In Connecticut, facts no longer matter, according to Chadwick Ciocci, the GOP candidate picked Monday to run against Democrat Anthony Musto.
He cited confused financial assessments, high taxes and a negative business climate, among the state's problems.
He quoted Abraham Lincoln, who said, "If a man can convince you that 2 plus 2 equals anything but 4, then you can't possibly win the argument because facts don't matter."
"I'm running because I envision a Connecticut where everyone who wants a job has a job, where our elected officials don't just treat your taxpayer dollars like it was their own money," he told supporters at the Monday night. The district includes Trumbull, Monroe and Bridgeport.
"This election is about jobs, out-of-control spending, deficits, regulation and thelargest retroactive income tax increase in our state's history," Ciocci said.
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He recalled a story in which a Rhode Island moving company owner tried to open a branch in Connecticut but was rejected after two other companies opposed him and admitted "they were simply protecting their self-interest."
Ciocci also called for electing the Siting Council, which reviews cell tower applications. It recently approved a new cell tower for the Police Station to the opposition of neighbors. Police Chief Tom Kiely had asked for one to improve radio and communications.
However, the council did reduce the height of the tower from the original proposal. Construction has not begun yet.
The majority leader proposed allowing students who are able to complete high school in three years to split the cost of their education with the town. He also called for reviewing funded and unfunded mandates, improving public transportation and repealing Gov. Dannel Malloy's tax plan.
Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst and Town Councilwoman Kristy Waizenneger both praised Ciocci.
"This election is of critical importance," Herbst said, adding that Ciocci will "place the people's interest ahead of special interests."
The district needs a candidate who will "take a stand, not just a seat" and fight.
"It's time to retire the rubberstamper we currently have," he said, referring to Musto.
Musto voted for Malloy's tax increase, and has not "positively impacted" his constituents, the first selectman said. Further, he added that Ciocci fought hard to get onto the Town Council in a democratic district, maintained the seat and became majority leader chairman of the Council's Education Committee.
"I would put Chadwick Ciocci's record up against Anthony Musto's any day of the week," Herbst said.
Waizenegger also praised Ciocci.
"I was immediately impressed with his understanding of government," she said. "We're overtaxed and over-regulated. We need a leader in Hartford and I believe Chadwick Ciocci is that leader."
He has taken some unpopular but "right" positions, and has bold ideas and real solutions, she added.
Ciocci, a realtor who studied philosophy in college, is known for his opposition to grants and often quotes philosophy in meetings. He was elected to the Council as a senior.
His opponent, Musto, is a local tax attorney.
It is quite obvious that you personal hatred for Tim Herbst and the Republican party, the same who GAVE (as you were appointed in a uncontested seat) you your seat on the Board of Education. Of course that will make you "score" things differently. First Musto voted FOR an Income Tax Increase one that effected everyone who is lucky to have job. Second, to rub salt in the wound the Tax Increase he voted for (and you agree with) was Retro-Active back to the beginning of the year. I have a family member who received $0.00 in one pay check and had more tax taken out of the next one. I know that she is not the only one who had this happen. She had to borrow money from our family to pay her mortgage that month. I see Tom that you agree with this taxing strategy as does all the other Trumbull Democrats. Next as you put it, to me having a 20% decrease in assessment impacting my $11,000/yr. property tax is FAR better and more acceptable to me and most people than a 20% Increase in my $125/year Car Tax. Simple math here. Score it the way you want, but in the end you are wrong.
