"Billionairs for Budget Cuts" Action Today

.........."Billionaires for Budget Cuts" on the steps of the State Capitol today.
[Click on the picture for full screen view]

The "Billionaires" marched and drove in their limos down Capitol Avenue today to thank Governor Rell for NOT TAXING THE RICH and CUTTING SERVICES to working people and our most vulnerable citizens. While the staged event was a spoof it carried a very serious message. If Governor Rell continues to refuse to tax the rich and close corporate loopholes thousands and thousands of our citizens will be hurt while the rich continue to live their high class lifestyle.

The Governor is scheduled to release her new budget proposal later today that is expected to continue her goal of cutting services to working people and our most vulnerable citizens.

The following is a picture gallery of today's event.

Four limos, transporting the "billionaires," slowly drove down Capitol Ave. with a police escort.

Two "billionairs" holding their sign with their rally call, "Billionaires for Budget Cuts," led the possion of limos. The "billionaires" arrive at the steps of the state capitol.

The "Billionaires" gather on the steps of the State Capitol with their signs.

"Billionaire" speakers thank Governor Rell for her willingness to cut services to working people and our most vulnerable citizens.

In an article today in CapitolWatch, sponsored by the Hartford Courant, it stated that the West Hartford Republic Town Committee said it "uncovered something 'even more disturbing:" the Billionaires for Budget Cuts protest is being hyped on the website of the Communist Party of Connecticut." That would be us.

Quick note to Governor Rell and the Republican State Committee who joined in on the anti-communist rant to try to dodge the real issues: We know which side you are on. The billionaires, millionaires, and large corporations. When push comes to shove on critical issues those are your guys. Those are the very same guys that got us into this financial mess.

Our slogan is "People Before Profits" so we understand why you are so disturbed by our publicizing the event. We join in coalition with many others who are fighting for peace, justice, and equality and are very proud of our efforts. Unlike you, we get NO corporate funding!

By Tom Connolly

Governor Rell's Approval Rating drops in Response to Strong SEBAC Criticism and Ad Campaign

[Note: The coalition of labor and community organizations is sponsoring a street theater event, "Billionaires for Budget Cuts," on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at the State Capitol - 12 Noon. DON'T MISS IT! See the July 21st blog entery below.]

The following article is from the In This Together Ct coalition.

Today, the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute released new approval rating numbers for Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell. Now at a 65 percent approval rating, the Q-Poll notes that this is the first time in over five years that the Governor’s rating has dipped below 70 percent.

“I am not surprised that her approval numbers are beginning to drop,” said Ron McLellan, the President of CEUI/SEIU Local 511. “Until this economic crisis, Governor Rell could hide her allegiance to big corporations and Connecticut’s wealthiest citizens. But now, when the difficult decisions must be made, she has taken money from services that protect the middle-class and that support the most vulnerable among us — all so that the rich and big businesses don’t have to sacrifice.”

In spite of the Governor’s refusal to raise taxes on the wealthy, the Q-Poll shows that 71% of voters support “raising the state income tax for individuals making at least $265,000 per year and couples making at least $500,000.” The poll also finds that 55% of voters reject the “argument that raising taxes will force wealthier residents to move out of Connecticut.” A majority of voters also support raising taxes on corporations.

“Governor Rell’s budget and Executive Orders balance the deficit on the backs of Connecticut’s low-wage families and vulnerable individuals. The Governor does not ask our wealthiest households and corporations to step up to the plate and be part of the solution,” said Maggie Adair, Policy Director for Connecticut Association for Human Services, an organization that works to end poverty and empower families. “Her budget priorities do not reflect the opinion of Connecticut’s residents, who overwhelmingly support increasing the income tax on our highest wage earners. It’s time for policy makers to listen to the people and ask our wealthiest citizens to pay a little more to keep families healthy and safe.”

In February, the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) launched an aggressive television campaign that was designed to educate the public about the Governor’s budget priorities and to hold her accountable for her budget decisions.

“Another example of misplaced priorities is that the Governor wants to close vocational technical schools,” said Rick Tanasi, President of the State Vocational Federation of Teachers, AFT Connecticut. “It’s disappointing, but it’s also extremely short-sighted. Education is key to our economic recovery. Educational opportunities help families become and remain self-sufficient and an educated workforce will attract employers to our state.”

SEBAC and advocacy organizations like Better Choices for Connecticut vowed to continue their public awareness campaign in the upcoming months and into the gubernatorial election season.

CEUI/SEIU and AFT Connecticut are two of the thirteen unions in SEBAC, which serves to unite approximately 50,000 Connecticut State public service workers to address issues of common concern. To learn more about the coalition’s campaign for a fair budget and view the video of their latest TV ad, visit http://www.inthistogetherct.org/.

