Rep. Aman: Many questions, concerns with majority’s budget

Massive Democratic tax increases – $3.3 billion in property, income, business and sales taxes – will likely destroy jobs, drive more residents from Connecticut and worsen the state’s recession, legislative Republicans said today.

The proposed Democratic tax and spending plan crafted in secret behind closed doors hits taxpayers the hardest and makes no attempt to reduce the size of state government at a time when families are cutting their household budgets. Taxes would be raised by $3.3 billion over two years. Someone earning $132,500 per year for instance, would be hit with a 20-percent tax hike.

“This budget proposal does not address in any detail the largest expenditure of most government budgets – labor costs. It is my understanding that the Governor is in talks with union leadership, and it is my hope that those talks will prove to be fruitful,” said Rep. Aman. “This budget is more of a starting point than anything, and it is clear that this proposal needs a lot of work moving forward.”

“This Democratic budget is not only a millionaires’ tax,” said Rep. Aman. “Under this budget, almost every person in South Windsor will have their income tax increased because of the reduction and elimination of the property tax credit. A single person earning $35,000 per year would have an income tax increase of 63 percent, or $450 per year. A 63 percent increase for people who are already struggling to make ends meet is unconscionable.”

The Democratic budget spends more than Gov. Rell’s proposal and includes questionable savings that may never actually be achieved, Rep. Aman said. Even more concerning is the portion of the budget that will bond state operating expenses. That’s akin to paying for your groceries with your charge card in the hope that you will be able to pay it back at some point in the future, said Rep. Aman.

The Democratic budget highlights include:
• Tax increases on profitable corporations that employ thousands;
• A 20-percent income tax hike starting at $132,500 and tax hikes on higher brackets;
• Broadening the state sales tax;
• Elimination of some property tax exemptions for middle income families;
• No consolidation of governmental agencies to reduce costs as Gov. Rell and Republicans proposed.

The Democrats’ budget is expected to be voted on by the General Assembly sometime in the near future, perhaps as soon as April 7.

State Rep. Bill Aman represents South Windsor in the General Assembly.