A BUDGET FOR THE PEOPLE NOT SPECIAL INTEREST
HARTFORD- State Representative Arthur J. O’Neill joined Republican legislators today in unveiling a “People’s Budget,” a two-year plan to balance Connecticut’s budget without increasing taxes on everyday goods and services such as gasoline, back-to-school clothing, non-prescription drugs and haircuts.
Rep. O’Neill touted the People’s Budget as a document written after listening to voters’ concerns during town hall meetings across the state, stating, “We gathered input from the people that matter most, you the taxpayers. We need to take this opportunity for real fiscal transformation.
“In this budget we finally deal with our state large debt and begin by paying off the highest-interest loans first. This will save our state millions of dollars over the next few years.”
“The People’s budget contains no new taxes and we actually protect individuals from a laundry list of new taxes proposed by Governor Malloy. We have preserved the property tax credit and turned back sales tax increases that would have punished Connecticut families,” added Rep. O’Neill.
The Republican’s budget is a sharp alternative from the controversial budget offered by Governor Dannel Malloy, who proposed the largest tax increase in state history as well as roughly $1 billion more in state spending despite Connecticut’s projected $3.5 billion budget shortfall.
“We attempt to eliminate all the government waste, such as the millions of state dollars spent on union stewards performing non-state duties. Plus, we maintain all municipal funding at current levels with no cuts,” concluded Rep. O’Neill.
Highlights of the Republican Alternative Budget include:
- No new taxes on any business, individual, employer or services or goods.
- The Republican budget cuts spending from Gov. Malloy’s plan by $1.2 billion.
- The budget preserves municipal aid for all towns and cities.
- Enhanced Medicaid fraud detection units will save an estimated $224 million in wrongful payments.
- Republicans plan to save more than $46 million through agency consolidations.
- State government will be streamlined through attrition and reduction in the 54,000- state payroll.
- No money will be borrowed for day-to-day state operations.
- The $500 property tax credit that Gov. Malloy wanted to abolish is fully restored.
- More than $200 million in the state’s highest cost debt will be pre-paid, thus allowing for greater flexibility in budgeting throughout state agencies.
- It restores the sales tax amnesty week that every Connecticut consumer can use to support household budgets.
