Votes Against
Proposed Spending Plan Approved By Appropriations Committee
Senator Rob Kane (R-32) said he voted against the
spending plan approved by the General Assembly’s
Appropriations Committee, and will continue to oppose
the two-year state budget plan proposed by majority
Democrats.
“I cannot support the budget proposal it is
currently written. If the Democrats are successful in
forcing this irresponsible state budget on Connecticut,
our state will still be in trouble long after the economy
turns around. The Democrats would like you to believe
that their plan includes budget cuts. It doesn’t.
It does include tax increases that none of us can afford
and, even worse, calls for borrowing to close this year’s
budget deficit. It is my hope that, in the end, we will
adopt a budget that includes real budget cuts and makes
other necessary changes to how we run state government,”
said Senator Kane.
Both the Appropriations and Finance, Revenue &
Bonding committees gave their approval to spending and
revenue proposals advanced by the legislature’s
Democratic majority. Senator Kane is a member of the
Appropriations Committee.
“People are losing their jobs, businesses are
closing, and the General Assembly’s Democrats
think the right response is to call for $3.3 billion
in property, income, business and sales taxes over the
next two years. I find it hard to believe state residents
will think well of us for doing this to them. They expect
us to find ways to make do with less, just like they
are. That means cutting the size of government, something
that this budget proposal does not even come close to
doing,” said Senator Kane.
Senator Kane joined other Republican legislators in
expressing his frustration at the Democrats’ unwillingness
to work with them in a bipartisan manner to develop
a state budget.
“We Republicans want to contribute to crafting
a state budget that reinvents government and provides
necessary services at a cost taxpayers can afford. That
means being willing to make hard decisions about cutting
spending and avoiding tax increases. It does not mean
telling Connecticut citizens that we’re making
budget cuts, when we’re not. And, it certainly
does not mean borrowing to pay for operating expenses,
and imposing unaffordable, unconscionable, tax increases,”
said Senator Kane.
Highlights of the Democrats’ proposed budget
include:
• Tax increases on profitable corporations that
employ thousands
• A 20 percent income tax hike starting at $132,500,
and additional tax hikes on higher brackets
• Broadening the state income tax
• Elimination of property tax credits for middle-class
taxpayers
• No consolidation of governmental agencies to
reduce costs as proposed by Governor Rell and Republicans
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