Letter: 'Kim Fawcett's Wasteful Spending'

Over the last few years the residents of this town have seen their taxes rise and at times complained about wasteful spending. We realize there are always increases in costs such as schools, services and salaries and we accept this. What we don’t accept is our hard earned tax dollars being wasted. This is the case with Rep. Kim Fawcett’s salary.

I would like to give some examples how this is true. In 2011 on the Appropriations Committee Kim missed 23 out of 33 public hearings. In 2012 Kim missed 17 of 21 public hearings. In 2012 on the Energy and Technology Committee Kim missed all 4 public hearings, not attending any of them. In April 2012 when the legislature was in session Kim thought it was more important to go on a 10 day school trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos islands  thus causing her to miss the extremely important vote on S.B. 280, an act revising the Death Penalty for Capital Felonies. I ask you to look at this law and see all the important provisions that concern the residents of CT.  Her vote was cast as absent.  This is a link to a gov’t website showing the votes she missed while away:    

 http://cga.ct.gov/2012/jnl/H/2012HJL00411-R00-JNL.htm .

There are many issues that face the residents of CT and I’m not saying one party’s thoughts and ideas are always right. There should be compromise and bipartisanship. Kim doesn’t feel this way. In 2011 she voted 98% of the time with her party and in 2012 97% percent of the time.  Kim also wasn’t present and didn’t cast a vote for paid sick leave. Kim voted for the legalization of marijuana, allowing DUI convicts to serve their time at home, a rise in gas taxes, and incredibly Kim voted in favor of H.B. 6650 a law stating that people convicted of violent crimes and those committing sexual assault on a minor can earn early release credits.

Kim has a record of not showing up for work, and when she does show up, she votes in lock-step with her party’s leadership. She has a sworn duty to represent us, to cast votes on the record, attend meetings, and advocate for the people she represents. This is impossible if she is not present to fulfill her duties and if she thinks one party is always right.

I plan on voting for Chris Desanctis this November, he will earn our vote, he will earn his pay, he will show up for work!

Gerry Alessi