Last night, nearly 700 energized Republicans gathered in Stamford to hear Governor Scott Walker’s message of courage and reform.  I want to thank all of last night’s attendees, speakers, and award recipients for a truly memorable Prescott Bush Awards Dinner.

If you weren’t able to attend last night’s event, you can still show your support for Governor Walker’s message by clicking here to donate $5, $25, or even $50.

Governor Walker’s bold leadership should be an inspiration to our Republican Party.  And his success in Wisconsin, standing up to entrenched special interests and government union bosses, should be a reminder of how courageous leadership and Republican Principles can deliver for the American people.

While we still have much to do, last night’s success was an important step in our mission to retire Governor Malloy and restore fiscal sanity and accountability to our own state.  Thank you again for your continued support of our Party.

Jerry

P.S.  As you know, Dan Malloy and the government union special interests were less than pleased to have Governor Walker sharing the story of Wisconsin’s success here in Connecticut.  Click here to donate and send a strong message that we will no longer stand for the status quo.

They’re at it again…

Connecticut Democratic Party Chairman Nancy DiNardo sent out a fundraising e-mail this morning blasting Prescott Bush Awards Dinner keynote speaker Governor Scott Walker and asking for a contribution to “help send [Gov. Walker] packing.” And what’s more, the government union bosses of Connecticut are already planning protests at the event.

It’s not surprising that the public unions and special interests are up in arms—any time someone attempts to rein in out of control government spending, they’re quick to paint them as the enemy of education and the working class in hopes of concealing their agenda of demanding lavish benefits and automatic 6% raises every year.

In Connecticut—while we face a billion dollar budget deficit and continue to hemorrhage jobs—the Democratic Party calls Governor Walker’s approach “an outdated ideology that does nothing to grow the economy” and the government union bosses say “his agenda will never be welcome in Connecticut.”

In Wisconsin, Governor Walker was able to promote job growth and balance the state’s budget, all the while lessening the tax burden on hardworking families. In a report released earlier this month, Wisconsin was rated the 17^th best state to do business. How did that same report rank Connecticut? 45^th…

The results speak for themselves. As long as the public union bosses continue to control Governor Malloy and the Democratic Party, our taxes will continue to spiral out of control in order to ensure the only jobs that are safe are their own.

Have you purchased your ticket to Monday night’s 35^th Annual Prescott Bush Awards Dinner in Stamford yet? If not, there’s still time to reserve your spot next to Governor Scott Walker as he brings his proven message of commonsense reforms and fiscal sanity right where it’s needed most.

On to victory,

Jerry Labriola, Jr.
State Chairman, Connecticut Republican Party.

P.S. There are a very limited number of tickets left available, purchase your ticket online now before we’re sold out.

Don’t miss out…

Governor Scott Walker turned a deficit into a surplus and balance the budget in Wisconsin without raising taxes. And in 10 days, he brings his message to Connecticut as he keynotes the 35th Annual Prescott Bush Awards Dinner in Stamford.

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HARTFORD—Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Jerry Labriola, Jr. released the following statement today in response to recent reporting that U.S. Representative Elizabeth Esty has solicited and received campaign donations from energy companies and other firms regulated by her husband, Daniel Esty, in his capacity as Commissioner of DEEP.

“Connecticut’s collective ethics has received a one-two punch from Mr. and Mrs. Esty.  Whether or not this is a shakedown, the appearance of a conflict is overwhelming.  Does Governor Malloy approve of the connection between his Commissioner and the donations Congresswoman Esty has received from DEEP regulated companies?   If anyone questions why our citizens have lost faith in their government leaders, they need look no further than this incident.  Our regulatory process was not designed to work this way.

These donations raise a number of questions:  Will Elizabeth Esty return these donations as she did the previous improper donations late last month?  If not, on what grounds will she keep the money?  Will Governor Malloy instruct his Commissioner to advise companies he regulates to refrain from making donations to his wife because of the strong appearance of impropriety they create?  Common sense would tell anyone that this “regulated by one half of the household, while donating to the other half” is a very bad arrangement.

Voters deserve to know that the public trust is being protected by our elected and appointed officials. These donations send the opposite message.”

