Lamont Calls On Residents, Legislators to 'Reinvent' Connecticut

HARTFORD, CT — In asking residents and lawmakers to "reinvent' the state, Gov. Ned Lamont drew inspiration from two distinct Connecticut personalities after being sworn in as Connecticut's 89th governor on Wednesday — Lowell Weicker and Jodi Rell.

"They have been in the arena," Lamont said. He then paraphrased his "favorite" president — Teddy Roosevelt — by saying "the credit belongs not to the critic on the sidelines, but to the men and women in the arena."

The "arena" seemed to be the focus of a short inaugural address and a longer State of the State speech. The Rev. Ralph Ahlberg said he found that out when he played tennis with Lamont when they were at the Round Hill Community Church in Greenwich.

He cited what he called Lamont's resiliency and said, "Ned never gives up."

Lamont said he and his family recently joined a "couple thousand" high school students for a performance of "Hamilton" at the Bushnell and drew inspiration from the experience.

"I talked to the kids about the meaning of the song 'My Shot,' where Alexander Hamilton sings about himself as a scrappy immigrant kid with great opportunities, just like his new nation," Lamont said. "That’s what I love about America. Every generation, we get a chance to reinvent ourselves, and every election gives us a fresh start. This is our chance to reinvent Connecticut – to think big, act boldly. On Election Day, thousands of voters waited for hours in the pouring rain. They believed that their vote would make a difference, and they were not going to throw away their shot – and neither are we."

A Positive Vision For CT

He called Connecticut "the most entrepreneurial, inventive, and fast-growing state loaded with amazing opportunities."

He added, "And we still can be."

Fixing The Budget

Lamont was not shy about his feelings on Connecticut's budget woes.

"I will not allow the next four years to be defined by a fiscal crisis," said. "Together we will craft an honestly balanced budget which does not borrow from the future, but invests in the future. We owe all of our kids, our extended family, nothing less."

In an hour, I speak to the legislature, in the room where it happens.

Message To Lawmakers

He also sent a message to the legislature an hour before his State of the State address, again with the arena theme.

"I will remind all of us that there is no room for the critic on the sidelines," he said. "It is easy to vote no. Let’s give each other the benefit of the doubt and work like heck to get to 'yes' – and make sure that all of our kids get their shot."

About the "reinvention," Lamont called on examining "the connecticut we once were" and included several points in his State of the State address to a joint session of the legislature:

• "We shaped the defense industry with the invention of the world’s first submarine in Old Saybrook, and then reinvented it with the world’s first nuclear submarine in Groton."
• "We revolutionized multiple industries through the invention of rubber that could withstand both heat and cold in Naugatuck."
• "We redefined the workplace with the invention of the portable typewriter in Stamford."
• "The world’s first helicopter was designed and piloted by Igor Sikorsky right here in Stratford."

"He added, "A century later, Sikorsky’s factory is still here and Electric Boat remains the largest submarine manufacturer in the world, and they are two of Connecticut’s largest employers – a proud piece of Connecticut’s history.

"But over the last generation, Connecticut’s entrepreneurial zip has slipped. We are no longer a place that is viewed as hospitable or encouraging to new businesses.

"Connecticut, it’s time to return to our inventive and entrepreneurial roots. Our future lies in doubling down on what makes us great and reimagining our unique potential. And it starts with the best educated workforce in the world."

Hot Button Topics Addressed

He addressed several hot-button issues in the speech in more detail that earlier in the day:

The budget: "I want to be clear – no more funny math or budgetary gamesmanship. I come from the world of small business where the numbers have to add up at the end of the month or the lights go out. Don’t tell me some consultant says there are $1 billion in easy spending cuts; show me the money or I will show you the door. I refuse to invest any time in the blame game of who’s responsible for this crisis. It’s real, it’s here and it’s time to confront it head on. And, please don’t tell me you’ve done your share and it’s somebody else’s turn. It’s all of our turns. Fix the budget, invest in the future, and nothing can stop us."

• Government: "First, I will take the lead by investing in the first all-digital government, and reverse engineer every transaction from the taxpayer’s shoes. The entry point to Connecticut will be through its digital front door, a one-stop-shop for everything current and prospective citizens need from their government. We will be online, not in line. It won’t be done overnight, but let’s start today."
• Recruitment: "Second, to attract millennials, top talent and leading companies, Connecticut will need to invest wisely in its urban centers – making them affordable and lively, where families want to live, work and play. That means great schools, safe streets and by making our cities the first with 5G in New England. The telecommunication companies are ready to start building – let’s harness that excitement, and get WiFi access into every rural town."
• Transportation: "None of this is possible if we don’t have a 21st century transportation system. When the Merritt Parkway opened in 1940, it wasn’t uncommon for people to pull over and picnic on the side of the road. Those of us who spend a good deal of time down in Fairfield County have contemplated the same idea today because we’re so darn frustrated by bumper-to-bumper traffic. Gridlock causes headaches and costs us jobs. I want the following to be a reality: 30 minutes from Hartford to New Haven; 30 minutes from New Haven to Stamford; and 30 minutes from Stamford to Manhattan with spurs to New London and Waterbury. This isn’t a pipedream, this is a necessity: a modern infrastructure by rail, road, air and water – to unlock the full economic potential of our beautiful state."
• Opportunities: "Connecticut’s economic revival cannot only be about creating opportunities for just some of our people. It must be an economy that works for everyone. We must bring our workforce into the 21st century, closely aligning it with job training, starting with STEM and coding in K-12, and access to higher education, vo-tech and apprenticeships that will result in access to good paying Connecticut jobs. That also means bringing the workplace into the 21st century, including paid family leave to make sure that parents don’t have to choose between the child they love and the job they need. It also means a $15 dollar minimum wage, responsibly and over time, so that those same parents can afford to provide for their children without working three jobs. As one of the first Governors who comes from the business world, I will be hyper-focused on job creation. My primary objective is to get this economy growing again."

He then called everyone into the arena again.

"I’m a new Governor, and you’re a new legislature. Even for those of you who have been here for a few years, this is a new day," he said. "What you can expect from me is the following: I’m a straight shooter, an honest broker and a good listener. I know what I know and I know what I don’t. I do have a strong sense of where we need to go and of what the people of Connecticut expect from us."

Photo Credit: CT.gov

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