January 15, 2013

Piscopo op-ed: CT Ranked Worst Among the Nation

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Last Wednesday, the General Assembly convened and I had the privilege of taking the oath of office and being sworn in as your State Representative for the thirteenth time. It is with great pride that I look to fulfill my duty as a public servant to you, the people of our great district. I am humbled that you continue to put your trust in me as your voice in Hartford.

We are facing serious issues here in our great state of Connecticut. Out-of-control spending by out-of touch-legislators, coupled with the largest tax hike in state history by the Governor last year has led us down the WRONG path!

Last week, The Yankee Institute published a list detailing how Connecticut fares among the nation regarding various matters facing the people of our state. The results were astounding! Connecticut ranked WORST among the nation.

• Barron’s rated Connecticut’s debt situation as the worst in the country in 2012

• TopRetirements.com ranked Connecticut as the 2012 worst state for retirement

• The Institute for Truth in Accounting ranked Connecticut’s financial status as the worst in the nation with a debt burden of $49,000 per taxpayer

• Connecticut’s credit quality was ranked 50th in the nation by Conning Inc.’s State of the States Municipal Credit Research Report in 2012

• Connecticut’s Tax Freedom Day of May 5, 2012 was the latest in the nation according to the Tax Foundation

• Connecticut’s Achievement Gap is the worst in the nation according to the Connecticut Council for Education Reform

• The Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors by the Cato Institute gave Malloy an “F”

Folks, this is absolutely unacceptable! We can and must do better than this! I believe Connecticut is the best state in the nation. Our people deserve a strong and stable economy and our children deserve an education system that will support their learning and put them on par with their national peers.

As your State Representative, I pledge that I will continue to vote, as I have in the past, for legislation that will restore fiscal responsibility, put people back to work, and get our state back on the right track. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns on this or any issue, I would really like to hear from you! Please call my office at 1-800-842-1423 or visit my website www.cthousegop.com. Together, we can make a difference!