HARTFORD—State Rep. Rob Sampson 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, Sampson applauded Malloy’s efforts in producing a balanced budget that does not borrow to cover operating expenses. Sampson, 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.
“While most elected officials are looking for ways to reduce spending and work with less, we have a governor that actually plans to increase spending,” Sampson said. “Given the size of the state’s deficit, it is alarming that our governor would allow government spending to increase.”
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.
“I ran on the platform that government has grown too large and that more taxes would further Connecticut’s reputation of being a place that’s tough to conduct business,” Sampson said. “I think the road we’re heading down now could make our economy worse, and maybe cost us more jobs.”
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, Sampson said.
“Despite the governor’s claims of ‘shared sacrifice,’ his budget reflects a contradictory vision as it calls for sweeping tax increases without appropriate cuts in government spending,” he said. “It is not reasonable to implement more taxes on our citizens when the government is not sharing the burden.”
Everyone knew Gov. Malloy is a tax and spend liberal. No one
should be surprised with his budget. But the idiots voted him
in. What are people thinking when they vote?