NY Times: A Critical Race for Governor

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NY Times: A Critical Race for Governor

The New York Times August 13, 2006

The bitterly contested Democratic primary for governor has produced both a Democratic candidate, John DeStefano, and the framework of a debate. Although the next governor will inherit a budget with nearly a billion-dollar surplus, pressing issues abound. Connecticut is burdened with high taxes, energy costs and home prices. For most towns, mass transit is virtually nonexistent. Job growth has stagnated. One result is that the young are voting with their feet: Connecticut is losing a greater percentage of its 20- to 34-year-olds than nearly any other state. This campaign will help determine whether these worrisome trends continue.

The two candidates come to the race with very different perspectives. Mr. DeStefano has governed New Haven for more than 10 years as mayor, grappling with all the gritty problems involved in running one of the state's major cities. The popular Republican incumbent, Gov. M. Jodi Rell, has been governor for two years and lieutenant governor for nine. and represented Brookfield for a decade in the state House of Representatives. Voters have a good choice, and they will be best served by a robust debate on the following issues:

Energy. Connecticut is headed toward a real energy crisis, symbolized by the blackout in Stamford about 10 days ago caused by strains on the underground electrical distribution system. The financial services sector that makes up much of downtown Stamford emptied; UBS was forced to use generators for a day and a half. The state already knows its electricity prices are among the highest in the country, and is spending more than $1 billion to improve its inadequate electrical transmission system.

Accountability. Connecticut's annual budget exceeds $15 billion, but the legislature focuses more on who gets what than on how the money is spent. As a result, the constituencies that make the most noise get a bigger share of the budget than those who really need the money. That is one reason that Governing magazine gives the state below-average marks in fiscal management. More to the point, it's a disservice to taxpayers. The next governor should give this issue top priority.

Reading. Connecticut suffers from a disparity in test scores between whites and members of minorities. An even larger problem is that only 39 percent of all Connecticut fourth graders read to national standards. Addressing Connecticut's reading crisis will require raising the bar for teacher training. It will also require tangling with the educational establishment and teachers' unions, which is something governors prefer not to do. Any governor willing to take on this fight could make a huge difference to thousands of the state's children.

Property Tax Reform. Property tax reform has long seemed an esoteric issue, and politicians who have sounded the alarm have not made much headway. But citizens are now beginning to sit up and take notice. The increasing reliance of communities on property taxes has encouraged undisciplined sprawl and big box stores, placed new burdens on the elderly and people on fixed incomes and, in some cases, put homeownership out of reach. The time has come for real reform.

Liabilities. Generous wages for state employees and an equally generous pension plan have created huge unfunded liabilities that taxpayers will have to pay in years to come. Currently, the state's pension plan is short $6.9 billion for pensions it will be obligated to pay in the years ahead. But an even worse problem is the promise of lifetime health insurance to those who have been state employees for at least 10 years. The unfunded cost of that benefit is estimated at an incredible $8.8 billion. These are huge threats to the state's fiscal health.

Health Care. An estimated 300,000 to 400,000 Connecticut residents - 10 percent of the state's population - do not have health insurance. Taxpayers end up paying the bills of a large majority of the uninsured in the most expensive way possible when minor health problems are neglected and require emergency room visits and surgery. In a state that for years was the center of the insurance industry, this is morally wrong and fiscally shortsighted.

Urban Decay. Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven have for years been three of the poorest cities in the country. The state has spent hundreds of millions on convention centers and similar projects to try to turn them around. Yet their needs are basic and will not be solved by high-profile projects. Few will flock to urban areas unless they are safe and have good schools and reasonable taxes. This will be a major challenge for the next governor.

Housing. Between 2000 and 2005, housing costs rose more than 63 percent, while wages rose less than 20 percent. The median cost of a home in Connecticut is now an astonishing $304,000 - so high that in only 12 towns in the state is the median income high enough for people to be able to pay such a price for a house. Too many people find the state unaffordable, and housing is a big reason why. This is also hurting the economy.

Connecticut is overdue for a vigorous debate on these and other issues. The people of the state deserve no less.