Posted by Tom Connolly

Billionairs for Budget Cuts!

Governor Rell continues to refuse to consider a fair budget by taxing the rich and closing corporate loopholes. She continues to insist on cutting services.

The coalition of labor and community organizations is sponsoring a street theater action [Billionaires for Budget Cuts] on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at the State Capitol - 12 Noon. It should only be about a 30 minute action. It would be helpful if you could attend and get dressed up like a billionaire. I am not sure what they wear but you get the idea, and please bring friends.

If you have questions please call 860-313-0439.

Together we will make a difference!

By Tom Connolly

VICTORIES!! and TAX THE RICH!

[Picture above] One of the numerous actions that helped result in the override of Governor Rell's veto of the SustiNet bill on Monday, July 20, 2009.

The SustiNet health care bill and funding for health care for the children of the 32BJ union won approval by the General Assembly's Democratic majority. They over road Governor Rell's vetoes. The 32BJ bill allows 600 state janitors and their families to keep their health insurance under the Standard Wage Law. [See the July 16 blog entry below]

These overrides are a tremendous VICTORY for the working people of Connecticut. It was a real people's street fight to get these victories. Numerous rallies, phone calls, personal visits to legislators, emails, and letters to editor, all made the difference. The Democratic leadership listened and fought for these victories.

Unfortunately, the Healthcare Partnership [Also know as the "Pooling bill"] failed in the Senate by one vote. Senator Hartley, a Democrat from Waterbury, left the Senate floor but was in the state Capitol when the vote took place. When asked why she failed to vote on the bill she parroted Governor Rell's and the Republican line, " I think the state of Connecticut cannot afford it at this time."

On Monday, July 20, Governor Rell sent out a statement noting in part, "I remain particularly concerned about the fiscal impact of the SustiNet Bill...The simple fact is that the families and employers of Connecticut cannot afford the new taxes that will be required by this new program."

HELLO GOVERNOR RELL -- Here is a simple message from the working families and the most venerable citizen's of Connecticut. "You are right, we can't afford more taxes!" So

...............TAX THE RICH!!!

The wealthiest tax payers in Connecticut now pay about 4 % of their income in taxes while middle and low income people pay about 10 percent. Governor Rell continues to refuse to tax the rich and close corporate loopholes to deal with Connecticut's budget deficit but is willing to cut services to our working people and our most venerable citizen's.

Celebrate the victories and continue the fight for a fair budget in Connecticut -- TAX THE RICH!

By Tom Connolly

32 BJ Rally for Health Care and July 20th Lobby Day

A rally held by local 32 BJ at the State Capitol on July 15th put a face to the thousands of families in Connecticut without health care. Below are four of the approximately 150 children that will lose their health care as a result of Governor Rell's poison pen veto. The children's parents are janitors that clean State buildings. Governor Rell vetoed bill HB 6502 that would have continued to provide health care for these children. The override vote will be held on Monday July 20th.



[Photo above: Four of children who will lost their health care unless the legislators override Governor "Poison Pen" Rell's veto of HB 6502 on Monday, July 20. [Click on picture for full screen view]

Also scheduled for override of "poison pen" Rell's votes are the SustiNet health care bill and the health care Pooling bill that would promote health call for all.

MONDAY, JULY 20TH IS LABOR LOBBY DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL

On Monday, July 20th, the SEIU State Council, CCAG and other labor and community groups will coordinate a concentrated lobby day to connect members with individual lawmakers to urge them to override Governor Rell's veto of three health care reform, bills. The bills are: HB 6502 that would provide health care for 32 BJ janitors children, the SustiNet health care bill, and the health care Pooling bill. The lobbing effort will go from 10 AM to 6:30 PM.

If you can not come to the State capitol, contact you State Representative and Senator today and ask them to override Governor Rell's health care vetoes!

House of Representatives: Democrats: 860-240-8500 Toll Free: 1-800-842-8267 Republicans: 860-240-8700 Toll Free: 1-800-842-1423

State Senators: Democrats: 860-240-8600 Toll Free: 1-800-842-1424 Republicans: 860-240-8800 Toll Free: 1800-842-1424

Other photo's from the 32 BJ Rally follow.

Photo above is Diana Cololado. Diana is holding a picture of her two children. She is a 32 BJ union member and had just finished her shift cleaning State buildings. Her daughter has sugar diabetes and will lose her health care in two weeks unless the legislators override Governor Rell's veto.

....Kurt Westly, 32 BJ District Leader for Connecticut rallies the crowd.

