What are your issues with budget and government spending? Where do you fall on those issues?
There's no monopoly on good ideas. The Republicans don't have the good ideas, the Democrats don't have all of the good ideas. You have to be willing to listen to everyone. As far as spending, I don't like wasting money.
I don't believe in wasting money, but there are times when you have to invest. Education is an investment in our future and we have to look at programs--the roads, the bridges, that is investment in our infrastructure. There are places where you need to spend to investment in the future of the state and our communities.
I believe in looking very carefully at where you spend the money. I don't like to waste money.
But, you wouldn't go in and say, "I will not raise taxes?" You're not making any kind of proclamations: "I'll definitely do this, I'm definitely going to do that"?
I'm pragmatic. I don't know all of the questions right now. I can't know all of the answers because I don't know all of the questions. That's why I like to go out and talk to people and I learn from people everyday.
I think the most famous, [Former Connecticut Governor] Lowell Weicker. Before they added the income tax he said, "I'm not going to add an income tax. Putting on an income tax during a recession is like pouring gasoline on a fire."
And then what's the first thing when he went in. "Oh, I didn't realize how bad it was. We have to add an income tax."
Until I know all of the facts and all of the questions, I couldn't make a broad declaration.
So far in your campaign, what kind of issues have you heard from Milford people and people in Orange, as far as 'This is what they want to see done?'
I've heard a lot of great questions and issues. A lot of Seniors are worried about taxes and being able to stay in their home. There are people who are worried about Medicare and their healthcare.
There are a lot of people who are really struggling still. One house I went to, I talked to the man and he said, "I'm not going to be here in November."
I'm an optimist, so I assumed he was going to warmer weather, somewhere down South. I said, "Oh, where are you going to be?" He said, "I don't know. My house is being foreclosed on."
That is happening to our neighbors. Some of our community members are still struggling. But there are also a lot of people who have great ideas.
