Connecticut

Connecticut Republicans
by Cathy Connolly

           Connecticut Statistics: Population: 547,747 with 31% of that in rural areas. Caucasians dominate that percentage with 95.1 %, 2.2% Black, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 1.6 % Other, 3.5% Hispanic origin. Approximately 59.2% of the population are married-coupled families; 26.5% married coupled families with children and 49.2% college educated. The median household income is $42,817. Per capita income is $19,863 and median house value is $166,400 with median gross rent at $482.
           Connecticut has the highest per capita income in our nation. In part, this can be attributed to its history of saving and spending its wealth wisely. The Connecticut Republican Party feels strongly about continuing this practice. The Republicans of Connecticut believe that the state will prosper with less government, added healthcare, fewer taxes, and stricter crime laws. They also advocate the arts and humanities should be first-class and readily available to everyone. Welfare reform is one of the central issues to the republicans of Connecticut. The wealth of the state was mostly derived from large manufactures, a successful brass industry as well as frugal insurance companies. Some of those manufacturers are Pepperidge Farm, Nivea, Stanley Powerlock and most importantly Samuel Colt. Colt has produced arms and aircraft for the United States dating back to the Mexican-American War and has had a powerful impact on the employment levels in Connecticut.
The early 1990’s were a dismal time for Connecticut’s economy. The end of the Cold War, which led to cuts in defense spending, is one reason for the economy’s decline. The large casualty losses the insurance companies experienced during this period along with the state imposed income tax (one of the last states to impose such a tax) were but a few other explanations for the ebb in Connecticut’s economy. Republicans attribute much of the economic turnaround to Republican Governor John Rowland. Overall, Governor Rowland is directly inline with his party’s platform. According to the Party Platform, Governor Rowland and Lt. Governor M. Jodi Rell adhere “to the Republicans principles of dignity and equality for all as well as to smaller, effective, and [a] less intrusive government.”
           Regarding healthcare, Connecticut Republicans believe businesses and employees need more affordable healthcare, elders should be allowed to stay at home for as long as possible thus allowing the state to save taxpayers dollars in the future. In addition, they support programs that enable children to remain home to care for their ill parents. With support by the party, the HUSKY health plan was created which gives all of the states 90,000 uninsured quality and affordable healthcare.
After the state income tax was imposed (1991) under a Democratic governor, the Republicans were eager to make some changes once they regained the governors seat.   The party position is that government has “become too large and intrusive, spending priorities in the state had become misdirected and had failed to help all residents and that too much was being collected in taxes.” The Republican Party applauds Connecticut for returning tax money to the taxpayers in the form of rebates for the first time in history. Income taxes have been cut, as well as business and unemployment taxes in conjunction with a reduction in spending. The party takes a stand that a portion of the tax surplus should be returned to the taxpayer, "bonding should only occur for necessary improvements and to invest in their cities and towns." The belief of the party is that by reducing government you will stimulate job growth and that if business owners are not burdened by large taxes and unnecessary restrictions they will be in a position to prosper. With this philosophy, Connecticut has added more than 93,000 jobs and recovered almost 80 percent of the jobs lost during the 90’s recession. It has cut taxes by $1.3 billion and has the lowest unemployment rate in nine years.
           “The best social program is a job,” the party platform states. It takes a strong stand that welfare needs to be controlled and used only as a stepping stone to a better way of life, not a way of life in and of itself. Republicans in Connecticut feel strongly that child support enforcement is necessary in any welfare reform. Connecticut, under Gov. Rowland, has limited benefits for employable recipients to 21 months and reduced monthly cash assistance. It has also provided day care and temporary medical coverage to assist those moving from welfare to work and supports training programs to assist those seeking employment. Welfare rolls are down by 11,000 and 40 percent of all recipients are reporting wages compared with fewer than 10% before the Rowland/Rell welfare reform initiative.
           The arts and humanities are an important issue for Connecticut Republicans. It plays and important economic and social role. Under Republican leadership, the Connecticut Commission on the Arts’ budget doubled and millions of dollars has been spent on theaters, museums and arts centers throughout the state. The Republican Party wishes to blend private initiatives and public grants and loans to aid the states theaters and museums. It also feels a child’s education and upbringing should have involvement with the arts and humanities.
           When it comes to combating crime Connecticut Republicans argue that money put into law enforcement or into prisons is a prudent use of tax resources. Connecticut’s Megan’s Law is one of the strongest pieces of sex offender legislation in the country. They established a registry of convicted sex offenders that is posted on the Internet and is available at local police stations. Under Republican leadership Connecticut has instituted a workable death penalty. Prisoners now do at least 85% of their sentence, compared to approximately 15% in the past and inmates must work to help pay the costs of their incarceration and medical treatment. Republicans want to continue to assist law enforcement and judicial personnel in convicting criminals and to stiffen penalties for drunken driving and sexual assaults.
           These conservative acts appear surprising considering Connecticut was moving towards Clinton Democratic in national politics. Tax cuts were pushed through every year Rowland has been in office even though the state Senate has been Democratic dominate since 1996 and House Democratic throughout.