HARTFORD –Quinnipiac University has released a new “Q Poll” this morning, showing that the House Republican “No Tax Increase’’ budget is overwhelmingly favored by state residents compared to either Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s proposal or the Democrats’ tax and spending plan.
“Connecticut residents are not fooled by the Democrats’ budget shell game,” said Representative Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford). “Their claim that they are cutting taxes for 90% of residents is transparent to taxpayers, who realize that they are increasing spending over $2 billion and increasing sales and service taxes to make up what they lose on the income tax.”
The Republican “No Tax Increase” budget drew the most support among respondents with 41 percent saying they favored it. The Democratic proposal to increase spending by a whopping $2.1 billion received only 33 percent of those who responded, and the Governor’s across-the-board tax increase of 10 percent to pay for her education plan was supported by just 16 percent of respondents.
The poll also confirms what Republicans have said – Connecticut residents do not support the Democrats’ plan to increase taxes on everything from clothing, to Internet sales and the price of a funeral.
Candelora noted that according to the Tax Foundation, Tax Freedom Day, the day taxpayers stop paying their taxes and begin to keep what they earn, is May 20th this year in Connecticut; the latest of all states. This means on average, Connecticut residents work 140 days out of the year just to meet their tax burden.
“I find this Q Poll very encouraging,” said Candelora. “I have every faith that this data will help as we go into negotiations with the Governor and legislative Democrats to craft a final budget product.”
