Local Legislators Hail Passage of Bipartisan Budget

Urge Gov. Malloy to sign budget into law

Hartford – State Representatives John Piscopo (R-76) and Dave Wilson (R-66), and State Senators Craig Miner (R-30) and Henri Martin (R-31) applauded passage of a bi-partisan budget that avoids new tax increases, preserves core social services, keeps commitments to education, provides stability for municipalities, and rejects Governor Malloy’s proposed shifting of teacher pension costs onto towns and cities.  

The budget passed following a remarkable display of bipartisanship from Democrat Senators Hartley, Doyle and Slossberg, who joined their Republican colleagues to vote of 21-15 in favor of the bill. The document was later taken up by the House of Representatives and, after lengthy debate, was passed by a margin of 77 – 73 early Saturday morning.

“This is a great day for the state of Connecticut and our taxpayers. The budget we passed will provide the protections that residents have been asking for by not implementing any new taxes. It will also protect education and municipal funding, which the governor threatens to cut by executive order on October 1. This budget will stop the problem of annual deficits by changing the way we do business in Connecticut.  I urge folks to call the governor and ask him to sign it,” said Rep. Piscopo.

“This budget, which was passed out of the legislature with the support of both Republicans and Democrats, offers a solution to a failing state and makes the changes necessary to stop the fiscal devastation that is happening.  The governor should sign this budget, which restores the massive funding cuts he has made to towns and cities, and restores critical education funding, which are in danger of massive, detrimental cuts effective on October 1. In addition, this budget does what taxpayers have been asking for- it does not raise new taxes, eliminates social security income tax, and also phases out tax on pension income for middle class. I urge residents to call the governor and ask him to sign this budget,” said Rep. Wilson.

“This bipartisan budget is about priorities. It protects core social services, implements an equitable education funding formula, and avoids huge tax increases that hurt our citizens and businesses. The budget proposed by the Democrats and Governor Malloy would have undoubtedly caused massive local tax increases and quite likely a loss of teaching positions,” said Miner. “Governor Malloy ought to put aside party politics the way a few courageous democrat legislators have and sign this budget. He’s asked the legislature for a budget, and we delivered. It’s his turn,” said Sen. Miner.

“This budget recognizes that Connecticut cannot survive the tax-and-spend policies of the past. The only way we can move forward is to reduce the cost of our bloated state government and prioritize how we spend taxpayer dollars. Our budget funds those priorities: education, municipalities, services for seniors and those with developmental and intellectual disabilities. I believe this is the path we must take to stabilize the state’s economy,” said Sen. Martin.

Highlights of the bi-partisan budget:

•             Eliminates Social Security income tax and phases out tax on pension income for middle class
•             Restores funding for the state’s property tax credit in its entirety to all families and individuals
•             No increase or expansion of the state’s sales tax
•             No income tax increase
•             No new restaurant sales tax
•             No income tax increase
•             No secondary home tax
•             No cell phone tax
•             No increase to the cigarette tax
•             No new tax on nonprescription drugs
•             No new restaurant sales tax
•             No increase to the pistol permit fee
•             No increase to the hotel tax
•             No new fantasy sports tax

The budget moves to Governor Malloy’s desk where it awaits his signature, or sits for 30 days without signature, in order to go into effect.  Should, the governor veto the budget, it would return to the legislature for lawmakers  to either begin the budget process again, or override the veto with a two thirds vote of each chamber.

For more detailed information on the budget proposal, please visit: www.cthousegop.com/budget.

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