Join us for live updates during this hour of Where We Live with our guest, Tom Foley, who is exploring a run for governor. Foley made some recent public statements accusing Governor Dannel Malloy and others in his administration, past and present, of what he termed "improper behavior." The accusations were refuted by the Malloy administration as "factually incorrect."
10:00 am - And that's a wrap. Thanks for following. If you have more questions or comments, add them below, tweet us at @wherewelive or drop us a line on Facebook or at wherewelive@wnpr.org.
9:57 am - Foley indicates that Malloy won the governor election due to a type of voter fraud not revealed in recounts - intimidation at the polls, and voters recruited and instructed on how to vote. "It's not counted in an election," he says. "The person who wins is a legitimate winner." But without the fraud, "it might have made a difference" for Foley.
9:55 am - Caller Steve, who voted for Foley in the past, asks how we're going to solve school funding challenges in the state. Foley responds saying curriculum standards for teachers are too rigid and they aren't getting the support they need. "I'm in favor of rewards and incentives for our best teachers," he says.
9:50 am - "I said I plan to qualify," says Foley on public campaign financing. "I didn't say I was going to take the money." The law changed, increasing funding available and restricting funds candidates can raise traditionally. "It's impossible to win" unless you take public financing, or write your own big check, he says. "I'm damned if I do, and I'm damned if I don't."
9:46 am - Foley returns to a platform for a moment talking about his focus on bringing businesses back to the state, and keeping them here. He wants to hold spending flat and thinks our budget problem is easily solvable. "There's no urban policy in Connecticut," he adds, citing problems in our cities. "I'm for a good economy where everyone is getting a fair deal, where businesses want to stay and invest, where everyone who wants a job can find one," and where the schools are great.
9:44 am - Caller Hashim says what matters to voters is the issues, not these accusations about ethical standards in Malloy's record.
9:41 am - Foley believes three of his allegations have already been proven correct, and on the fourth, we simply haven't heard a Malloy administration denial. "I wouldn't be doing trash talk from my party chair who reports to me," says Foley. As governor, he would publicly deny the allegation.
9:40 am - Rowland's guilt was "not proven," says Foley, because there was never a trial, in spite of Rowland having pleaded guilty.
9:38 am - Esty appears to be qualified for his job, says Foley, and he hasn't said the job was a payback. But if Esty was paying the governor and was then appointed commissioner, it leaves "an opening" that this could have been a payoff. "It leaves an impression of an ethical breach. That should be this governor's standard," he says. Too many people in the administration are "cashing in" on the relationship.
9:35 am - "I have confidence in my sources. There's something there," says Foley about his allegation that DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty funneled cash to Governor Dannel Malloy. He continues, "A good leader gets right out there and says 'this is absolutely not true,' and provides proof. He hasn't even denied it. 'I wasn't employed by Dan Esty,' is all he's said."
9:32 am - Foley asserts that all records related to his past arrests have been released.
9:30 am - Host John Dankosky presses Foley on how political favors Foley enjoyed are any different from what's happened in Malloy's administration. Foley says, "John, don't go there, it's too cynical. The ethical standards in the private sector, in a good law firm, are much higher than in government. Those are the standards I would apply. Anything less than that erodes public confidence."
9:26 am - Caller Jack thinks Foley is being a bit hypocritical when it comes to political favors... jobs through the Bush Administration in Ireland and Iraq. "It's not a misuse of funds," Foley says. He is focusing instead on what he sees as Malloy's impropriety.
9:23 am - Foley thinks the journalistic standard is basically what he held to... two reliable sources. Allegations against former Governor Rowland were at about the same standard of reliability, he says.
9:21 am - One party controls the state, Foley says, so he needed to come out strong with his views. "It struck a nerve, for sure," he says. He's a strong proponent of good government. "The impression is out there that practices and ethical standards ...are not high enough. Business is being sent to friends; people are cashing in after leaving the administration after a year or so. A strong leader doesn't allow that to happen."
9:20 am - Foley says he's concerned about the direction of the state, and that's why he's running for governor. "We have the lowest economic growth of any state in the country," he says.
9:16 am - We're glad to have Foley join us in studio. We're taking a quick break to get him set up.
9:15 am - Caller Ken wants to know if Foley supports the new state health care exchange, and about his theory of education. Should we be creating workers, or creating citizens? Also, Ken thinks Foley should disclose his papers about what he did in Iraq.
9:09 am - Foley is running a bit late. He'll be in studio soon. In the meantime, we're reflecting on some of the statements Foley has made recently. If you have comments or questions, call us at 860-275-7266, or leave a note below. You can also tweet us at @wherewelive.
