Posted on January 30, 2018
Each year, the state’s non-partisan Office of Legislative Research (OLR) distributes its report on major issues the General Assembly may encounter during session. You can view or download the report by clicking here. Topics I believe must be among our major priorities include:
The State Budget – It is critical to get our state spending and borrowing under control. We instituted important reforms in 2017 and must see them through, despite already facing more than a $255 million deficit for 2018, which is projected to grow to $5 billion in coming years.
Transportation Funding – For years, Gov. Malloy, his predecessors and majority legislators have been raiding the Special Transportation Fund. Now, he’s canceling critical repairs and infrastructure projects because the fund doesn’t have enough money. It’s true. It’s also a play to manipulate you into another round of tax increases. We expect to hear proposals – which I will fight – to raise revenue with the likes of gas tax increases; DMV fee increases; taxes on your cell phones; restaurant taxes; toll; a mileage tax; retail, recreational marijuana sales; and more. You may believe some of these concepts are worthy of discussion and, they may be. But in total, all-together, it’s an economy-killing strategy that does not fix our wasteful spending. Stay tuned…
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