The room occupancy tax increases from 12% to 15%; The tax on the rental or leasing of a passenger motor vehicle for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days or less increases from 6% to 9.35%; A tax rate of 7% applies to the following: the sale for more than $50,000 of most motor vehicles, the sale for more than $100,000 of a vessel, the sale for more than $5,000 of jewelry (whether real or imitation), the sale for more than $1,000 of an article of clothing or footwear intended to be worn on or about the human body, a handbag, luggage, umbrella, wallet or watch. Effective July 1, 2011, sales of the following services are taxable: Services rendered in the voluntary evaluation, prevention, treatment, containment or removal of hazardous waste or other contaminants of air, water or soil; Valet parking provided at any airport; Yoga instruction provided at a yoga studio; Motor vehicle storage services; Packing and crating services; Motor vehicle towing and road services; Intrastate transportation services provided by livery services, with certain exceptions, including nonemergency medical transportation provided under the Medicaid program, certain paratransit services and dial-a-ride services; Pet grooming, pet boarding services, and pet obedience services; Services in connection with a cosmetic medical procedure; Manicure services, pedicure services and all other nail services; and Spa services.
Clothing and footwear under $50; Nonprescription drugs and medicines, and smoking cessation products; and Cloth or fabric for noncommercial sewing, and yarn for noncommercial use. Remote Affiliates: Expands Connecticut law to provide that an out-of-state retailer will have nexus with Connecticut based on certain arrangements with remote affiliates located in Connecticut. Exemption for equipment installed in motor vehicles for persons with physical disabilities: This exemption was expanded to apply to the portion of the sales price attributable to such equipment when a motor vehicle is resold. Admissions Tax: Admissions charges for events at the following venues are taxable, effective for admissions charges on and after January 1, 2012: Hartford Civic Center; New Haven Coliseum; New Britain Beehive Stadium; New Britain Stadium; New Britain Veterans Memorial Stadium; Bridgeport Harbor Yard Stadium; Stafford Motor Speedway; Lime Rock Park; Thompson Speedway; Waterford Speedbowl; facilities owned or managed by the Tennis Foundation of Connecticut or any successor organization; William A. O’Neill Convocation Center; Connecticut Exposition Center; Nature’s Art; Connecticut Convention Center; Dodd Stadium; Arena at Harbor Yard; and Games of the New Britain Rock Cats, New Haven Ravens or the Waterbury Spirit.
Surtax: A surtax of 20% will apply for income years beginning on or after January 1, 2012 and before January 1, 2014. Excise Taxes: Cigarette Tax - Rate increase: The cigarette tax rate will increase from $3.00 to $3.40 per pack on July 1, 2011. Tobacco Products Tax - Rate increases: Effective July 1, 2011, the tax on all tobacco products (other than tobacco snuff products) will increase from 27.5 percent to 50 percent of the wholesale sales price of such products. In the case of cigars, the tax will be 50 percent of the wholesale sales price, not to exceed 50 cents per cigar. Effective July 1, 2011, the tax on tobacco snuff products will increase from $0.55 per ounce to $1.00 per ounce of snuff. Effective July 1, 2011, the tax on cigars will be 50 percent of the wholesale sales price, not to exceed 50 cents per cigar.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Miscellaneous Taxes: Real Estate Conveyance Tax - Rate increases: For deeds, instruments or writings that are currently subject to the state real estate conveyance tax at a rate of 0.5%, the rate is increased to 0.75% effective July 1, 2011. For deeds, instruments or writings that are currently subject to the state real estate conveyance tax at a rate of 1.0%, the rate is increased to 1.25% effective July 1, 2011. Estate Tax: For estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2011, an estate is subject to the Connecticut estate tax if the amount of the Connecticut taxable estate exceeds $2 million.
New Electric Generation Tax: Effective for calendar quarters commencing July 1, 2011, there is a new electric generation tax that is imposed on every entity that is providing electric generation services and uploading electricity generated at a facility in Connecticut to the regional bulk power grid. The tax is equal to $0.0025 multiplied by the net kilowatt hours of electricity that are generated and uploaded. The tax does not apply to electricity generated and uploaded exclusively through the use of fuel cells, solar, wind, water, or biomass. Note: This tax is scheduled to sunset on July 1, 2013. New Hospitals Tax: Effective for calendar quarters commencing July 1, 2011, there is a new tax imposed on a hospital’s “net patient revenue.”
