Hartford, CT – The Connecticut Democratic Party today called on Tom Foley to provide specifics – any specifics­ – on the promises he claims to make. In an interview he recently gave, Mr. Foley distorted the Governor’s position on a range of issues, including common sense gun laws, jobs, the economy, and education.

“The lack of specifics and the reckless distortions from Mr. Foley is truly appalling – every day he loses credibility. There is a clear pattern of behavior lifted straight out of the same old, failed Republican playbook – make false claims and reckless promises, hope no one notices, and package it all up and call it ‘change’,” said Democratic Party spokesman Devon Puglia. “We know he wants to turn back the clock on progress. That’s why he has failed to provide any specifics, on any issue.”

ON SPENDING – Mr. Foley refuses to explain specifically how he can keep spending flat, recklessly slash taxes, and balance the budget.

• “He said some savings could be found in lowering health care costs without changing services, but offered no other specifics.”

• Republican governors prior to Governor Malloy grew spending at a rate of 4.5 percent, while under Dan Malloy, it has dropped to 2.8%.

How exactly would Mr. Foley do that without creating massive deficits, similar to the $3.67 billion hole that Governor Malloy inherited?

ON TAXES – The lack of specifics from Mr. Foley on how exactly he would pay for reckless tax cuts while keeping spending flat is startling.

• In the interview, Mr. Foley “proposed eliminating taxes that are too burdensome to collect compared with what they bring in for the state, but offered no examples.”

Mr. Foley, how can you cut taxes and keep spending flat without gutting education, pulling the plug on health care, and laying off thousands of workers? Show us your math.

ON SCHOOLS – While he decried Governor Malloy’s record on education – which in itself ignored reality – what would he do if a school system was failing?  

• “Foley gave no specifics when asked what the state should do in such situations, saying only that officials must ‘come in and fix it’.”

• Governor Malloy has increased education funding by $237 million dollars, with most going to struggling schools. That’s while graduation rates have increased for four years in a row and the state is making historic investments in pre-k expansion.

Mr. Foley, how exactly would you improve schools. And – how would you pay for it since you plan to recklessly cut taxes while keeping spending flat?

Background:

Malloy’s Average Budget Growth Over Four Years Has Been 2.8%. “This budget also will keep control over our spending and get control over our debt by living within the lean spending levels adopted in the biennial budget. For FY 2015, the proposal is more than $1 million below the enacted budget in the General Fund. It represents growth of 2.3% over spending in FY 2014. This continues a trend throughout the Malloy administration of low growth, with a 2.8% average budget growth over 4 years, compared with average growth rates of 4.2% and 4.7% in the two prior administrations.” [Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, FY2015 Budget Introduction]

OPM: “Despite The Challenges Of A Slow Economy, The Governor Has Largely Maintained Funding For Grant Programs Benefiting Our Communities And Has Actually Increased Education Aid By $237 Million; Most Of It Targeted To Our Neediest School Districts.” [OPM, FY2015 Budget Introduction]

State Education Cost Sharing Grants Since 2000:

2000-01: 1,388,087,257

2001-02: 1,458,823,631

2002-03: 1,519,499,954

2003-04: 1,522,700,000

2004-05: 1,563,094,274

2005-06: 1,619,487,101

2006-07: 1,627,321,377

2007-08: 1,809,133,470

2008-09: 1,889,180,324

2009-10: 1,889,607,093

2010-11: 1,889,607,093

2011-12: 1,889,607,093

2012-13: 1,939,607,087

2013-14: 1,990,341,602

2014-15: 2,039,540,614

[Connecticut State Department of Education, Bureau of Grants Management, ECS Entitlements, accessed 5/17/14]

Connecticut’s High School Graduation Rate Increased For The Fourth Consecutive Year, A Cumulative Increase Of 3.7%. “Governor Dannel P. Malloy, joined by Commissioner of Education Stefan Pryor, today announced that Connecticut’s high school graduation rate increased for the fourth consecutive year and that several persistent graduation rate gaps are closing. […] The statewide average increased by 0.7 percent in 2013 as compared to 2012, representing a cumulative increase of 3.7 percent over the 2010 graduation rate.” [Press Release, Office of Governor Dan Malloy, 5/14/14]

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