Adlai Stevenson once said, a hypocrite politician is one who cuts down a giant redwood tree and then stands on the stump to make a speech about protecting nature. Well, Adlai might find a few redwood tree stumps right here in Milford as Greg Smith steps onto the stump to proclaim his commitment to cutting taxes and spending. That's right, cutting taxes and spending.

Just one little problem, Greg Smith's record shows he has voted to increase spending and taxes in every city budget he has ever had to vote on over his years on the Board of Aldermen. Every one! And yet, he writes about cutting taxes and spending in Hartford and he doesn’t do it here? Seem unbelievable but it ain't.

As the old saying goes, know me not by what I say but what I do. Greg’s record of spending and tax increases is not political spin, it is a matter of public record and it is there in plain sight in the meeting minutes of each budget vote.

I’m disappointed that Greg doesn’t show the political courage to address his record of spending and tax increases straight on take responsibility for his own votes instead of pretending they don’t exist.

Greg’s statement in the paper referred to “reckless” spending in Hartford. Again, Greg seems to have taken to that same stump again, forgetting that his first vote on this newly elected Board of Aldermen was to approve spending $700 a piece of taxpayer money on office chairs. That’s right, office chairs, that’s right, $700. Republicans counter that this is a small issue and that the city did not end up spending that much, yet that’s how much Greg approved. I am confident he would not have approved $700 of his own money to buy an office chair. I rest my case.

United States: Poverty Rate based on Household Income, 2009: 14.3%

United States: Families below poverty level: 9.20%

Connecticut: Poverty Rate based on Household Income, 2009: 8.4%

Milford, CT: Families below poverty level: 333 families or 2.4 % of the population

Milford, CT: Median Household Income: at the time of the last survey was $61,183. The median household income in the U.S. was $41,994.

Milford, CT: Median Family Income in Ithe last complete census survey, the median family income in the community was $71,226. Median family income in the U.S. was 50,046.

Milford, CT: Per Capita Income in Milford in the last full census was 28,882. Per capita income in the U.S. was 21,587.

http://www.americantowns.com/ct/milford-information

In America, the gap between the wealthiest Americans and the poorest Americans is tremendous. The Middle Class is disappearing.

When 1 in 7 people in America currently live in poverty, those benefiting from the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest 2% can surely afford to have their “federal tax rate” increase from the current 35% (starting at $186,825 for individuals and $373,650 for couples) to 39.6% (individuals earning $200,000 and couples earning $250,000).

In other words, Under President Obama’s plan, all Americans would receive a tax cut on the first $250,000 of their income. Every middle class family would receive the immediate certainty and comfort of knowing their tax cuts were permanently extended. Every American making more than $250,000 per year they would receive a tax cut on the first $250,000 of their income.

. . . I'm a Man.

John Merrick wearing an elephant hat with an American Flag attached to it.

For full report go to http://ctbob.blogspot.com

Picture courtesy of CT New Junkie.
Linda McMahon (R) brought Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown (R) to Milford on Saturday. Five term Mayor Richetelli and a select contingent of Republican politicians took part in chants to "Reject Career Politicians." The Mayor had prepared the little triangle area in front of City Hall by lopping off large limbs from heirloom trees to jam in more people. The police estimated only about 200 people showed up - most of them were McMahon campaign staff. (Update - CT Post claimed that there were 2,500 people in that little triangle in front of City Hall. - Wow, that's 1 person per square foot.)

Also unfortunately, McMahon and Brown only spoke for a total of 12 minutes. Scott Brown declared he had to go home and mow his lawn. Seriously - mow his lawn.

Oh yea, there were a few protesters.

Read the CT News Junkie article about the event.

I have lived in Milford for fifty years and one thing I know, the people of Milford really don't need someone from Massachusetts coming to town to tell us how to vote. We're all quite capable of making our own decisions based on the issues right here in Milford and right here in Connecticut, thank you.

Still, I'm surprised Scott Brown, who is the father of two daughters, is managing to push aside Linda's WWE record of exploiting woman and peddling smut to kids like her partnership with the founder of Girls Gone Wild or of her videos of a wrestler having sex with a corpse or of a simulated rape. The Republican Party sure put a lot of day light between itself and their old family values tradition the day they endorsed Linda McMahon.

Haven't registered to vote yet? Know someone who wants to register? Need an absentee ballot? There's still time. Read on.

Voter Registration Forms are available at the following locations:

Registrar of Voters
(Parson's Complex, 70 West River Street)
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday

Go in person or request a form to be mailed to you and return it in person or mail back the completed form. Those registering to vote in person will receive confirmation upon registering. Those who mail in a completed voter registration application will receive confirmation through the mail.

OR

City Clerk's Office
(Parson's Complex, 70 West River Street)
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday

Complete the form in person and the Registrar of Voter's office will retrieve it and when it has been accepted will send you a confirmation of registration.

OR

Download Voter Registration Forms

English Language:

http://www.ct.gov/sots/LIB/sots/ElectionServices/ElectForms/electforms/ed671.pdf

Spanish Language:

http://www.ct.gov/sots/LIB/sots/ElectionServices/ElectForms/electforms/ed671sp.pdf

As published in the CT Post

All the candidates who promise to “reduce the size of big government,” cut taxes and spending in order to balance the budget should answer the following questions. What do they mean? How will they do it?

Who will do the jobs that had been performed by government employees? Will private businesses and contractors replace government employees? If so, will they be accountable to the taxpayers? Or to their stockholders? Whose taxes will be cut? If taxes are cut, how will programs be paid for? What programs will be diminished or eliminated? What will happen to the senior citizens who depend on Social Security and Medicare? Do we not owe those who have worked all of their lives some sort of safety net and dignity?

What will happen to the people who depend on unemployment insurance because their jobs were eliminated or outsourced? Through no fault of their own, millions of Americans have lost their jobs. When the economy is in crisis, do we not help American workers? What will happen to people with disabilities who depend on Social Security disability income and Medicaid — not only for income and health care, but as a means to other necessary support programs? How would they survive? Should they rely entirely on charity? What will happen when public schools are so underfunded that only those who can afford private schools can get a good education? Should only those that can afford education be allowed to obtain it? Government services are essential to the people who use and need them. We all know people who benefit from them. When tax and spending cuts occur, there is always a cost to someone in some way.

If you are considering voting for candidates who promise to “reduce the size of big government,” cut taxes and spending, you need to know what your vote will cost. Ask them for answers before voting.

Laura Fucci, Milford