The state legislature has burdened Connecticut taxpayers with the highest bonded debt in the nation.�� In addition to the $16 billion debt the State Legislature has already incurred, Connecticut taxpayers will pay approximately $5 billion in interest before this debt is paid off.� The only one who seems to be concerned is Governor Rell, along with a few State Legislators with a conscience.� Read the latest which was released on April 17 and sent to us by Bob Green, a FCTO Board Member�.

Governor Rell Blasts Democrat Bonding Package

Rell�s quotes are noted in italics

Governor M. Jodi Rell today called the $3.4 billion state bonding package passed by the Democrat-controlled Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee a grossly overloaded collection of pork projects and power grabs that will saddle generations of Connecticut children with senseless debt and send the state�s credit rating into an uncontrolled tail spin.� This bonding package exceeds my proposals by a staggering average of 30 percent in each of the next two fiscal years, Governor Rell said. The fact that we cannot exceed very specific limits on bonding without putting our credit rating at risk � to say nothing of the fact that we already spend 60 cents in interest on every dollar we borrow � seems to mean nothing to the Democrats. Is there no pork project they will not pay for on the people�s credit card?� This bonding package would create a miniature Bond Commission for the legislative leaders and give it $100 million a year in taxpayer dollars to play with, the Governor said. This is not Monopoly money. It is money that taxpayers send to Hartford with the expectation that it will be spent wisely, even treated with some respect � not frittered away on vanity projects for lawmakers. At the same time, this package is so overloaded with pork projects that it takes 24 pages of 8-point type to list them all, Governor Rell added. There are 137 specific earmarks in the first year and another 25 in the second year � everything from $200,000 for park benches and a gazebo in one town to some $18 million to expand or relocate a private college in another. It makes for absolutely breathtaking reading.�� I don�t know how I can be any clearer: The state�s credit card is maxed out, Governor Rell said. All the wish lists in the world will not change that fact. Applying for another credit card now would be the worst possible financial mistake � it may give us a new way to spend, but it won�t change our ability to pay the monthly bills.

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Democrats' Budget

April 13, 2007, Associated Press

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Majority Democrats unveiled their two-year, $36.4 billion budget plan Thursday, hailing it as a new vision for Connecticut that expands access to health care and lowers taxes on the middle class.� "There's no question what we're doing here today is historic," said Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn.� But Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell was unimpressed. She claimed the Democrats' proposal would increase state spending by 10.4 percent in the first year and raise taxes by approximately $1 billion.� "We simply cannot afford that. The taxpayers in this state cannot afford that," she said soon after the Appropriations Committee passed the spending bill on a 36-17, party-line vote. "I think what we really need to do right now is to sit down at the table and begin negotiations as soon as possible."� Click the following to continue with the article �. http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-13012936.apds.m0729.bc-ct-xgr--apr13,0,2365987.story?coll=hc-headlines-local-wire

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Judy Aron, imjfaron@sbcglobal.net

Vice President of West Hartford Taxpayers Association� ��

Press Release, April 7, 2007

WHTA COMMENTS ON THE TOWN BUDGET HEARINGS

Full Text:� http://whta.org/WHTAPRel040707.htm

Excerpts:� The West Hartford Taxpayers Association was represented by its President, Theresa McGrath at both the Board of Education public hearing on their budget, and the Town Council Budget public hearing.� She stated the plight of the taxpayers and their profound disagreement with an 8.5% budget increase.� With standing room only in Council Chambers, and about 20 people who came to the podium to speak at the last Town Council Budget public hearing was held on Holy Thursday and Passover, 04/05/07.� None of the Town Budget public hearings have been taped or televised thus far, although the next one on Tuesday April 10 will be shown on WHCTV, due to pressure from the taxpayers.� http://whta.org/WHTAPRel040707.htm

IMPORTANT:� The next full monthly meeting of the West Hartford Taxpayers Association is scheduled for April 23, 2007 at 7:00 PM in Room 400 at the West Hartford Town Hall, 50 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06107 � All are welcome to attend.The West Hartford Taxpayers Association has also produced a TV show called �Tax Talk� that is being shown on WHCTV Channel 5 on Wed 4/11/07 at 9:30 PM and Mon 4/16/07 at 9:00 PM. WHTA hopes that the public will tune in.The West Hartford Town Council is slated to vote on a budget on April 24, 2007. The West Hartford Taxpayers Association has already made a statement that if the budget exceeds a 2.5% increase that they will initiate a referendum on that budget. The West Hartford Taxpayers Association is non-partisan. WHTA is an association dedicated to the proposition that Town Government can be operated efficiently to provide needed services at a fair cost to the Citizens of West Hartford. It has been in existence since 1933.� For additional information visit the West Hartford Taxpayers Association� web site at http://whta.org/ or contact WHTA President Theresa McGrath at president@whta.org or 860-570-1203, or� WHTA Vice-President Judy Aron at vpresident@whta.org or call 860-523-7257