“On behalf of the state Republican Party, I want to congratulate Sam Belsito on his nomination. I am honored and proud to have someone with Sam’s dedication to his community and family representing the Republican Party on the ballot on June 11^th.

“Sam has experienced first-hand the record taxes and oppressive regulations that plague the businesses in our state. As a small business owner, Sam has created jobs, balanced budgets, and met a payroll. He understands the challenges facing the hardworking families of Connecticut and has exactly the experience and record of fiscal conservatism we need to get Hartford back on track.”

Background:

Sam Belsito was nominated Wednesday night at a GOP Convention at the Ashford Town Hall as the Republican Candidate for State Representative in the 53^rd Assembly District vacated by the resignation of State Representative Bryan Hurlburt.

Sam has lived in Tolland for over 40 years, during which time he raised his three children and built his business. He attended the Massachusetts Military Academy and served seven years in the Connecticut and Massachusetts National Guard, achieving the rank of 1^st Lieutenant.

Sam graduated from the New England School of Accounting, holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Nichols College and obtained his MBA from Western New England University. Additionally, he holds a Bachelor of General Studies degree from the University of Connecticut, completed courses for CHFC and CLU designations at The American College, and is a licensed Connecticut Realtor.

Sam has been very active in the local community serving as a board member for the Tolland Taxpayers Association, a member of the Tolland Community Conservation Commission, and a member of the Republican Town Committee.

HARTFORD COURANT

by JON LENDER on APRIL 29, 2013

State Republican Party Chairman Jerry Labriola asked the state attorney general Monday to investigate the propriety of a conference call last week in which the state’s energy and environment commissioner, Dan Esty,  gave a briefing to an investment firm’s clients about state plans and pending legislation concerning energy.

Labriola wrote a letter to state Attorney General George Jepsen, asking that he “investigate the actions of Daniel Esty, Commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, regarding his participation in a conference call conducted by a private equity company, UBS Securities.”

Labriola said that in the conference call last Tuesday, Esty spoke with UBS’s “investment clients and possibly others concerning legislative language that had yet to be publicly released or discussed by the Connecticut General Assembly.”

A vote on the pending legislation had been planned for Wednesday, but news of Esty’s participation in the conference call caused a controversy that contributed to postponing the vote — possibly to this coming Wednesday. Esty apologized last week for the timing of his participation in the conference call, saying it had been planned weeks in advance and, if he had it to do over again, he wouldn’t have done it a day before a scheduled key vote.

Labriola added: “I specifically request that you examine the appropriateness and legality of Commissioner Esty, in his regulatory capacity, participating in such a call. There are several troubling questions that must be explored and answered regarding this incident.”

“The first question is why did the Commissioner even participate in this call in the first place?  There appears to be no State or public interest served by participating in the conference call,” Labriola wrote.

Labriola noted that Esty was paid $205,000 by Northeast Utilities as a consultant from 1997 to 2005, before he became Gov.  Dannel P. Malloy’s DEEP commissioner in 2011, and wrote:  “It appears that Commissioner Esty…was trying to curry favor with an entity that formerly employed him.”

Read more… 

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“Senator McKinney has been an exemplary leader and a fighter against the big-spending, big-taxing policies of Governor Malloy and the legislative Democrats,” Labriola said. “The Bush Award recognizes leadership and Senator McKinney is the definition of a leader — he is a leader in his community, a leader in the Connecticut Republican Party and a forceful leader in the State Senate.

“I’m proud that Senator McKinney is a member of the Connecticut Republican Party,” Labriola said. “He has served his constituents, our government and the State of Connecticut in an outstanding manner, with conscience and with common sense solutions that have moved our state forward.”

Past recipients of the Prescott Bush Award include Ambassador Tom Foley, House Republican Leader Larry Cafero, Governor M. Jodi Rell, Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele, and Congressman Rob Simmons, among others.

The 35th Annual Prescott Bush Awards Dinner will take place Monday, May 20th from 6:00 to 9:00pm at the Stamford Hilton Hotel.

Background on Senator John P. McKinney:

Senator McKinney is serving his seventh term in the Connecticut State Senate representing the towns of Easton, Fairfield, Newtown and Weston.