Nursing Home User Fee: Effective for calendar quarters commencing on or after October 1, 2011, the fee is based on the sum of each nursing home’s anticipated nursing home net revenue multiplied by a percentage set by the Department of Social Services, which percentage will not exceed the maximum allowed under federal law. Welcome to CT
increases you supported in Trumbull. So, could you please answer the questions I asked you? I'll reduce them to two core questions so you don't need 5 posts to answer them: Did you and Mr. Ciocci and the Republicans in Trumbull vote to raise spending by 4.5% this year, plus the costs of full day kindergarten? Did this increased spending result in a tax increase from 25 to 30 mils, or a 20% tax increase, for all taxpayers in Trumbull? Anthony Musto
Sadly, you don't agree with those common sense, free market principles, but think you are 'doing your job' by writing more and more intrusive and burdensome laws, and voting for evermore TAX increases and new taxe, as Kristy has reminded us. The philosophy of Malloy and all you Dems in Hartford seems to never admit the fact that state government in CT is way too big for our shrinking population--could there be a connection, YES!!!---and spends and BORROWS way too much!! Yes, Malloy, aided and abetted by Musto and his partisan colleagues, is now "borrowing" to pay daily operating expenses!!! Instead of realistic budgeting, their solution is to put further, higher tax burdens on living, dying, "gifting," opening and operating a business, purchasing property, purchasing every sort of goods and services, being sick in the hospital, or cared for in a nursing home in CT. No wonder CT is the number 1 state for outmigration!!
They were at least voted for by tax payers. Musto is kept in office by those looking for a handout from the fruits of others' labors.
BTW - the reason my name appears at the top and bottom of the posts is that Patch puts it at the top and I sign my name - my real name - at the bottom so that everyone knows who I am. Please feel free to do the same when answering these questions. Anthony Musto
Locally, Kristy and her Republican colleagues are more than happy to engage in fiscal gimmickry such as bonding road paving and the curious funding of Full Day Kindergarten while simultaneously raising every fee possible and increasing spending. They accept slipshop work (like the Charter Revision), they redistrict but are unable to articulate one rational reason for doing so and finally, they engage in a systematic exclusion of Democratic opinions by doing things like deny the Democrats even one alternate while the Republicans have two. Mr. Musto has done a fine job representing the diverse interest of his constituents. To criticize him for doing the unpleasant task of rasing taxes in the face of an enormous deficit while the local Republicans are doing the very same thing is a bit, well, to be kind, curious.
Maybe if Trumbull and all other CT cities didn't have to subsidize BPT< NEW HAVEN HARTFORD, etc. we would have the funds to take care of our own needs. O I forgot- Obama says that wouldn't be fair. Sure tom great idea to be broke and keep raising taxes. Always a great idea to spend more than you take in, then borrow the difference in the name of fairness. Stupid is as stupid does.
Anthony Musto
So, why am I the only one? You have a choice in this election - me or Mr. Ciocci. You should hear his views, so ask him what he thinks. If he agrees with you that the State should not compensate municipalities, either urban or rural, for hosting state or regional services, you should vote for him. But how will you vote if the candidates agree on your major issue? Mr. Ciocci should tell you his position so you can decide. But I would ask you, and Mr. Ciocci if he agrees with you- should we in Trumbull build our own courthouse, hospital, jail, train station, etc.? I agree with your recent comments, the cities also shoulder the majority of the social problems in the state. So, in which Trumbull neighborhood do you propose public housing? This is all a bit tongue in cheek, obviously, but the point is that State supports municipalities, urban and rural, based on the State’s use of land, not welfare. And public housing isn’t just for the “welfare” folks – it is also for the elderly and disabled, and we have some in Trumbull. But unless we divide Connecticut into 169 independent towns, we will continue to pay some areas for supporting State functions. Anthony Musto
Anthony Musto
But I would reiterate Tom Kelly's suggestion - Mr. Ciocci should appear on this board and comment on this issue. I am sure others would like to know his position on state aid to municipalities and whether referring to Bridgeport as "WELFARE CITY" is helpful to this debate in anyway. I usually do not find that name-calling, characterizations and generalizations are helpful to a serious discussion of important issues. Anthony Musto