8 March 2009

2008 Republican State Senate Campaign Fined By SEEC

The campaign of 2008 Republican State Senate Nominee Tom Bozek has been cited for violating state campaign finance laws on proper attribution of solicitations, reporting expenses and accepting a contribution from a member of a lobbyist's household. The State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) rendered those judgments in February and imposed three individual fines totalling $1,500.00 on candidate Tom Bozek, committee treasurer Gary Zeil and Thomas Evanko, who is related to a state registered lobbyist. The commission found insufficient evidence on a fourth complaint that alleged the Bozek campaign used unattributed e-mail solicitations to raise qualifying funds.

On the question of unattributed solicitations, the Commission agreed that a violation occurred "for failing to include the property attribution on the mailing." It further said there was a failure to report a campaign expenditure from personal funds for mailings in October 2008 and that soliciting and obtaining a contribution ($25.00) from the spouse of a lobbyist constituted an "illegal practice."

Bozek, a Democrat turned Republican nominee, qualified for public campaign financing last year by raising $15,000 in private contributions. State Senate candidates were eligible to receive $85,000 in public financing under the "Clean Elections" law that forbids lobbyist and state contractor contributions. The new law requires a candidate to raise a minimum number of contributions from his or her own district and community.

Bozek lost handily to State Senator Donald DeFronzo last November in a re-match of a 2002 contest. In 2002, Bozek, the incumbent state senator at the time, lost the Democratic nomination to DeFronzo. He then switched parties but not his party affiliation to accept the Republican nomination.

Bozek became the Republican nominee again in 2008 when a Berlin Republican withdrew his candidacy and the New Britain Republican Town Committee chose Bozek to run.

The complaints against the Bozek campaign and upheld by the SEEC were filed by Democratic Town Chairman John McNamara. "The new campaign finance law and citizen's elections program worked very well across the state last year including New Britain," said McNamara. "I feel it's important that everyone involved in the process follow the rules in a system that keeps the undue influence of money out of the politics in state races. "

See related story at http://nbpoliticus.blogspot.com/2008/09/back-to-future-divisive-bozek-gets-gop.html

COMPTROLLER WYMAN SAYS DEFICIT GROWING; CALLS FOR DECISIVE ACTION

State Comptroller Nancy Wyman continues to report sliding state revenue numbers for the balance of this fiscal year, estimating last week that the deficit has grown to $1.2 billion. Her estimate comes on the even of state Democrats proposing alternatives to Gov. Rell's budget proposal, which has been criticized for being out of balance for the fiscal year that will begin July 1. Many observers are predicting a protracted debate between lawmakers and the Governor on what combination of service cuts, employee concessions and tax increases will be proposed to fund what Rell has called the state's "core" services.

"As the final quarter of the fiscal year approaches, the decline in these major tax categories is accelerating," Wyman said. "Decisive action to reduce this historic shortfall must be taken quickly to avoid completely draining our $1.4 billion Rainy Day Fund," said Wyman. "The income tax was expected to bring in $7.6 billion this year, but will likely fall at least $900 million short of that target due to the decline of the financial markets and the loss of about 29,000 jobs in Connecticut. The state will also pay out about $140 million more in tax refunds than was anticipated.

"Collections of the sales tax are expected to decrease by about $352 million from original estimates, and the corporation tax is down by about $183 million. Wyman's estimate, which includes close to $650 million in deficit-mitigation steps approved by the General Assembly, is about $295 million higher than that of the Governor's budget office. The current projected deficit of $1.2 billion is based on a 2009 budget of $18.4 billion.

This Week

UNICO'S Pasta Dinner For Scholarships Wednesday 5 to 7 pm at VFW

The local chapter of UNICO, the Italian American service organization, will hold a pasta dinner is on Wednesday March 11th from 5 pm to 7 pm at the VFW Hall on Veterans Drive in New Britain. Tickets are $10.00 and may be purchased at the door. Proceeds will benefit the UNICO scholarship funds.

New Britain Common Council Meeting Wednesday, March 11

The Common Council will meet Wednesday, March 11, in Council Chambers at New Britain City Hall. Public participation starts at 7:00pm. The Common Council meeting immediately follows public participation. Town committee members and interested citizens are urged to attend. More information www.new-britain.net

This Month

Tuesday March 17 - The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), better known as the New Britain Irish Social Club, will hold its annual, award-winning corned beef and cabbage dinner on St. Patrick's Day from 4 to 8 p.m. Admission is $10. children 10 and under are free. The event will be held at the Assyrian Hall, 40 South Street. The celebration will continue at the club downstairs with live music. Invited guests include Barack O'Bama.

Thursday March 19 - The March meeting of the New Britain Democratic Town Committee will be held at New Britain City Hall. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

Sunday March 22 - A breakfast fundraiser for the New Britain TRIAD Senior Prom will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at the NB Senior Center on Pearl Street. The Irish-themed event features a menu of sausage, bacon, eggs, hash browns, orange juice and coffee. There will be Irish music, a bake sale and contests for kids. Cost is $5 per adult; $4 for seniors and children under four years old are free. The event is part of the great volunteer organizing work of Police Officer Carol Jezut in making the annual TRIAD Senior Prom possible. That event will be Thursday evening, April 16th at New Britain High School.

END QUOTE

"The true American faith endures in “Our Town.” The key word in its title is the collective “our,” just as “united” is the resonant note hit by the new president when saying the full name of the country. The notion that Americans must all rise and fall together is the ideal we still yearn to reclaim, and that a majority voted for in November. But how we get there from this economic graveyard is a challenge rapidly rivaling the one that faced Wilder’s audience in that dark late winter of 1938."


New York Times Columnist Frank Rick, March 8, 2009 opinion