April 30, 2015

Reps. Rutigliano, Devlin Commend Responsible ‘Blueprint for Prosperity’

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HARTFORD –A balanced state budget plan, Blueprint for Prosperity, which would restore vital social service programs for the neediest, reform taxes, and institute major government reforms saving taxpayers millions, was hailed today by Trumbull legislators, State Reps. David Rutigliano (R-123) and Laura Devlin (R-134).

The Blueprint for Prosperity proposal wiould benefit multiple socioeconomic interests: taxpayers, consumers, the developmentally disabled, businesses, non-profits, municipalities and hospitals.

Details from the state budget proposal include:

Recommends funding under DDS for community programs for high-school graduates
Appropriates an additional $15 million to help alleviate DDS wait list for services for intellectually disabled
Restoring Medicaid Husky A to approximately 12,100 people including all pregnant women currently covered and those at lower end of the income spectrum
Restores funding for safety net services
Restores $18.7 million in mental health and substance abuse funding including Regional Action Councils
Funds a private provider COLA to benefit nursing homes, care facilities and nonprofit social services providers
Funds 47 neighborhood youth centers
Fully funds a $67 billion transportation improvement initiative over the next 30 years and protects the Special Transportation Fund
Fully restores the honor guard for military funerals

“Our budget is honest and balanced. We have started working on a new foundation to correct overspending and over taxation. We want the governor to live up to his promises of savings in exchange for the largest tax increase in our state’s history. We plan to fully fund some core functions of government, by taking care of those most in need, including mental health and addiction services. We will phase out income tax on pensions, restore support for seniors, and restore funding for libraries. And by eliminating corporate surcharge, and the business entity tax, our businesses in Trumbull and our local economy will benefit,” said Rep. Rutigliano.

“These are all steps necessary in restoring trust with our residents, and balancing our budget so that future generations will not have to do our work for us,” he said.

The Blueprint for Prosperity goal is to stop kicking the can down the road and begin to reform state government to set Connecticut on a better path for smarter spending today and in the future.

In addition to restoration of Governor Malloy’s draconian budget cuts, the Republican lawmakers’ plan provides much needed tax relief. The Blueprint for Prosperity calls for restoring the exemption on clothing and shoes under $50 starting June 1, 2016 and restoring full tax freedom week. Additional the plan phases out the income tax on pension income under $100,000 and eliminates governor’s proposed income tax hike on single filers beginning in income year 2017.

“This proposal shows there is a better way forward for Connecticut that doesn’t strip needed services from the state’s most vulnerable or rely on a continued policy of raising taxes on residents and businesses. It’s time to take a new path and once again help Connecticut be a great state in which to live and raise a family, work and retire. With the Blueprint, we can get there!,” said Rep. Devlin

The budget savings from the Blueprint for Prosperity is achieved by requiring Governor Malloy to fulfill his 2011 ‘shared sacrifice’ promise and find a way to reach $253 million in unmet savings. Republicans recommend Governor Malloy institute an additional wage freeze in the first year of the biennium, increase contributions to pension system for current state employees; increase copays for healthcare, including prescription drugs, and eliminates existence of longevity payments.