Happy New Year from your Redding Republican Town Committee!  As indicated in our inaugural issue last November, Political Outlook will appear at least quarterly to keep you informed about goings-on at the local, state, and national level of interest to Republicans.

REPUBLICAN PARTY I.D. AT HISTORIC HIGH...

According to Rasmussen Reports, the number of American adults who call themselves Republicans has increased to 37.0 percent, while the number calling themselves Democrats has fallen to 33.7 percent.  Those figures reflect the largest number of Republicans in the nation since December 2004 and the lowest number of

Democrats ever recorded in tracking since November 2002.  As Rasmussen points out, these party identification numbers tend to swing up and down, depending on the most recent election results.  But still...do we dare imagine a day when being a Republican is considered trendy?

AND MORE GOOD NEWS NATIONALLY...

An analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures recently calculated that Republicans netted 721 seats in the 2010 election cycle and now control 54 percent of the nation's 7382 legislative seats that are partisan (which excludes Nebraska -- go figure).

Further, in the nation's 98 partisan state legislative chambers, Republicans almost completely reversed their standing.  Headed into the election, Democrats had a 60-36 advantage with two chambers tied.  Now, Republicans will control 57 chambers, Democrats 39, and again, two will be tied.  Republicans now control the entire legislature in 25 states, 11 more than they had going into the 2010 elections.
 

Connecticut, of course, is not one of these states, with heavy Democrat majorities in both the Senate and House, despite Republican pick-ups in November.  Interestingly, eight recently-elected Democrat legislators have since resigned their seats to work full-time for the Malloy administration, meaning a slew of special elections in the near future.  (That number does not count former Sen. Tom Gaffey, D-Meriden, who just resigned after turning himself in to state police on a charge of larceny.  Really.)

MEANWHILE, HERE IN REDDING...

And you thought election season was over last November?  Indeed not - the odd-numbered years are for municipal elections, and Redding Republicans are looking to put the strongest possible slate before the voters in 2011. 

Elective offices include First Selectman, Selectman, Treasurer, Town Clerk, Tax Collector, Redding and Region 9 Boards of Education, Board of Finance, Zoning Commission, Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Assessment Appeals and Constables.  Many of these have able Republican incumbents willing to run again, but some will be open.  They may or may not be contested - it's too early to know for sure.  But the bottom line is:  The Redding RTC is always looking for qualified people willing to serve in elective or appointive office.  So if you have ever considered serving your town (or know of someone who should consider it), by all means, let us know (contact David Lewson).  You are always welcome to attend our monthly RTC meetings, get to know us, and get involved!

NEW RESOLUTIONS FROM OUR NEW REPRESENTATIVES...

Redding is blessed with not one but two new Republican state representatives, Dan Carter in the 2^nd District (north) and John Shaban in the 136th (south).   Sworn in on January 5 and already maxed-out busy, both Dan and John took the time to share their goals and aspirations for the new session.

From Dan:

I hope to support our new Governor in his efforts to streamline our state government and reduce wasteful spending. 

Unfortunately, we are also being prepared with the usual rhetoric that the state is in worse shape than the last Legislature and Governor have communicated, so as a result, we must expect everyone to "share the sacrifice" (translated: higher taxes).  Here the Governor and the Democrats will not have an ally.  My goal is to focus on solutions that reduce spending and invigorate the economy.

Under the leadership of [Minority Leader] Rep. Larry Cafero, I see a unified front ready and willing both to work with the Democrats to find common ground, and to loudly rebuke them as they stray from the principles which will lead us to recovery.

From John:

With me at every meeting has been a notable attendee -- the

proverbial 800 pound gorilla that is our State's financial crisis.  The primary and overarching mission of the General Assembly and new Governor is, quite simply, to get Connecticut's finances back in order.  Indeed, all other issues -- public safety, education, public services, etc. -- are inextricably linked to, and negatively affected by, this financial crisis.

Bottom line, we can no longer grow the government to serve political ends and thereafter patch the resulting budget gaps by bonding expenses or using gimmicks...Our government must stop promising to be all things to all people, and must recognize that private sector growth is the cure for both our private unemployment woes and public fiscal problems.  Overall, though, I am optimistic about our State's future, and look forward to working with my new colleagues from both parties to send that gorilla home.

GOOD ADVICE FROM SENATOR BOUCHER...

Our State Senator Toni Boucher (R-Wilton) points out that as Connecticut's taxes have risen to among the highest in the country, its population growth rate has slowed to one

 of the lowest, and that we lost a congressional seat because of slow population growth between 1990 and 2000, the decade in which we instituted the state income tax and reinstituted the inheritance tax.  In a 2008 survey conducted by the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, 76% of people who left the state said their reason for moving was a combination of Connecticut's income and estate tax.  On the other hand, Toni notes, the greatest growth was generally seen in states with the lowest taxes, according to last year's U.S. census.

Toni concludes, "We cannot repeat past mistakes and take the easy way out by burdening working families and job creators with further taxes. Instead, we must ensure that Connecticut regains its former status as a desirable place to work and raise a family."

HIMES WATCH...

In what we expect to be a regular feature, we again turn our editorial microscope on Congressman Jim Himes (D-Greenwich, or perhaps it should be "D-Oz" for his attempts at behind-the-curtain magic tricks).  Back in December, when House Democrats said "Hell, no" to the Obama-Republican tax compromise, Himes bravely asked then-Speaker Pelosi to consider an amendment that would have postponed top-bracket tax increases for a year (a whole year!).  When Pelosi refused, Himes not-so-bravely said "Never mind" and joined the vast majority of his party in voting to raise taxes on top income brackets.  Then, a few days later, when the compromise came back to the House from the Senate, Himes joined about half his party colleagues by voting for it.  So he was against it right up to the time he voted for it.  Or something.  At least he wasn't alone.

US SENATE SEAT TO OPEN IN 2012

And at press time, Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) announced that he would not seek re-election in 2012. This gives Connecticut Republicans a good opportunity to make another bid for a seat in the US Senate and further narrow (or eliminate) the Democratic majority there. Chris Shays...where are you?

So far the one announced candidate is the Democratic former Secretary of State, Susan Bysiewicz. Hey, wasn't she the one in the middle of the Bridgeport voting fiasco? Or was she the one who unsuccessfully ran for Attorney General without the required experience practicing law? Or both?
 

 LET US HEAR FROM YOU

You're cordially encouraged to forward Political Outlook along to others who might be interested, to provide comments and feedback (send to Chris Hocker), and otherwise to stay involved and engaged in our Town through the political process.  To make sure you continue receiving RTC news, click on the "RTC Website" link on the right and sign up for our e-mail list.