Cafero, Rell Ready to Fight for Connecticut Residents on Tax Increases

by: Maximum Lawman Thursday, May 28th, 2009

HARTFORD–Rep. Larry Cafero believes the legislature can reach the goal he and his Republican colleagues have talked about for weeks: Adopting a budget that doesn’t increase taxes on residents and business when they just can’t afford it.

Cafero, leader of the legislature’s House Republican caucus, was joined by Gov. M. Jodi Rell today in an afternoon news conference that delivered that urgent message to Democrat lawmakers who have dragged their feet as Connecticut falls deeper into a deep cleft of red ink.

The two Republican heavyweights, joined by Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, announced more proposed budget reductions that build on the innovative “No Tax Increase” budget previously released by House and Senate Republicans. That plan generated significant buzz among municipal leaders, many of whom pleaded for the legislature to pass a budget so they could build their spending plans.

Those please have fallen on deaf ears, as Democratic leadership has done nothing but accuse Rell of cooking up phony budget numbers. They’ve ignored the House and Senate “no tax” plan altogether.

Taking the tone that Cafero and McKinney have used for weeks, Rell told a gaggle of reporters that she isn’t looking for a budget fight with Democrats but is prepared to drop her gloves if it means protecting taxpayers from financial dished out by their government.

After all, Democrats have proposed historic tax increases–including eliminating the property tax credit used by so many middle class Connecticut families.

“We stand united to offer a better alternative to raising taxes to cover the projected deficit. Businesses struggling to stay open and families and workers trying to meet their own monthly budgets cannot afford higher taxes,’’ Cafero said.

Budget plans discussed Thursday include:

• Flat funding for schools;
• Keno gambling in various locations that will add hundreds of millions in new revenue;
• $10 million to subsidize state dairy farms
• Flat funding for schools;
• Additional consolidations of state agencies;
• Closes state offices that duplicate work already being done in other agencies

“We have believed from the outset that the spending levels were too high and could not be supported by declining revenues. We have offered Connecticut a choice – a choice between more taxes or less spending,’’ Cafero said.

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One Response to “Cafero, Rell Ready to Fight for Connecticut Residents on Tax Increases”

PatricK Stein Said:  Vote: Add rating 1  Subtract rating 0  

Question? Why would Governor Rell change her retirement package to state workers @ only 55+ and not STREAMLINE GOVERMENT by offering 3 yr chips to 52 - 54? This has been done before in 1989,1991,1997, & 2003? ANOTHER 1500 or more workers will go! Don’t hire them back and save Millions!!

” IT is Time for the Legislators to add the ERIP and weed out another 1500 state Employees and save the State.

E-MAIL THE GOVERNOR and/or your STATE REPRESENTITIVE ask to OPEN UP THE ERIP AND SAVE CONN. during this economic crisis.

Connecticut employee’s have given a very large amount of give backs ,thus doing there part in this crisis. BUT will it be enough? Will enough be saved by the RIP?

Come July 1 st open the ERIP to 52-54 year old State employee’s.

Comment made on May 29th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
 

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