Rell Takes Poll Hit For Inaction
The Courant is reporting that Governor Rell has dropped to a 59% approval rating, down from her peak of 83% circa 2006. Is this earth shattering, ground breaking, seismic news? I’m not sure. 59% approval from someone who decided not to sign the budget, or veto it, then said she was going to line item veto some spending, then was told that she couldn’t line item veto anything because she didn’t sign the bill … Alicia Silverstone should be worried.
Christopher Keating continues the analsis:
By 56 percent to 34 percent, those polled said Rell “copped out” by failing to take final action on the budget. In addition, voters disapprove of Rell’s handling of the budget by 52 percent to 42 percent.
As part of the public’s overall disapproval of actions under the Gold Dome at the state Capitol, the legislature’s approval rating fell to its lowest level since July 2003 – at 35 percent.
“Democrats can’t take comfort in these numbers since their score on the budget is much lower than the governor’s,” said Douglas Schwartz, the poll director. “But Democrats might hope that the Rell juggernaut finally has hit a pothole, which could set the stage for a competitive race for governor next year.”
Meanwhile Democratic Gubernatorial exploring contender Dan Malloy says that Governor Rell is hiding where tax payer dollars are being spent with Connecticut Innovations and the Connecticut Development Authority:
“Since she took office, Gov. Rell has allowed two of the state’s economic development agencies – Connecticut Innovations Inc. and the Connecticut Development Authority — to break the law by refusing to make public critical information that taxpayers have a right to see. By law, these agencies are supposed to report the names of the companies that receive taxpayer dollars, the number of jobs each of those companies creates, and how those companies compensate their employees. But they don’t. The collect the data – that much we know. But then they refuse to release it under the guise of competitiveness – which is a manufactured issue. What are they trying to hide?
“Under Gov. Rell’s watch, millions of taxpayer dollars have been handed out to a lot of companies, and taxpayers have a right to know if that money was put to good use. Right now, they have no idea.
“Each of those companies, in turn, promised to create jobs, and pay their workers decent wages and provide benefits. But because the Governor allows these agencies to shroud these programs in secrecy, we have no idea which companies kept their promises, and which ones didn’t. Which means we really have no idea if these programs are working well, or not. I can’t imagine they’re working particularly well, considering Connecticut is last in job growth in the nation.
If the State of Connecticut would adopt GAAP, maybe stuff like this wouldn’t be happening.
