The Shuster Project

Tobacco Industry Fraud & False Claims Issues

Click HERE To Read Our Letter Sent to Senator Kerry's Presidential Campaign

This response from Gov. Rowland comes about from one of "The Shuster Project's" Petitions that circulated on the E-The People.com web site.

Incredulously, this terse correspondence is merely a continuation of Gov. Rowland's attempts to avoid addressing the issue of tobacco industry fraud and false claims crimes in CT.

What's unbelieveably more astonishing is that this Governor does not see any relevance in his office being provided the specific details of $300+ MILLION DOLLARS in combined CT state income tax revenues and CT state sales tax revenues being defrauded by on-going tobacco industry fraud and false claims crimes, CT's current $500+ MILLION DOLLAR state budget deficit and the need for his office to call upon the legislature for an investigation into the defrauded CT state tax revenues and then to call upon the legislature to recover these defrauded CT state tax revenues for the purpose of REDUCING THE CURRENT CT STATE BUDGET DEFICIT by this same $300+ MILLION DOLLARS IN DEFRAUDED CT STATE TAX REVENUES.

The day after "The Shuster Project" received this odd correspondence, this Governor announced a reduction, by $68 MILLION DOLLARS, of funding to CT's cities and towns of a variety of state funding that is going to affect everything from school children to the elderly and the infirm/sick/disabled.

If you do that math and realize that there is over FOUR TIMES the value of these just-announced state budget cuts in UNRECOVERED CT STATE TAX REVENUES that continue to be DEFRAUDED BY ON-GOING TOBACCO INDUSTRY FRAUD AND FALSE CLAIMS CRIMES, how can Governor Rowland say THERE IS NO RELEVANCE in his knowing of this huge sum of defrauded CT state tax revenues, not taking the appropriate measures to recover that sum but the very next day announce what amounts to a transfer of the state budget deficit to the already-cash-strapped cities and towns across CT and their already-tax-weary taxpayers.

I swear to God I can't MAKE it any CLEARER than THAT.

YOU read the letter, below, that "The Shuster Project" received from the Governor's Office and see if it doesn't get YOU somewhat angry and exasperated ...

Then, check the "CORRESPONDENCE 2002" Page for our response to the following nonsense, below ...

November 26, 2002

Mr. Robert Shuster

177 Andrew Avenue

Rshus177@aol.com

Naugatuck, CT 06770-4359

Dear Mr. Shuster:

Thank you for taking the time and writing your letter to Governor Rowland regarding your request to initiate a fraud investigation on the tobacco industry. He appreciates when citizens express their feelings of support and concern to him. He has also asked that I respond to you on his behalf.

After reviewing your letter, I have realized that the issue you have expressed does not fall under the purview of the Executive Branch of the state government. Your issue concerns a Legislative matter, and thus the Governor has no legal jurisdiction. Please contact your local Legislative member and express your feelings regarding this important issue.

Thank you once again for taking the time in contacting the Governor and expressing your feelings regarding this matter.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Underwood
Staff Assistant
Constituent Services
Office of the Governor

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