State Senator David Cappiello (R-Danbury) is calling for more open and direct dialogue on the state’s ongoing budget crisis. With the 2003 Legislative Session now three weeks old, Senator Cappiello is disappointed that there have been no public hearings, committee meetings, or votes in either chamber on the budget deficit. Instead, budget discussions have been limited to a select few Democratic legislators.

   “What deeply concerns me is that these decisions on our state budget that are critical to the lives of every single person in the state of Connecticut are being made by a handful of people behind closed doors,” said Senator Cappiello. “We are now in Regular Session. The Finance Committee, with dozens of talented members appointed by their respective caucuses, ought to be meeting to analyze these tax proposals. Similarly, the Appropriations Committee, with members selected from both sides of the isle, ought to be meeting to debate possible spending cuts. Legislators need to be allowed to do their jobs and become involved in the process.”

    Senator Cappiello is also adamant that the public be permitted to become more active in the state’s decision making. He is concerned that certain legislative leaders are purposely ignoring the public interest.

    “The members of the Finance and Appropriations Committees, and every state legislator, quite frankly, were elected to represent the interests of their district,” continued Senator Cappiello, who serves on Appropriations. “What a few Democratic leaders are doing by excluding them from the process, is saying that their voices do not matter and, by extension, that their districts, and the people who live there, do not matter. All these select few seem to be concerned about is appeasing their own constituencies and satisfying special interest groups.”

    “Both committees should be asked to hold public hearings on the issue, so the public can get their opportunity to voice their opinions,” he said. “Tax increases and cuts in services affect them and these proposals need to be put in the public eye so they can accept or reject them.”

     Senator Cappiello is extremely disappointed that the primary focus has been on increasing taxes, rather than examining possible spending reductions, as a means of balancing the budget. He is particularly opposed to recent proposals calling for taxes on people with incomes of $47,000 or more.

     “My biggest fear and the biggest fear of many Connecticut citizens is coming true. The Millionaire’s Tax has turned into the ‘Everyday Joe’s’ Tax,” according to Senator Cappiello. “As many had predicted, what started as a proposal to tax only citizens earning over one million dollars per year, quickly became a proposal to tax families earning substantially less than a million dollars. First it was adjusted to include those who made $500,000, then $250,000, then $100,000, then $50,000. Now today I am hearing reports of a plan to tax families who earn $47,000 or more. When does it stop?”

     This is not the only tax increase on the table.  “Certain legislators have suggested an increase in the corporate tax, the tobacco tax, the alcohol tax, as well as decreasing the threshold on the clothing tax from $75 to $50,” explained Senator Cappiello. “What is equally frustrating is that only a limited number of spending reductions have been put forward and we have not even begun to look at any long-term structural changes to our state budget. In my mind, the people of Connecticut do not want the state’s budget balanced simply by raising taxes.”

     “Plus, these tax-based plans are only addressing the deficit in Fiscal Year 2003, saying nothing of the over $3 billion dollars in the red the state is facing for Fiscal Years ’04 and ‘05,” continued Senator Cappiello. “Poor decisions like these will only serve to put Connecticut in further financial disarray and drive people out of our state.”

     Senator Cappiello represents the 24th state senate district, consisting of Danbury, Bethel, New Fairfield, and Sherman.