Rep. Hall: House Democrat Budget would hurt the middle class and working poor

HARTFORD- State Rep. Carol Hall (R-59) this week voiced criticism of a House Democrat budget proposal that will raise taxes, increase spending, and slash critical funding to the towns of East Windsor and Enfield.

The Democratic proposal released Wednesday calls for $2 billion in new revenue over two years while reducing municipal aid to nearly every town in the state. Enfield and East Windsor combined would lose more than $3 million in state aid.

“These drastic cuts coupled with a $1 billion tax hike will be a double whammy to taxpayers,” Rep. Hall said, “The House Democrats took months to come up with a proposal and chose to ignore the structural changes Republicans have been asking for. We provided Democrats with a solid budget blueprint that would have protected municipal and educational funding without tax increases. Democrat leaders should know their past historic tax increases haven’t worked and continuing to be blind to this fact will only cause more people to pack their bags for tax friendly states.”

The plan from House Democrats contains tax hikes that would hurt the middle class and working poor, including an increase to the state’s sales tax. Also included is a hike on non-prescription drugs and digital downloads, and massive increases to Department of Motor Vehicles fees. Majority Democrats also proposed a restaurant tax.

No date has been set for a budget vote, but House Democrat leaders have indicated a budget vote could take place during the week of September 11. If Democrats fail to pass a budget by October 1st, the governor would be able cut millions in education funding to 85 towns.

Hall and Republicans issued four no-tax-increase budgets during the legislative session, an effort that gained praise from the press while stirring the possibility of support from moderate Democrats.

“These drastic cuts proposed this week are a direct result of majority party leadership failing to take action during the session,” Hall said. “Here we are, more than 50 days into the fiscal year—we’re operating without a budget and the legislature’s options are growing fewer by the day.”

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