Rep. Yaccarino Applauds ‘Common Sense’ Proposal to Reduce Spending and Shrink Government

Representative Dave Yaccarino (R-87) joined House and Senate Republicans today and announced his support for the 2011 Republican legislative budget proposals.

The Republican legislative agenda outlined today includes massive state government reorganization and other across-the-board spending cuts to save Connecticut taxpayers billions over the next two years.

“It’s time for the state to start living within its means,” Rep. Yaccarino said. “Families across Connecticut have had to cut back and do with less, state government needs to do the same if we expect to reduce the debt and spur job growth. We must work together, across the aisle, for the good of everyone in our state.”

Other suggestions offered by the Republicans included rolling back spending to previous levels to save as much as $1.6 billion, merging 43 agencies into 11, including combining all Legislative Management agencies into one entity, limiting bonding to 10 percent of state budget, eliminating the 10 percent corporate surcharge and the business entity tax, and providing tax credits to companies that hire off unemployment rolls.

Republicans said that their proposals preserve municipal aid over the next two years but would still save the state $1 billion.

“Businesses create jobs, not the government. As a small business owner I understand the difficulty of keeping the doors open in a tough economy,” Rep. Yaccarino said. “But at the same time I’m concerned the government is spending and borrowing too much money. Cutting back spending and providing tax relief will allow businesses to hire new workers and that benefits everyone.”