Sen. Cook Vows To Fight Any Attempt To Obtain Personal Tax Information For Legislative Study

Senator Cathy Cook, R-Mystic, co-chair of the bipartisan Program Review & Investigations Committee (PRI), today promised to continue to block any attempt by her committee to obtain state citizens’ personal tax information despite the legislative majority’s refusal to take up proposals to guarantee the protection of such information during this ongoing special session.

“Even the Attorney General, a Democrat, strongly suggested that we immediately pass legislation in this Special Session that clearly spells out once and for all that the privacy of citizens’ tax information is protected under state law. He even drafted the legislation he thinks we should pass. I am stunned, and very disappointed, that nearly all of my Democrat colleagues in both chambers voted against even debating this issue during this special session. It is a slap in the face to every taxpayer in Connecticut,” said Senator Cook. She pointed to an October 27 th letter by Blumenthal to House Minority Leader Bob Ward in which he states: “I urge that this step protecting privacy – narrowing the scope of confidential information that can be obtained by the Committee – be taken immediately during the pending Special Session. Citizens and taxpayers should be completely secure that their privacy rights will be zealously and consistently protected --especially concerning the confidential financial information submitted to the government in connection with tax returns. The mere fear of such disclosure is destructive to public trust.”

Both chambers of the General Assembly, on a nearly party line vote, today defeated Republican call to expand the current Special Session to address the tax privacy issue. The issue came after a legal opinion allowing release of confidential taxpayer information for a legislative study of the state’s tax system. Senator Cook said that, while disappointed with the General Assembly’s action today, she wants to reassure Connecticut residents that Republicans will continue to fight to protect state residents’ personal tax information. “Your private information WILL NOT be released. I will not allow it,” said Sen. Cook.

“The membership of PRI is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans and I want to once again assure Connecticut citizens that every Republican committee member remains firmly committed to blocking any attempt whatsoever to ask the state Department of Revenue Services for personal tax information. It continues to be my opinion that permitting legislators, legislative staff, or outside consultants to look at Connecticut residents’ personal tax information is neither legal nor right,” said Senator Cook.