Dubitsky Votes NO on State Budget
HARTFORD – State Representative Doug Dubitsky (R-Chaplin) voted Wednesday morning against the Democrats irresponsible, tax and spend budget package. The Democrats’ budget increases spending by $784.5 million in the next year and increases taxes by $1.5 billion over the next two years. These tax increases will hit the middle class the hardest, costing families $136.8 million in 2016, increasing to $142.6 million in 2017.
He pointed out that taxes aimed at businesses and families will only serve to hurt the middle class as well, as companies like General Electric and Aetna. They, along with Travelers, issued statements Monday warning that they may relocate to friendlier states if the Democrats’ mandatory combined reporting scheme is established or if the surcharge on the Corporation Income Tax is extended.
The Republicans proposed numerous amendments, all of which the Democrats flatly rejected. These included eliminating the corporate entity tax, establishing a defined contribution pension plan for future state employees, eliminating the mandatory combined tax reporting imposed under the Democrats’ budget, and eliminating the Democrats’ new tax on computer and data processing services.
“To be blunt, the Democrats’ budget stinks, and they know it. It will hurt families and businesses in this state for years to come. If this state maintains this toxic business climate, we will never be able to recover lost jobs or build the state back up,” Rep. Dubitsky said. “This budget package will do nothing to improve our state’s struggling economy, and will simply force more businesses and families to flee to other states. The Democrats who voted for this financial debacle will have to face their constituents and explain why they imposed such an irresponsible budget on the people of this state.”
The Democrats’ budget passed the House without a single Republican vote and with 11 Democrats voting in opposition. The final budget package will now be sent to the Senate for a vote in that chamber.