LETTER: Why I Am Voting for Carolyn Mirek

Voters – on November 8, 2016 you have an opportunity to change the direction of our state and our towns.

You can stop the constant flow of money from your pockets to your state elected officials who have been on a spending spree with your tax dollars. For example the $22 million taxpayer funded gift Governor Malloy and the democrat-controlled state legislature to include Tim Larson gave to the richest hedge fund managers in the world, Bridegewater Associates. Did they need your money? You decide!

The May 27, 2016 New York Times headlines read “Biggest Hedge Fund Set to Get $22 Million From Connecticut”. The reporter wrote that the $150 billion fund was founded by billionaire Ray Dalio and that “Mr. Dalio, 66, has topped the list of top-paid hedge fund chiefs for years, making $1.4 billion in 2015 alone, according to Institutional Investor’s Alpha magazine. “That year, two other top Bridgewater executives each brought home $250 million”.

The New York Times also wrote “Themis Klarides, a Republican state representative, said in a statement that ‘to make the world’s largest hedge fund a priority, I find it dubious’.” “She emphasized other projects that would not be financed as a result of state funding going toward the grant to Bridgewater”. And two months before in March 2016 we learned what some of those cuts were as reported by WTNH.com. Their article captioned “Malloy releases extensive list of new state budget cuts” included the following: Department of Education $6.2 million; Department of Children and Families $6. 5 million; Department of Correction $1.2 million; Department of Developmental Services $17.2 million; and much much more.

Carolyn Mirek the Republican State Senate candidate has repeatedly condemned this outrageous give away of our tax dollars to Bridgewater. This is why I am supporting and voting for Carolyn.

I also applaud both State Comptroller Kevin Lembo and State Rep. Chris Davis, R-Ellington, who serve on the Bond Commission and “argued it was imprudent to dedicate scarce state resources to a firm that manages more than $130 billion in global investments” as reported by CTMirror.org in May, 2016.

So, taxpayers, how much more can you afford as Connecticut’s $71 billion debt and growing multi million dollar deficits (that number depends upon what day you pick up the paper) continue to make national headlines? When will our capital city – Hartford – go bankrupt or like Waterbury in 2001 become the victim of a state takeover? And if so, where will the state get the money to take it over?

But maybe we should feel sorry for those whom we condemn for their insatiable appetite for our tax dollars. Maybe it’s an addiction for which they have no control and need a cure. Maybe some rest and relaxation is in order because you know when you go shopping you get exhausted and fear sets in once you realize you have maxed out your credit cards. And the state has definitely maxed out the taxpayers’ credit card as the state’s bonded debt is one of the highest in the country.

So let’s give the Democrats who have controlled the state legislature and in turn the state budget for far too long a little rest.

And when you enter the voting booth on November 8, 2016 think of it as a game show. Behind door number 1 – Democrat state legislators – and spending as usual. Behind door number 2 – Republican state legislators – not so eager to spend. Take a gamble - as Republican legislators just might save you a little money or at least not throw it at billion dollar hedge fund managers earning in one year a personal income of $1.4 billion.

So what’s in your wallet? More importantly, what will you be able to keep in your wallet after November 8, 2016.

Susan Kniep
East Hartford

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