House Democrats Reject Balanced, “No Tax Increase” Budget Plan

HARTFORD — House Democrats had their chance Wednesday but they passed on it. They had an opportunity to give residents a break, to give businesses a little breathing room. Instead, they took the easy way out — for them, at least. They rejected a balanced budget proposal introduced by House Republicans on Wednesday, a plan that wouldn’t increase your taxes. Republicans commented today on Democrat inaction. Democrats stalled in favor of what, you ask? At this point, who knows? Perhaps their leadership holds hope of resurrecting internal support — many of the majority’s members are against it — for their tax-heavy proposal that would have government raid the pockets of every constituency in Connecticut. Businesses, for one, would pay a heavy price under their plan, which would levy a corporate tax hefty enough to force companies south of the Mason-Dixon line. Republicans, though, stuck to their guns Wednesday and forced their previously-ignored plan to the House floor by craftily tacking it to an education-related bill. Rep. Craig Miner, of Litchfield, laid out the one budget proposal issued so far that residents can afford. Predictably, House Majority Leader Denise Merrill snuffed what could be Connecticut’s best shot at getting a spending plan that doesn’t break our banks. Watch the video: