Another great stab in the back. The people at the top of Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), the well-known insurance agency that masquerades as a business advocacy group, are urging legislators to support the patchwork Democratic budget agreed to by legislators and Governor Dannel P. Malloy. CBIA was a vigorous supporter of the imposition of the income tax on working people 25 years ago.

No word on what the gaggle of dues-collecting deserters thinks about the current year’s revised budget deficit of $250 million, which nearly depletes the state’s rainy day fund.

Critical details of legislation implementing the 2017 budget are not available, though that appears to have made no impression on CBIA officials as they consider these issues on assorted golf courses.

Republican Fifth Congressional District frontrunner Clay Cope batted away a limp, clumsy attack by opponent Bill Stevens. Cope charges that an ugly email to delegates on the eve of today’s nominating convention from a furtive group calling itself “Connecticut Watch Dawg” is really from Stevens. The email alleges that Cope was arrested on a drug charge in Texas more than 30 years ago. A quick look at the law enforcement record provided shows that the primary name of the defendant was Timothy Cope–Clay Cope’s brother. Clay Cope is included among the many aliases Timothy used in his malfeasance.

An early version of the email claimed “Connecticut Watch Dawg”  was “(f)ounded in 2009” and “is the state’s preeminent non-partisan opposition research organization.” A subsequent version of the misfire omitted that claim.

Here is part of Cope’s statement:

It is inexcusable – and especially unfair to voters trying to make an informed decision — when candidates like Bill Stevens become so desperate to win an election that they knowingly spread untruths about an opponent.  There is no place for such vile smear tactics and character assassination in politics.  Bill Stevens should be ashamed.

I have no arrest record.  My identity was stolen and used as an alias by a criminal – who was also my younger brother and a drug addict.

Delegates will have an opportunity to give their verdict on the Stevens tactic this afternoon when they gather to call the roll. Daily Ructions understands that the Stevens campaign was told last week that the document it was brandishing in an attempt to defeat and humiliate Cope arose from the arrest and conviction of the Sherman first selectman’s brother.

Fifth CD Republican hopeful Bill Stevens ballyhoos his “military, international business, finance, and energy industry background.” The novice candidate may want to go easy on his energy industry experience with this article from 2010 making the rounds of delegates.

It tells the unsettling tale of a bankruptcy alleging shenanigans at a wind power company involving, among others, Stevens and his wife.

Stevens, who has struggled to raise money for his campaign, has been escalating email attacks on frontrunner Clay Cope, first selectman of Sherman. Now in mimicking loathsome demagogue Donald Trump, Stevens appears to want to make bankruptcy a Republican virtue.

Newtown Republican Matt Maxwell today ended his race for the Republican nomination for Congress in Connecticut’s 5th District. The rookie candidate made a favorable impression on delegates and town committee members across the sprawling district. He was not able, however, to compete with the momentum of frontrunner Clay Cope.

In his gracious and optimistic statement, Matthew wrote, “I believe Clay Cope will do well in this election cycle.” Maxwell promised to stay active in Republican politics.

“AN ACT ESTABLISHING AND FUNDING A STATE PARKS SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNT. ” 

Strike everything after the enacting clause and substitute the following in lieu thereof:

“Section 1. Section 30-19f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2016):

(a) An in-state transporter’s permit for alcoholic liquor shall allow the commercial transportation of any alcoholic liquor as permitted by law. The annual fee for an in-state transporter’s liquor permit shall be one thousand two hundred fifty dollars.

(b) No person, corporation, trust, partnership, incorporated or unincorporated association, [and] or any other legal entity except: (1) The holder of an out-of-state shipper’s permit issued pursuant to section 30-18 or 30-19; (2) the holder of a manufacturer’s permit issued pursuant to section 30-16 other than the holder of a manufacturer’s permit for a farm winery; [and] or (3) the holder of a wholesaler’s permit issued pursuant to section 30-17, shall transport any alcoholic beverages imported into this state unless such person, corporation, trust, partnership, incorporated or unincorporated association or other legal entity holds an in-state transporter’s permit and the tax imposed on such alcoholic liquor by section 12-435 has been paid and, if applicable, the tax imposed on the sale of such alcoholic liquor pursuant to chapter 219 has been paid.

(c) An in-state transporter, when knowingly shipping or delivering wine directly to a consumer in this state, shall: (1) Ensure that the shipping labels on all containers of wine shipped directly to a consumer in this state conspicuously state the following: “CONTAINS ALCOHOL—SIGNATURE OF A PERSON AGE 21 OR OLDER REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY”; (2) obtain the signature of a person age twenty-one or older at the address prior to delivery, after requiring the signer to demonstrate that he or she is age twenty-one or older by providing a valid motor vehicle operator’s license or a valid identity card described in section 1-1h; and (3) not ship to any address in the state where the sale of alcoholic liquor is prohibited by local option pursuant to section 30-9.

(d) Each holder of an in-state transporter’s permit for alcoholic liquor issued pursuant to this section that knowingly transports alcoholic liquor into this state shall file a report with the Department of Revenue Services, in an electronic format prescribed by the Commissioner of Revenue Services, not later than the fifteenth day of the month following the month during which the transport is made. The report shall include the name of the person, corporation, trust, partnership, incorporated or unincorporated association or other legal entity filing the report, the period of time covered by the report, the name and business address of each consignor of the alcoholic liquor, the name and address of each consignee of the alcoholic liquor and the date of shipment or delivery of the alcoholic liquor. The Department of Revenue Services shall provide a copy of the report, upon written request, to the Liquor Control Commission and the Commissioner of Consumer Protection.

(e) Notwithstanding any provisions of this section, all functions required of the Department of Revenue Services under this section shall be performed within available appropriations.

[(d)] (f) Any person convicted of violating [subsections] subsection (a), (b), [and] (c) or (d) of this section shall be fined not more than [two] one thousand dollars for each offense. “

“AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE EDUCATION STATUTES. ” 

After the last section, add the following and renumber sections and internal references accordingly:

“Sec. 501. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 167a of the general statutes, a member of the Connecticut teachers’ retirement system may purchase, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of section 10-183e of the general statutes, up to four years of credited service in the teachers’ retirement system for such member’s service as a member of the General Assembly, provided such member shall not receive credit for service in the state employee retirement system pursuant to section 2-8r of the general statutes for the period that such member has purchased credited service in the teachers’ retirement system. “

Sergeant Blumenthal has gone Washington on us. The first term U.S. senator does not want a repeat of 2010 when he put $2 million of his own fortune into his campaign. The Greenwich millionaire and Democrat is hawking tickets at $1,000 each to attend a May 24th game at Nationals Stadium between the Nationals and the New York Mets.

What reason would someone in Washington have to spend $1,000 on a ticket to go to a game with Richard Blumenthal? It might have something to do with influence.

Blumenthal is expected to win a second term with little trouble from Connecticut’s hobbled Republicans. It would not have hindered him to have brought all those high rollers to Dunkin’ Donuts Stadium whenever it opens.

Imagine Connecticut is staying busy in these fraught times.

Here are a few things it’s been doing and has planned:

• Imagine CT’s Steve Obsitnik was keynote speaker at The Refinery (Good for CT): The Refinery is an incubator focused on women-led entrepreneurs, founded by Janis Collins and Jennifer Gabler with Steve’s help and it celebrated its 2nd anniversary on April 28th in Stamford. Since 2000, over 57% of college graduates have been women, yet less than 3% of venture capital investment goes to women-led businesses. The Refinery has helped raise over $7M for over 30 companies. Steve discussed the need for a robust ecosystem. Please refer any women entrepreneurs you know to The Refinery.
• Events:
  1. Imagine Connecticut Going East to Old Lyme/New London
  Purpose: Introduce and engage new people to Imagine CT while sharing our vision and solutions for CT. Please forward this to other people you know in this area. 
  Date/Time: Friday, May 20th 9 – 11 am
  Location: Old Lyme Country Club, 40 McCurdy Rd, Old Lyme, CT 06371
  Hosts: Randy Nixon & David Mathus

  2. Norwalk Meeting w/ CT Commissioner of Economic Development – Early June date TBD
  Purpose: A. IC update on the budget crisis and B. Catherine Smith, CT Commissioner of Economic Development will be presenting to IC about CT’s future and taking Q&A. This is as important as our meeting with budget director, Ben Barnes last fall. 
  Date/Time: Friday, June 3rd or 10th (TBD)
  Location: Norwalk Inn, 99 East Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851
  Hosts: Steve Obsitnik & David Mathus

Danbury Republican Mark Boughton has issued a call for Republicans to unify behind loathsome demagogue Donald Trump. Boughton, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor in 2010 and 2014, made a memorable public appearance with Democrat Dannel P. Malloy a few days before Malloy won a second term in 2014. Loyalty has at least two faces.

House Minority Leader Themis Klarides (R-Derby) discovered her tipping point for supporting loathsome demagogue Donald Trump in Tuesday’s Republican primary. Klarides, according to the Hartford Courant, was “partly swayed by distaste for a deal that Cruz and Kasich cut over the weekend to try and block Trump’s path to the nomination.” Her fleeting disdain for a deal between rivals was too much. She decided she’d support the candidate who wants to punish women who have abortions. She had perviously criticized the real estate developer for his treatment of women.

The Klarides doctrine won’t stand. Capitol observers continue to note how close Klarides has become to her opposite number, House Majority Leader Joseph Aresimowicz (D-Berlin). The Derby Republican and Berlin Democrat raised eyebrows when a photograph of them together appeared as Aresimowicz’s profile picture on his Facebook page. The public display of the alliance raised further concerns among Republican troops and officers that at least one Democrat has a line into a source useful information about GOP intentions that gets shared with him long before the House Republican.