Rachel Khanna has been quick to claim credit for a range of achievements that she played little to no role in. In her statements, she touts her involvement in Connecticut’s fiscal success, such as “adhering to fiscal guardrails,” which she notes is currently saving taxpayers nearly $700 million per year. However, these fiscal guardrails were enacted in 2017 through the hard work of legislators like Scott Frantz and his colleagues, not by Khanna, who wasn’t even in office at the time.
Khanna also claims responsibility for delivering the “largest income tax cut in Connecticut’s history,” passing a “balanced budget,” and bringing home “$100 million for her district.” While she may have cast votes, the fiscal health that allowed these measures to pass is a direct result of the structural reforms made by previous legislators, not her recent contributions.
Additionally, she emphasizes her support for the rainy day fund and the reduction of the state’s pension debt—work that was critical in restoring Connecticut’s financial stability. Again, these initiatives were established long before Khanna took office, and the difficult decisions were made by others who put the state back on track.
Khanna’s tenure, while recent, benefits from the groundwork laid by previous leaders. Her failure to acknowledge their efforts diminishes the legacy of those who did the hard work to ensure Connecticut’s fiscal recovery. She would do well to give credit where it’s due instead of taking credit for reforms she did not initiate.
Laura Boutelle
