Rowland is strategically hiding his anti-worker, anti-women and children, and anti-environment record

People's Weekly World, 10 October 1998

NEW HAVEN - When John Rowland became the youngest member of Congress in 1984, he was held up as the Republican right-wing's shining light for the future. Today, as Governor of Connecticut, Rowland is strategically hiding his anti-worker, anti-women and children, and anti-environment record to win reelection.

He is making promises to everyone and delivering tax rebates from a surplus that was actually borrowed money from state bonds. This demagogic wolf in sheep's clothing campaign, only weakly challenged by Democratic candidate Barbara Kennelly, has put Rowland far ahead in the polls.

The campaign to defeat Rowland is part and parcel of the national crusade to stop the vicious attempt by the Republican Party to destroy the rights of working-class families, and take over government on behalf of global corporations.

Rowland's ties to the Republican right wing must be exposed for the labor movement and its allies to deliver an election-day upset. Labor 98 is registering thousands of voters before the Oct. 20 deadline. A huge turnout at the polls could stop the Rowland landslide.

John Rowland is a tool of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association. CBIA is boldly campaigning for his reelection so it can win more takeaways from workers.

While the Republicans take credit for a strong economy in Connecticut, the reality is grim for a majority of working-class families, especially in African American, Latino and rural communities of the state.

Connecticut has the fastest growing gap between the rich and everyone else. In the last seven years, household income went down 7.8 percent and child poverty increased 50 percent. New jobs pay one-third to one-half less than the massive number of jobs lost. A minimum-wage worker would be forced to work 113 hours a week to afford the average two-bedroom apartment.

At the same time, corporate CEOs, who eliminate large numbers of jobs, have been rewarded with incomes in the millions of dollars. If the richest 10 percent in the state were taxed at 1973 state and federal levels, it would be possible to eliminate all taxes on incomes under $100,000 and still have an increase in the state budget to provide for people's needs.