HARTFORD – State Representative Stephen Harding and area lawmakers hosted a Tolls Informational Forum on Monday in Danbury to talk to residents about the negative impacts tolls will have on Connecticut and an alternative transportation funding plan that doesn’t require tolls.

Rep. Harding said, “Tolls will have a damaging impact on the economy in Connecticut and especially in the greater Danbury region. We need to stop asking residents and businesses to pay more and start prioritizing where we are spending money.”

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HARTFORD – State Representative Stephen Harding on Wednesday voted against a union deal to increase the pay and give bonuses to lawyers at the state Attorney General’s Office.

The two-year pay deal for lawyers working for the Attorney General’s Office will cost taxpayers $5 million. This includes stipends for department heads in the amount of $6,000 in the first year and $12,000 in the second year.

“When we are facing a $3 billion dollar deficit and the governor has proposed cutting funding to local education and critical services, I question where the legislature’s priorities lie,” said Rep. Harding. “We need to be far better stewards of money from the hard-working taxpayers of this state.”

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Dear Neighbors,

Tomorrow, Friday, March 15th, Governor Ned Lamont’s budget proposal will be in front of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee. As you may know, the governor is looking to increase revenues by implementing 53 tolls throughout the state and expanding the sales tax to include new items and services.

Here are just a couple of services and items that will now fall under the sales tax:

– Legal services
– Accounting services
– Real estate activities and agents/brokers
– Veterinary services
– Barber shops and beauty salons
– Sports/recreation instruction and industries
– Renovation and repair of residential property
– Non-prescription drugs
– Bicycle helmets
– Child car seats
– Vegetable seeds
– Safety apparel

The governor’s budget proposal also looks to eliminate the following:

-The sales tax-free week
-The increased exemption for social security income
-The exemption for pension and annuity income

For the full list click here.

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