Opinion

Connecticut’s gift to New York

Looks like New York has a new secret weapon in its battle to keep residents and business from fleeing the state.

His name is Dannel Malloy — and he’s the new governor of Connecticut.

Like his counterparts in the tri-state area, Malloy faces severe economic constraints: a $3.2 billion deficit, amounting to 20 percent of revenue.

Unlike Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie, however, Malloy is tackling his budget shortfall by proposing one of the largest tax hikes in state history on Connecticut’s middle class.

Malloy — Connecticut’s first Democratic governor in 20 years — is proposing to govern right out of his party’s classic playbook: tax, tax, tax.

He wants to raise both the income and sales taxes, enact taxes on previously exempt goods and services and raise taxes on alcohol and gasoline.

It all amounts to $1.5 billion in tax hikes — of which 81 percent will fall on individuals. And no property-tax cap, either.

As for spending cuts — well, “Connecticut would not be Connecticut if we cut $3.5 billion out of the budget.” You see, says Malloy, “we are a strong, generous, hopeful people.”

Not to mention staring fiscal disaster in the face.

So privatizing state programs and closing facilities are out of the question.

As for layoffs — well, he says the state payroll of 45,000 will shrink by a whole 150 jobs.

In fact, actual state spending will grow by 2.4 percent this year and 2.4 percent next year under Malloy’s plan.

And yes, he wants productivity savings from the unions — but he plans to ask them nicely, without “being bombastic.”

To all of which we say: Go to it, Dan!

Anything to reverse the out-flow of tax-battered New York refugees.