Local Republican State Legislators Critical of Governor's Proposed Budget

Representatives Lawrence Miller (R-122) and Laura Hoydick (R-120) this week expressed concern about the levels of taxing and increased spending in Governor Dannel Malloy’s proposed budget, and said it set the wrong priorities for the state while wasting an opportunity to fundamentally restructure state government and make government live within its means.

Both legislators said the governor’s proposal spends $900 million more than is being spent in the current year, according to Malloy’s own budget director Ben Barnes. The budget increases income and sales taxes by $1.5 billion squarely on the middle class who are already squeezed in this economic crisis. 

“We’ve heard a lot about ‘shared sacrifice’ and the notion of fundamentally restructuring government from this new administration,” said Representative Miller.  “But apparently Governor Malloy has made token changes to state government reducing the state workforce a mere 0.3%, raising taxes on everyone and everything, to pay for a spending increase of nearly $1 billion more on government in the next biennium.  This isn’t the direction Connecticut should be headed.” 

“Raising taxes in almost every conceivable way is not only poor policy that hits the middle class hardest, but it makes Connecticut an even more difficult environment to create jobs and grow business,” said Representative Hoydick.  “The administration is turning to Connecticut residents and asking them to pay more, and at the same time we aren’t making any real changes to the way state government operates.  It’s a real missed opportunity.”

Miller and Hoydick noted that while neighboring states are making the tough decisions and cutting the size and scope of state government they are doing so without calling for higher taxes.

“Other nearby states are asking government to do more with less and sparing the taxpayer,” said Representative Hoydick.  “Here in Connecticut it looks as though we will be asking the taxpayer to do more with less so we can spare the government.” 

“The last thing Connecticut residents need are tax increases,” said Representative Miller.  “Under this budget Connecticut will seal its reputation as being a terrible place to start a business and a nearly impossible one to maintain one.  Instead of supporting the taxpayer with government sacrifices this administration wants to support government with further taxpayer sacrifices.”

Both legislators did praise the governor for seeking concessions from unions in the amount of $1 billion and his effort to get more rescission authority, as well as the fact that the budget does not cut aid to municipalities which could result in greater property tax increases.