By the way, if CT had the ~$17 billion annually since say 2006, you are talking $112 billion over that time period that could have been used to pay down the state debt of ~$99 billion. Does that make a difference? How would Wyoming look if it was in the same return situation as CT and had to deal with $3 billion a year less? I wager it might affect its debt outlook.
"Connecticut has a total state debt of approximately $98,611,650, when calculated by adding the total of outstanding official debt, pension and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) liabilities, Unemployment Trust Fund loans, and FY2013 budget gap.[5] The debt is slightly down from the prior year's total of $99,751,294,000.[6]"
Read more:
Connecticut state budget - Sunshine Review
You might also notice that debt is a bit lower since Malloy took over, just to be fair about it.