NEW HAVEN, Conn. - With the state facing massive public-employee layoffs and a $900 million budget deficit next year, one group is calling for a closer look at tax expenditures.

The tax breaks and tax credits Connecticut allows now amount to more than $7 billion a year, a 71 percent increase since 2000.

But according to Nick Defiesta, associate fiscal policy fellow for Connecticut Voices for Children, those those tax expenditures don't get the same kind of scrutiny that's given to spending on priorities like education and health care.

"It's really easy for these expenditures to just sort of sit there on the books, for years and years and years and years, without anyone taking a look at them," says Defiesta.

Connecticut Voices for Children has issued a report calling on the state to expand reporting on tax expenditures and to institute a legislative review process, including public hearings.

Defiesta says right now, the only review of tax expenditures is a report from the Office of Fiscal Analysis, issued every other year.

He says it simply lists the title of the expenditure, why it was enacted and how much it costs the state.

"We would love to see OFA do a more robust evaluation of how each tax expenditure is doing and whether it's meeting its policy goals," says Defiesta. "And then, we'd like to see the Legislature have to act on that."

The report cites such examples as sales tax exemptions for non-commercial winter boat storage, worth $2.5 million a year.

Defiesta notes there is currently no requirement to evaluate whether state tax breaks are doing what they were intended to do.

"We should be looking at them just as closely as we're looking at appropriations," he says. "Just to be sure that, at a time when we're all bucking up our belt straps, that we're doing the same for this sort of spending."

He says requiring a closer look at tax expenditures would make the state budget process more fair, accountable and transparent.


get more stories like this via email

A new bill aims to further reduce investments in fossil fuels by Oregon's Public Employee Retirement System.

The Pause Act would impose a five-year ban on new investments by the system in private fossil-fuel funds. Supporters believe this move will help lower emissions and keep wealth in Oregon communities.

Andrew Bogrand, volunteer communications director for the advocacy group Divest Oregon, helped draft the bill. The group found the system's fossil fuel investments have underperformed the market by $4 billion to $10 billion over the past decade.

"Private equity has taken advantage, in our view, of public pensions, and this would allow Treasury staff the time and space they need to kind of course correct," Bogrand explained.

Last year, former treasurer Tobias Read, now Secretary of State, introduced a plan to reduce the system's investments in fossil fuels by 60% by 2035, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. Bogrand noted the Pause Act aligns with that plan.

Oregon's Public Employee Retirement System covers pensions for more than 415,000 public employees across schools, local governments and 900 agencies. Divest Oregon said 60% of the system's funds are private investments, which is almost double the average U.S. pension fund.

Elizabeth Steiner, Oregon's newly-sworn in treasurer, manages the system's investments, totaling more than $100 billion. Steiner said moving away from fossil fuels is not just about reducing emissions, it is smart financially.

"The data are really clear that carbon-intensive investments are a risky proposition at this point," Steiner observed. "At some point in the not too distant future, they will not be profitable."

Steiner added it is too soon to say if she can support the Pause Act, but she is having productive conversations with Divest Oregon.


get more stories like this via email

Florida has been a key battleground in the national immigration debate, with past legislation banning sanctuary cities and requiring companies to use E-Verify to confirm employees' immigration status.

As lawmakers prepare to gather in Tallahassee later this month for a special legislative session on immigration, community advocates are raising concerns about the use of state resources. Gov. Ron DeSantis called for the session to align Florida's policies with President-elect Donald Trump's upcoming immigration initiatives.

Renata Bozzetto, deputy director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, criticized the move as a publicity stunt, saying it is unfortunate the governor is using taxpayer dollars to garner national attention.

"Instead of focusing on the priorities of Floridians, instead of focusing on the very high cost of living in our state and fixing problems that really bother and affect families in the state of Florida, he is trying to take on the federal government's job," Bozzetto contended.

DeSantis, a staunch Trump ally, has scheduled a special session for Jan. 27 to align with federal efforts to deport undocumented immigrants. He proposed mandatory enrollment in the 287(g) program, which partners local law enforcement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to identify and remove noncitizens.

The session is scheduled just weeks before the regular legislative session begins in March. Bozzetto believes the governor's push is politically motivated and distracts legislators from pressing local issues.

"Assess within their districts, what are their priorities so they're listening to community, they're listening to Floridians, what should be the priority and the agenda for March?" Bozzetto asked. "And yet they're going to be wasting their time in Tallahassee because of this reckless call."

The Republican governor warned he is prepared to suspend elected officials who fail to comply with the new immigration mandates, accusing them of "neglecting their duties." Florida's legislative leaders have pushed back on DeSantis' call for a special session on immigration, deeming it "premature" without specific federal guidance from the incoming Trump administration.

Ohio is poised to play a key role in a $20 billion investment announced by President-elect Donald Trump, with plans to establish data centers across the Midwest.

John Highland, director of public service for the City of Canton, is among the local leaders already expressing interest in what he said could be a transformative project.

"We are kind of open and available," Highland pointed out. "I would be willing to talk to anyone about that possibility with the city if we can make it work."

Canton's openness reflects the excitement among Ohio leaders about the economic potential of the initiative. However, as with any large-scale project, experts caution about the need to manage resource demands and ensure equitable benefits for local communities.

In a recent speech, Trump framed the investment as a step toward keeping America at the forefront of advancements in technology, particularly artificial intelligence.

"The investment will support massive new data centers across the Midwest and also keep America on the cutting edge of technology and artificial intelligences," Trump said. "The first phase of the project will be in Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana."

For Ohioans, the announcement could mean new jobs and infrastructure development but it also raises questions about long-term sustainability and local impacts on resources like energy and water.

Hussein Sajwani, founder of DAMAC Properties, shared his excitement about expanding his company's operations in the U.S., citing the nation's pro-business environment.

"We're planning to invest $20 billion in data centers catering for the AI and cloud business for the hyperscalers," Sajwani announced. "We're very, very excited now with his leadership."

With Ohio positioned as a key beneficiary of this massive investment, the state could see significant economic growth in the coming years.


get more stories like this via email