April 27, 2015

McGorty Joins Republicans in Unveiling No Tax Increase Budget Proposal

This article was archived from the previous WordPress site. Formatting and media should be close, but may not match the original post perfectly.

State Representative Ben McGorty (R-122) joined House and Senate Republicans today as they offered their plan, a Blueprint for Prosperity, which accomplishes what the governor could not: it does not increase taxes, is balanced, under the spending cap, restores funds to state hospitals and vital social service programs for the neediest, while instituting government reforms to save hundreds of millions in the coming two years.

The Republican proposal will benefit multiple socioeconomic interests: taxpayers, consumers, the developmentally disabled, businesses, non-profits, municipalities and hospitals.

“We have taken important and responsible steps in changing the direction of state government’s priorities,” said Rep. McGorty. “In addition to restoring many of the cuts to important state services, we have also eliminated the state’s income tax on Social Security, something that has been an increasing burden on seniors wishing to remain in the state once they retire.”

McGorty said Republican leaders agree with Democrat leaders that the governor’s budget proposal is a non-starter. The Blueprint for Prosperity provides a biennial budget plan for Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 and outlines a series of long-term initiatives to set Connecticut on a better path for smarter spending today and in the future. Republicans outlined major points in their proposal at a press conference today at the Legislative Office Building.

The balanced $39.49 billion biennial budget alternative calls for $630 million in wage freezes and other concessions from state employees including restrictions on overtime costs. It also caps borrowing.

The GOP budget proposal also:

Eliminates cap on business tax credits
Eliminates the corporate tax surcharge in FY 2017
Restores the tax exemption on clothing and footwear under $50 starting June 1, 2016
Restores Medicaid Husky A to 12,100 individuals
Restores funding to the Regional Fire Training schools
Restores funding for Connecticut’s libraries
Restores funding for nutrition assistance
Restores burial benefits for indigent individuals
Reduces debt service by instituting a bond allocation cap
Increases contributions to pension plans from state employees

For more details on the Blueprint for Prosperity visit: cthousegop.com/blueprint