HARTFORD—State Rep. John Rigby is opposed to the multitude of middle class tax hikes and $900 million in more government spending included in Gov. Dannel Malloy’s proposed budget. Touting a message of “shared sacrifice,” Malloy delivered his address to the legislature Wednesday afternoon in the House chamber filled with state representatives and state senators. Reacting to the proposal Thursday, Rigby applauded Malloy’s efforts in producing a balanced budget that does not borrow to cover operating expenses. Rigby, though, took issue with the governor’s spending plan. According to Malloy’s own budget, total current spending would increase from $19.3 billion to $19.7 billion in the first year of his budget and to $20.2 billion in the second.
That’s roughly $900 million more in government spending over a two year period.
“In these difficult economic times, most states are making efforts to reduce costs and unnecessary expenditures. Our governor is proposing the opposite, with potential increases in government spending and massive tax hikes,” Rigby said. “This budget is out of touch with the times.”
Malloy’s budget includes $1.5 billion in tax increases in the first year, from income and sales tax increases to a hike in the gas tax and increased levies on products and services used routinely by middle class residents—including clothing, alcoholic beverages and pet grooming services.
The controversial plan would also strip middle class families of the $500 property tax credit that’s so important to their budgets, particularly during these tough financial times, Rigby said.
“The governor has spoken repeatedly about cuts and ‘shared sacrifice,’ yet the sacrifice is not shared in his budget,” he said. “The budget calls for taxpayer sacrifice but does not offer a proportionate amount of government spending cuts. It is not reasonable to expect my constituents to pay more taxes when the government is not doing its part in reducing spending.”