He was elected Minority Leader of the Senate in June 2007 and is a ranking member on the General Assembly’s Housing and Legislative Management committees. He also serves on the Executive Nominations Committee.

In the Senate, John has fought to lower taxes, create jobs and eliminate wasteful government spending. Over the past six years, he has co-authored several “No Tax Increase” Republican alternative budget proposals and deficit mitigation plans with House Republican Leader Larry Cafero. In the tradition of his father, the late Congressman Stewart B. McKinney, John is also at the forefront of state efforts to preserve and protect our environment, increase access to affordable housing and end homelessness.

John served on the Transportation Committee for nine years, leading efforts to change the state’s transportation policy to address the long-term challenges of increasing congestion and rising gasoline prices. He was instrumental in helping to pass major transportation initiatives to improve I-95, and replace all 342 Metro-North rail cars.

In 2007, he helped author and pass Jessica’s Law for Connecticut establishing strong mandatory minimum jail sentences for convicted child sex offenders and online child predators.

A leading voice for job creation, affordable housing and inner-city economic development, John has also been recognized as an Environmental Hero by the League of Conservation Voters for his ongoing efforts to preserve Connecticut’s open spaces and clean up Long Island Sound.

John is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Women and Families in Bridgeport. He currently serves on the Boards of the Westport/Weston Family YMCA and Operation Hope. He is also a past member of the vestry of Trinity Church in Southport. John and his family help provide housing and care for people with AIDS through the Stewart B. McKinney Foundation.

The Prescott Bush Award was established in 1978 to honor an outstanding leader of the Connecticut Republican Party. It is named in honor of the late Prescott Bush, Sr. of Greenwich who represented Connecticut in the United States Senate from 1952 to 1962. Bush, who was the father of former President George Bush, held numerous public and political offices including Chairman of the Republican State Finance Committee from 1947 to 1950.

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“I’m excited and honored to have Governor Scott Walker keynoting the 2013 Prescott Bush Awards Dinner. Governor Walker is a bold reformer who has righted the fiscal ship of state in Wisconsin without raising taxes,” State GOP Chair Jerry Labriola said. “As Governor, his efforts have saved Wisconsin taxpayers more than $1 billion, leading to property taxes in Wisconsin declining for the first time in 12 years.

“There is a lesson in Governor Walker’s leadership for Governor Malloy and the Democrats in the Connecticut General Assembly,” Labriola said. “Can you wipe out a massive state deficit without layoffs and without increasing taxes? Yes, you can – Governor Walker did it, and I believe his accomplishments in Wisconsin reflect the kind of changes we need in Connecticut.”

The 35th Annual Prescott Bush Awards Dinner will take place Monday, May 20th from 6:00 to 9:00pm at the Stamford Hilton Hotel. 

 CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Background on Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker:

Scott was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1993. While there, he authored important pieces of legislation including Truth-in-Sentencing, photo identification requirements to vote, and the elimination of the statute of limitations in sexual assault cases.

In 2002, Scott was elected Milwaukee County Executive to reform the scandal-ridden county government. The scandal rocked Milwaukee County to its core and left taxpayers on the hook for millions in pension obligations.

For eight years as County Executive, Scott faithfully kept his promise to spend taxpayer money as if it were his own. He cut the county’s debt by 30 percent, reduced the county workforce by more than 25 percent, and authored nine consecutive budgets without increasing the property tax levy from the previous year.

On January 3, 2011, Scott Walker was inaugurated as Wisconsin’s 45th Governor.

Since that day, the reforms he proposed have eliminated the state’s $3.6 billion budget deficit without raising taxes and gave school districts and local governments the tools to balance their budgets without the massive layoffs seen in other states. To date, these profound changes have saved Wisconsin taxpayers more than $1 billion which led to property taxes on a median valued home to go down for the first time in 12 years.

Governor Walker remains committed to helping Wisconsin’s private sector create 250,000 jobs by 2015. After years of record job loss, Wisconsin has gained jobs during the Walker administration. In an annual survey of job creators, 94 percent said Wisconsin is headed in the right direction — compared to just 10 percent who said the same thing in 2010.

On June 5, 2012, Scott Walker became the first governor in American history to win a recall election. He won the election with more votes and by a higher percentage than he had won in 2010.

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