Malloy's Town Halls: Kabuki or Substance?

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has stood for more than 10 hours in 10 communities on 10 different nights, giving Connecticut an unprecedented opportunity to vent about his plan to raise taxes and cut services.

Malloy begins another round of town-hall meetings tonight in Greenwich, still game for all manner of complaint, comment and, occasionally, compliment. But it is unclear how or if these continuing conversations will change a governor and his budget.

Malloy facing the public in Bridgeport

His staff sees the town-hall tour as a success, an opportunity for him to repeatedly and soberly make the case in each of the 17 communities with a daily newspaper that his budget is a sound and sustainable way to erase an inherited $3.3 billion deficit.

"He thrives on direct constituent contact," said Roy Occhiogrosso, his senior adviser. "As unpleasant as you think it might be for him to hear things that are critical, it is not. He appreciates the feedback. We talk about it."

But what of the arguments that others are making to him, that his proposed tax structure is inequitable? Or that some cuts are ill-considered? At a recent press conference, a question about what he has learned on the road drew a sharp reply.

"I am in agreement with everyone who doesn't want any taxes and doesn't want any cuts," Malloy said, the hint of a smile on his lips. "That's what I've learned."

It was a glib answer, evidence of the banter he enjoys with reporters. But it also seemed to reflect frustration at critics who treat budgeting like ordering off an a la carte menu, picking what they like, discarding what they don't.

At every stop, Malloy hears that his taxes fall too heavily on the middle class, often from speakers reading talking points prepared by organized labor. Hairdressers tell him haircuts should remain tax-exempt. The blind plead for their programs to be left untouched. And on it goes.

"This is a democracy. And in a democracy, everybody gets to choose the parts they like and choose the parts they don't like," Malloy said. "And everyone is a member of the democracy except me when I have to propose a budget, because I have to do things I like and things I don't like."

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