June 23, 2015

Piscopo: Stop the Tax Hike

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The budget that was passed by a majority of Democrats earlier this month raises taxes by $1.5 billion. It does not give the middle class tax relief as they report. In fact, it does the following:

REPEALS the scheduled sales tax exemption on your purchase of clothing and footwear under $50, and adds a $280 million tax hike on children’s clothing and other family necessities.
DELAYS a scheduled increase in personal exemption for single filers.
REDUCES your Property Tax Credit from $300 to $200 which is primarily used by those earning under $75,000.
RAISES your health care costs by increasing taxes on hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers.

Their tax hikes are aimed directly at the middle class, and place into jeopardy the future of major businesses and community hospitals that employ thousands of residents statewide. Only four short years ago, the taxpayers of Connecticut were promised that the largest tax increase in state history would solve our budget problems and put Connecticut on the path to prosperity. If the governor signs this budget, it would be the second largest tax increase in Connecticut’s history and would still leave the state with a projected budget deficit in the next two years of $1 billion.

The legislature will likely go into a Special Session on June 29 and June 30 to take up bills to implement the budget. Bowing to pressure from residents and the business community, Governor Malloy has indicated he wants to revisit the level of tax increases to which he initially agreed.

Now is the time to keep up the pressure. You can continue to make a difference. Republicans, who represent 42% of state residents, have been shut out of the budget negotiation process. This means that approximately 1.4 million voices of the people of Connecticut are not being represented. Since they won’t listen to us, maybe they will listen to you!

Before the vote on the revised budget takes place call the governor and Democratic leaders to let them know you’ve had enough of their tax increases.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy – (860) 566-4840
Governor.Malloy@ct.gov

House Speaker Brendan Sharkey – (860) 240-8500
Brendan.Sharkey@cga.ct.gov

Senate President Martin Looney – (860) 240-8600
Martin.Looney@cga.ct.gov