Senator Judith G. Freedman (R-26) today joined other Republican members of the Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee to warn that the Democrat-crafted tax plan approved yesterday by the Finance Committee will lead to higher taxes, a multi-million state budget deficit and a depressed state economy if adopted by the full General Assembly.

“How can the Democrats say they are for retaining and creating jobs in this state when they push through a plan like this? Governor Rell proposed a good plan that, among other things, addressed the need for property tax relief by abolishing the car tax. They ignored it. Instead they came up with a plan with a number of harmful provisions, any one of which will drive people and business out of the state. Their plans helps no one, and hurts everyone,” said Senator Freedman.

Senator Freedman, who joined other Republicans on the Appropriations Committee last week in voting against that committee’s Democrat-crafted spending side of the budget, has spent the last several days sounding the alarm about the disastrous fiscal course Connecticut is being set upon. Today, she participated in a press conference called by Republicans to further discuss the situation.

“As it stands right now, we’re looking at a huge deficit by 2008. This budget does absolutely nothing to either alleviate that sorry situation, or plan for it by either paying off debt or setting aside a reasonable, significant amount of money in the Rainy Day Fund. This is wrong, and if the Democrat controlled General Assembly insists on foisting this on the state’s taxpayers, there will be sad days ahead for Connecticut,” said Senator Freedman.