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A West Hartford residents speaks out on Property Taxes in her town:� http://www.amybergquist.com/blog/2007/04/07/west-hartford-taxes/

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President of West Hartford Taxpayers Association Speaks out in Support of Governor Rell�s Proposition 3

Letter to the Editor, Hartford Courant

By Theresa McGrath, President of the West Hartford Taxpayers Association face0203@comcast.net

April 3, 2007

On behalf of the West Hartford Taxpayers Association, I applaud Governor Rell�s efforts to put forth a bold Tax Reform Proposal during CT�s biggest budget crisis ever. I must say, I was a bit discouraged in learning of her state income tax increase, but by mandating capped spending in municipal budgets our state, one of the highest taxed states in the country, we will surely rebound economically.�

Here we are, at the local level, dealing with our inhumane budget crisis; particularly those going through revaluation and bloated budgets mostly due to state mandates and binding arbitration. Here we are just sitting, waiting on the edge of our seats to get the word on our local and state budget increases to know whether or not we�ll need to move to another state or get a second job just to pay our taxes; literally. Taxpayers are fleeing from this state! Open your eyes!� Sure there are some loopholes in Rell�s 3% cap. But, what else do we have? Frankly, I�m tired of hearing the supermajority party at the state level complain about these loop holes and how this effort will violate our State Constitution�s Home Rule. The Home Rule is supposed to give town�s flexibility to spend their money where they see fit; however, this is contrary to what actually happens. Our State mandates and Binding Arbitration are literally driving our town budgets. With Rell�s 3% cap, it will help put an end to this injustice on our towns. It�s truly ingenious! �� I challenge the Super Majority party to step up to the plate and fill Rell�s 3% loopholes. By doing this they will actually do something to help the taxpayers � their constituents.� Theresa McGrath, President, West Hartford Taxpayers Association

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CONFIRMED: YOUR DAUGHTER IS MERCK'S GUINEA PIG

http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd256.htm

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Town Revaluation Dates

http://www.opm.state.ct.us/igp/dataresc/revaldts06.xls

Responsibility of Assessors

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/rpt/2005-R-0137.htm

Municipal Grand Lists and Mill Rates

http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/towngrandlist.htm

Mill Rates by Town

http://www.opm.state.ct.us/igp/DATARESC/mr200607.xls

Town Codes / Country Codes

http://www.opm.state.ct.us/pdpd3/data/twn.htm

The� State�s population projections http://www.opm.state.ct.us/pdpd3/data/project.htm

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UPDATE ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

View the Report Card of our Connecticut Delegation on Addressing the Problem of Illegal Immigration:� http://grades.betterimmigration.com/delegation.php3?District=CT

Name	District	Score
Dodd, Christopher	Senator	D
Lieberman, Joseph	Senator	F
Courtney, Joe	2	No Actions
DeLauro, Rosa	3	D
Larson, John	1	D-
Murphy, Chris	5	No Actions
Shays, Christopher	4	A

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Barletta cries foul after feds fail to take arrested illegals By JIM DINO, Standard-Speaker, April 17, 2007
Local law enforcement personnel should arrest and handle illegal aliens, because the federal government can�t handle the task alone, Hazleton Mayor Louis Barletta says.� The mayor met with the press Monday afternoon to talk about the latest crime involving illegal aliens in the city � which ended up in a high-speed chase around downtown Hazleton early Sunday morning.� http://www.standardspeaker.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4985&Itemid=2

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Also click and read Barletta unveils anti-gang unit

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Pat Snyder, Snyderpate@aol.com

Arizona

RE:� ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Dear Readers-It was an American President, who emphatically referred to illegal aliens as wetbacks, and we should have a national holiday, to celebrate, the cause he championed; mass deportation!� http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JorixBfBkk&mode=related&search=

Americans for Better Immigration Website� http://grades.betterimmigration.com/testgrades.php3?District=CO06&VIPID=146

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