon gas at the pump. The "Do Something" Budget gives some relief to that price by proposing a reduction of 10 cents in the state gas tax. While ten cents does not greatly lower the cost of a fill-up, it shows that Republican legislators have acknowledged the problem and are moving in the right direction.
This budget also helps small businesses and LLCs by removing the $250 entity tax. Finally, this budget recognizes that the estate tax, beginning with the "cliff" at $2 million is a bad idea and offers a two year phase out of the cliff.
Other programs in our "Do Something" Budget include a fuel cell initiative to make Bradley Airport the first "green" airport and development of fuel cell-powered transit buses.
How will all of this be accomplished while saving the state money? This budget saves $163 million by offering a voluntary early retirement program (ERIP) to 11,000 eligible state employees. It is estimated that approximately 4,000 would take the retirement offer. In addition, other cost cuts would come from $78 million savings in the state Medicaid program, $17 million by implementing the "Money Follows the Person" program which would allow 700 seniors to move from expensive nursing homes to less expensive and more desirable homecare.
Now is not the time to sit back and do nothing. We owe it to the citizens of our state to do something in response to our current economic realities. Our budget proposal permits the people of Connecticut to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. That is no small thing in an economy that has seen the prices of food, home heating oil and medicine skyrocket.
Individuals and families in the state are hard-pressed to keep within their personal budgets. Controlling state spending and providing tax relief to middle class families and employers are essential for keeping people and jobs in Connecticut.
Our "Do Something" Budget offers hope and opportunity at a time when they are needed most.
Rep. Livvy R. Floren
Rep, Lile R. Gibbons
Rep. Claudia "Dolly" Powers