PSA

It is election time once again! The buzzwords are flying in ads, you know exactly what I mean: “Common-Sense Solutions,” “Holding Corporations Accountable,” “Reining in the Utilities,” and “Fixing the Broken Tax System.” But what do they really mean?

Here are a few things to think about:

#1. When they say they are not taking any PAC money: PACs are broken down into two flavors. The first is a traditional PAC that gives directly to a candidate; these are the PACs the candidates talk about. But then there are Super PACs, which also run campaign ads but are not controlled by the candidate.

#2. When candidates say they are cutting electric rates: Ask them how. In all 50 states, candidates say they will cut electric rates, but the price is actually driven by the cost of energy. Here in Connecticut, the electric companies only convey electricity, while private, unregulated power plants generate it. So when you hear candidates saying they will cut the cost of electricity, ask them… how?

#3. When candidates say they are going to cut taxes: Taxes are like a seesaw. To keep it in balance, when you cut taxes, you also have to cut spending. So when you hear Connecticut candidates saying they will cut car taxes, they either have to cut spending... which begs the question, what are they going to cut?—or they have to raise property taxes.

As the saying goes, “The devil is in the details.” When candidates promise a pie in the sky, ask them how!