Speaker of the House Chris Donovan, wearing a 32 BJ janitor's shirt, spoke passionately to the members of 32 BJ. Chris has been a staunch support of 32 BJ and health care for all.


........FROM THE SustiNet COALITON

[Click of photo for full screen view]

Please read & forward. On July 8, Gov. Rell vetoed SustiNet.

She ignored the needs of the state's hard working people and instead chose to side with the vested interests of insurance companies -- like Anthem which has asked for an increase in premiums as much as 32% for some individual policyholders.

On Monday, July 20, the House and Senate will meet to take action to override the Governor's veto of SustiNet. An override requires the support of 2/3 of both houses in order to pass. July 20 is our last chance!

We are very close to victory. But we need to make sure that our legislators show up for the override session and that they vote YES on SustiNet. Email your Senator and Representative


Please take a moment to email your legislators and forward this email to your friends and family.The House and Senate have already voted once this year to provide quality, affordable health care for everyone -- now we just have to make sure they close the deal!

More information:Connecticut Post, Norwich Bulletin, and New London Day endorse veto override Read our new fact sheetPublic Act 09-148 - Read about Anthem's proposal to raise premiums

..........THE POOLING HEALTH CARE BILL

FROM SPEAKER DONOVAN: GOVERNOR’S VETOED HEALTH CARE BILL ANALYSIS DECEPTIVE AND A DISSERVICE TO WORKING FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Doug Whiting
860-240-0160
July 15, 2009 203-400-2127

House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) today said Governor Rell is trying to justify her vetoes of health care reform legislation for Connecticut with scare tactics and faulty information.

“In the past several days, President Obama and Democrats in Congress announced substantial movement on national health care reforms, and today a new report says that rising health care costs and premiums are eliminating coverage for 310 Connecticut residents a week,” Speaker Donovan said. “At the same time, we have Governor Rell using made up numbers that underscore a position that is not supportive of needed health care reform.”

Speaker Donovan said, “The Governor is wrong to suggest that the SustiNet bill will cost the state $1 billion annually in the near term. I am surprised that she would use such a scare tactic. I do know that doing nothing will cost us far more in the long term.”

He said the only entity that the SustiNet bill would create over the biennium is a nine-member board of healthcare providers and experts, willing to volunteer their time to make specific recommendations on how to best implement the comprehensive reform Connecticut needs. No fiscal impact would result from the creation of this board, according to the non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis.

“The board’s proposals will include recommendations on the use of new federal dollars we expect will be created under the federal legislation currently being debated, which could eventually help to fund an agency to administer the SustiNet plan,” he said.

Speaker Donovan added, “After months of denying the savings attached to the pooling bill, the Governor finally admitted in her second budget proposal that there will be at least $62 million in immediate savings attached to self-insuring.

“The Governor’s analysis cherry picks claims data when projecting health care costs for the next two years. It also did not account for an annual savings of up to $20 million from no longer paying insurance companies to run the state plan. These are dollars that the state should be spending on cost-saving preventive care, not insurance company profits.”

Speaker Donovan concluded, “The Governor is trying to justify her rejection of health care reforms that will help Connecticut families now, and that will position the state for implementation of reforms that are on the fast track in Washington,” Speaker Donovan said. “If she does not want to be a leader on health care, then she should step aside and allow the voices of the families and small business owners of Connecticut who are crying out for health care options to be heard.”

......FROM CCAG

Dear Friend,

Last week, Governor Rell had a chance to act in the interest of the people of Connecticut by signing SustiNet and the Healthcare Partnership bills into law. Together, these bills would put us on the path quality, affordable health care for everyone.

Instead, when presented with this landmark opportunity, Rell used her veto pen to protect the profits of big insurance companies--like Anthem, which has plans to raise premiums by 32%! This was a colossal failure of leadership on Rell's part.

So if you are sick of Governor Rell ignoring us; tired of her looking out for the insurance companies' bottom lines; and have had it up to here with Rell's inaction on health care, then join us at the State Capitol on Monday morning:

When: Monday, July 20 at 9:30 AMWhere: State Capitol Building, 210 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT

The House and Senate passed SustiNet and the Healthcare Partnership by large margins, and so we will be gathering at the State Capitol Monday morning to ask our State Representatives and Senators to do it again. Will you join us on Monday morning to encourage our legislators to stand with us as they convene a special session for veto overrides?

With your help, our state legislators will show leadership where the governor won't. Let's show Governor Rell that she can't veto us. Because this is the last chance for us to act on these important health care bills, I ask you to please pass this message along. Send it far and wide, and bring a friend (or two!) with you Monday. I'll see you then. Tom SwanCCAG Executive Director
By Tom Connolly