🔒Time for Republicans to lead

Republicans have had the luxury — or misfortune — of playing Monday-morning quarterback the last few years as they've thrown mud at Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and his fellow Democrats for passing tax increases and unbalanced budgets.

They've played the role of the annoying little brother whose cries for attention are heard but largely ignored. They've lamented policies adopted by the legislature's Democratic majority, but haven't been able to form a coalition that offers, and adopts, a different approach.

Now, it's time for Republicans to truly show some leadership. Last week Gov. Dannel P. Malloy rightfully called for bipartisan budget talks, asking Democrats and Republicans to come to the table with actionable ideas to shore up Connecticut's short-term budget deficit and put the state on a more stable long-term fiscal footing.

Malloy is playing a high-stakes game of political poker, trying to call the bluff of Republicans and some Democrats who have said publicly they have better ways to close a nearly $220 million budget deficit that has reared its ugly head over the last few months.

Malloy has already ordered $103 million in budget cuts aimed at hospitals and other human services providers, which drew the ire of Republicans and Democrats.

The business community, like Malloy, is eager to see what lawmakers bring to the table and the onus, for a change, should be on Republicans to offer a grand vision for the future. Malloy, whether you disagree or agree with his policies, hasn't shied away from big ideas, whether it's investing billions of dollars in the bioscience industry or calling for a 10-year, $100 billion transportation overhaul.

His strategies, however, have had mixed results. Despite two major tax increases the state budget still continues to face deficits, largely a result of slow economic growth. At the same time, Connecticut's unemployment rate has fallen to 5.2 percent, down from 9.2 percent when Malloy took office in 2011.

Grand visions, of course, don't have to come with billion-dollar pricetags and that is the challenge facing Republicans. They need a strategy that reins in government spending, balances the budget long-term, and also ensures long-term economic growth.

Republicans have offered some ideas. House Minority Leader Themis Klarides (R-Derby), for example, has suggested scaling back Malloy's transportation investments and reining in municipal aid. Republicans have also made calls for labor concessions.

These ideas may be right-minded but they have lacked specifics, turning them into Republican talking points rather than a blueprint for the future that can garner bipartisan support.

What happens, for example, if municipal aid is cut and towns and cities begin to raise property taxes, worsening one of businesses' biggest cost burdens?

Businesses have also called for increased investment in the state's crumbling infrastructure. If we back off further investments in roads, highways, bridges, mass transit, etc., are we setting back our ability to more easily move goods and services around the state? How will that impact our economic competiveness?

These are the types of tough questions Republicans must be able to answer as they bring ideas to the negotiating table in the days and weeks ahead. If Republicans really want to upend one-party rule in Connecticut, they need to play the role of visionary leaders, rather than obstinate rabble rousers.

And, of course, Malloy and his fellow Democrats must give Republicans a fair shot at shaping budgetary policy, because it's state residents who stand to lose the most if Connecticut's fiscal ship doesn't find calmer waters.