Ensuring a Connecticut that is Affordable. Livable. Workable.
Hartford, CT
Joined March 2010
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They keep calling it a voucher. It's still not a voucher. 🎒
Five Connecticut education groups urged Gov. Lamont to reject a federal scholarship tax credit. But vouchers typically use government education funding. This program encourages private donations to scholarship nonprofits through federal tax credits, helping eligible students with educational expenses.
Different programs. Different funding. A misleading label doesn't change that.
Meghan Portfolio breaks it down. 👇
yankeeinstitute.org/2026/10/…
Five CT education groups warned Gov. Lamont about the federal scholarship tax credit but cited figures from Arizona's different, state-funded ESA program. Shouldn't the evidence add up before Connecticut decides? Meghan Portfolio checked the sources.
yankeeinstitute.org/2026/10/…
Follow the money: the federal scholarship tax credit encourages private donations to scholarship nonprofits. It doesn't take money from Connecticut public-school district budgets. Donor tax credits and district appropriations are different.
yankeeinstitute.org/2026/10/…
Can Connecticut education groups predict public-school budget cuts before the scholarship program even begins? Their Oct. 20 letter doesn't identify a CT grant that would shrink. If cuts are predicted, where are the numbers?
yankeeinstitute.org/2026/10/…
“Zero state control”? Not quite. The IRS requires participating states to review and certify the scholarship nonprofits they list. Connecticut would have a role in choosing qualifying organizations, even under federal rules.
yankeeinstitute.org/2026/10/…
Public-school students can benefit, too. Eligible families could use scholarships for tutoring, books and supplies without leaving public school. The program doesn't divert Connecticut district education appropriations.
yankeeinstitute.org/2026/10/…
The $1,700 figure in the federal scholarship program is NOT the most aid a child can receive. It's the maximum annual federal tax credit for an eligible individual donor. Scholarship nonprofits pool contributions to fund student assistance.
yankeeinstitute.org/2026/10/…
Winning more seats in Hartford doesn't make Connecticut more affordable.
As Yankee Institute President Carol Platt Liebau told CT Mirror, “winning an election doesn't repeal economic reality.”
Families and businesses are still facing high taxes, energy costs and burdensome regulations. Election victories don't make those challenges disappear.
Read more:
ctmirror.org/2026/11/06/blue…
Arizona flagged 581,487 ESA transactions totaling $99.7M for review, with no records demonstrating follow-up. A serious oversight gap? Yes. Proof all $99.7M was misspent? No. That's a very different claim.
yankeeinstitute.org/2026/10/…
Look into my eyes. You're getting very sleepy... 😵💫
Now open your wallet.
Connecticut collected $14,200 in hypnotist registration fees in FY 2025.
Yes. Hypnotists. 🌀
Curious what other unusual things Connecticut taxes and charges fees for? Check out the full list:
yankeeinstitute.org/2025sor/
An audit of Arizona's state-funded education savings accounts is being used against a federal scholarship DONOR tax credit. That's apples to oranges: different programs, different funding, different rules.
yankeeinstitute.org/2026/10/…
An Arizona audit found problems with “34% of all completed transactions”? Not so fast. Auditors examined 63 purchases and flagged issues involving 34.4% of the DOLLARS sampled—not 34% of every transaction statewide.
yankeeinstitute.org/2026/10/…
Five CT education groups urged Gov. Lamont to reject the federal scholarship tax credit. Meghan Portfolio checked their letter and found a homework problem: an Arizona audit of a different program was being used to make the case.
yankeeinstitute.org/2026/10/…
Five Connecticut education groups sent Gov. Lamont a letter urging him to reject a federal scholarship program. Did educators do their homework? 📚
Concerned with fraud, they cited an Arizona audit, claiming problems in 34% of all purchases. But the auditors examined just 63 education-account purchases; issues affected 34.4% of the dollars sampled—not all transactions statewide. Not to mention, Arizona audited a totally different, state-funded program.
Meghan Portfolio went to the source and dug up the truth. What she found is revealing. Read more. 👇
yankeeinstitute.org/2026/10/…
Read the energy policy report referenced above, developed by Yankee Institute and fellow New England think tanks:
yankeeinstitute.org/2026/01/…
What’s happening in Québec is a warning for New England.
As energy demand rises, relying too heavily on any single energy source puts affordability and reliability at risk.
That’s exactly what we warned about in our energy policy report earlier this year: the need for a balanced, diversified energy approach.
msn.com/en-ca/money/general/…
“The importance of building partnerships to deliver for New Mexico students cannot be overstated, and that is exactly what my administration intends to do,"
@GovNedLamont Connecticut students deserve this opportunity, too! Opt CT in!
governor.state.nm.us/newsroo…
Sit. Stay. Pay your registration fee.
Your dog doesn't have a job, a wallet, or a checking account. But somehow, Fido still has a spot on Connecticut's revenue books. 🐾
So, how much did the state collect from dog licenses in FY 2025?
🐕 A, B, or C? Drop your guess below!
See all 370 revenue sources:
yankeeinstitute.org/2025sor/
Check your rearview mirror. That's Hartford. And it brought a bill.
$362.9 million in gas taxes.
$47.8 million in driver's license fees.
$18.6 million in vehicle title fees.
That's nearly $430 MILLION collected from just three driving-related revenue sources in FY 2025.
And you thought your car payment was the expensive part.
See what else is on Connecticut's tab:
yankeeinstitute.org/2025sor/
Connecticut has a projected $363 million General Fund surplus. Paying down pension debt sounds like a good use for it.
Unfortunately, lawmakers changed the law last year to send surplus money to a new child-care endowment instead. The pension debt? Paid off later. At a higher cost. On your dime.
yankeeinstitute.org/2026/11/…
