April 28, 2017

Hall, Stokes Praise No Tax Increase Budget Proposal

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HARTFORD – State Representatives Carol Hall (R-59) and Greg Stokes (R-58), alongside their Republican colleagues in the House and Senate, unveiled a comprehensive budget proposal that does not raise taxes in the state.

The House and Senate Republican Caucuses recently outlined a comprehensive budget proposal that focuses on creating structural changes that will not only re-establish Connecticut on a sustainable path, but does so without the tax increases deemed inevitable by the majority party and the Governor. The Republican proposed budget erases a $3 billion deficit and restores a balanced budget.

“Connecticut residents and job creators have suffered the two largest tax increases in state history in just the last 6 years,” said Rep. Hall. “Now, we are still facing a $3 billion deficit and in a fiscal crisis. Connecticut can no longer afford this tax and spend mentality. We have drafted a plan that will not only balance the current budget deficit, but will do so while increasing school funding – without raising taxes, or shift teacher pension responsibilities to towns.”

Highlights of the Republican plan include:

$313 million less spending than the Governor’s proposed budget
Does not shift teachers’ pension responsibilities to towns
Creates a new Education Cost Sharing formula that adds predictability for communities
Restores a property tax credit for seniors and families
Institutes a constitutional spending cap
Does not implement tolls in Connecticut

“Unlike what we saw in the Governor’s and the Democrats’ budgets, Enfield would experience an increase in state aid under our Republican budget proposal,” added Rep. Stokes. “Our community should not be punished to simply balance the budget after poor policy decisions have crippled our state’s economy. The majority party’s spending policies have spiraled out of control for decades, and their way of doing things isn’t working – it’s time for a new approach. Our plan is exactly that – a new, structurally sound, approach.”

House and Senate Republicans asked the Democrat chairs on the Appropriations Committee to call a meeting on Thursday to take a vote on the Republican budget plan, but the Democrat leadership refused to call the meeting.