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Senator Rob Kane (R-32) joined other Republican legislators
in opposing the $37.6 billion biennial state budget
that gained final legislative approval very early Tuesday
morning.
“I appreciate Governor Rell’s efforts
to alleviate the impact of this budget on Connecticut’s
residents and businesses by using her authority to veto
about $8 million in line items. However, this state
budget is still far too expensive for Connecticut’s
families and businesses,” said Senator Kane.
During the Senate floor debate, Senator Kane said
he fears that the state budget adopted with the support
of all but a handful of Democrats will further harm
businesses and families that are already suffering from
the effects of the recession. He said that the state
cannot afford the consequences of imposing higher taxes
on businesses and increasing a wide variety of state
fees.
“I had hoped to be able to vote in favor of
the state budget that so many people, including Governor
M. Jodi Rell, have been working so hard to put together.
But, I could not in good conscience vote for a budget
that I believe will harm our state by costing us more
jobs and, consequently, driving both businesses and
families out of Connecticut,” said Senator Kane.
Senator Kane, a member of the General Assembly’s
Appropriations Committee, said that he strongly opposes
the new taxes called for in this budget, including the
increase in the so-called “millionaire’s”
tax, the imposition of a temporary 10 percent surcharge
on larger businesses, and the increase in many state
fees. He said that he would rather have seen the state
abolish the estate tax, instead of just raising the
threshold from $2 million to $3.5 million.
“My fear is that at least some of the state’s
wealthier citizens, including those who create jobs,
will respond to this budget by packing their bags and
leaving. When they do, Connecticut will permanently
lose the considerable taxes these people already pay.
And when all of those revenues dry up, Democrats likely
will choose to impose additional tax increases on the
middle class,” said Senator Kane.
Senator Kane said that he hopes businesses and families
will reap long-term benefits from the budget provision
that drops the sales tax from six percent to 5.5 percent
on January 1st – but cautions that the budget
also includes a provision for repealing this tax break
if revenue collections fall too far below expectations.
“What Connecticut residents need is a state
budget that provides necessary government services at
a cost that they can afford. Sadly, this budget does
not deliver,” said Senator Kane.
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