Connecticut's budget is in the control of the General Assembly.   A Governor can implore legislators, a governor can persuade voters, a governor wields a veto, and a governor may practice selective enforcement.  I will use all four of these tools to rein in wayward spending.

 

I, Mark Stewart, am  the candidate with the most severe spending reduction proposals.  The more our deficits grow, the more my candidacy strengthens.  The more our legislators and bureaucrats fail to be straightforward, the more voters are emboldened to throw them out, whatever their pedigree.

 

I am also the only candidate who expects to give voters their tax money back.  With a good General Assembly in place, Connecticut will abolish the income tax.  And with good negotiation with the Federal Treasury Department (yes, this is one Democrat who believes working WITH Trump-Pence is good for Connecticut) we will let CT residents pay only a small portion of  their federal income tax.

 

A governor can also exercise good budgeting of his own office.  I am pledged to trimming my budget by 20% per year.    I also believe the governor's office, like some other state offices, can EARN MONEY for the state.  As a tiny example, I will rent out some Governor's mansion bedrooms to tourists (a contingency page is already up on AirBnB) and let the state keep the revenue.

   

With two exceptions, a state legislature should be budgeting like a family.  Our General Assembly has allowed horrible budgeting for the past 35 years. It has foisted liability on younger generations, which is immoral.  This will not happen on my watch.

 

With this governor's resolve, I expect businesses will be attracted to Connecticut.  That ITSELF will help our budgeting.  But I do not incorporate this speculation into rosy-scenario budgeting.