Rep. Piscopo: Mind the Cap

In 1991, Connecticut enacted the Constitutional Spending Cap as part of a compromise made to appease anger over the enactment of the state income tax.  Supported by 80% of Connecticut voters, its intent was to help slow future spending given the state’s access to the new revenue source.  The Spending Cap represents the ceiling or maximum amount of the general budget that is allowed to be spent in a given fiscal year.

Despite the cap, state spending has increased 153%, greatly outpacing population growth, median income and the gross state product.

Earlier this year Gov. Malloy pushed to change the rules by moving certain expenditures outlined in his budget proposal outside of the cap in order to accommodate a nearly 10% spending increase in his proposed budget.  The majority Democrats later released their budget plan to ignore the spending cap altogether through an accounting gimmick tied to federal funding.

This outrageous proposed increase in spending by the majority party and the Governor would exceed the capped limit as defined in our state Constitution.  It is time for state government to live within its means and by its law.

Send a message to Gov. Dannel Malloy and the Democrats who hold majorities in the legislature.   Let them know you want to see a reduction in government spending, not a change in the rules that limit it.  Tell them to “Mind the Cap”: http://cthousegop.com/mind-the-cap-contact/

For more information on this issue, click here:
http://cthousegop.com/mindthecap/