ACTION ALERT

TO:                        Local Republican Leaders

FROM:                 Chris Healy, Chairman

RE:                        State Budget Issues

Governor Malloy and the Democrats in Hartford are trying to pull a fast one on Connecticut taxpayers and we need your help to stop them now!

After backroom private meetings in Democrat chambers, Governor Malloy and the Democrat leaders in Hartford came to an agreement to raise taxes and increase spending in their version of Connecticut’s budget, the details of which have not yet been made public.

We do know that the Democrats budget hinges on nearly $2 Billion in new taxes, the highest tax increase in state history, and $2 Billion in concessions from the state employee unions that got Malloy elected to office last November.

There is no doubt that Malloy and the Democrats will get their money from you and me, but what has not been made public are the details of the public state employee union concessions.

Governor Malloy wants the legislature to vote and pass his budget TOMORROW before the people of Connecticut realize that his budget is in fact illegal because there is $2 Billion missing from his bottom line.

The Connecticut Constitution, which our elected leaders are sworn to uphold and defend, requires that the budget passed by the legislature be balanced, meaning the income matches the amount being spent.

We need your help NOW to tell Governor Malloy and the legislators in Hartford that partisan politicians cannot bully the Connecticut taxpayers.

What We Know About Governor Malloy’s Budget:

• Proposes $3.4 Billion in new tax revenue over the next two years costing the average Connecticut family over $3,000 annually
• Raising the Income Tax from 5% to 5.5% for the average Connecticut family
• Raising the sales tax from 6% to 6.25%
• Raise the gas tax by $0.3 and $.04 for diesel
• Raise taxes on all alcohol rates and on cigarettes from $3 to $3.40/pack
• Eliminate $500 Property Tax Credit
• Increases Spending by $900 Million
• Relies on $2 Billion in concessions from public state employee unions, which have not been agreed upon

The Republican Budget Alternative:

• No new taxes on any business, individual, employer, service or good
• Saves the average Connecticut family over $2,000 annually
• More than $1.5 billion in spending cuts from Gov. Malloy’s plan
• More than $46 million in savings through agency consolidations
• Streamlining government through attrition and reductions to the 54,000 member state workforce
• No borrowing for state operating expenses
• Full restoration of the $500 property tax credit cut by Gov. Malloy
• Restoration of the sales tax free week to help Connecticut consumers support household budgets
• Elimination of longevity payments for state employees

Call the Governor, Your Legislators, Talk Radio and Tell Your Friends:

• An immediate vote on the state budget is unacceptable. Legislators should have a full debate and the public should be given the opportunity to participate in the process, not just attend staged town halls in towns of the Governor’s choosing.

• Legislators have until June 8, 2011 to pass a budget and they should use all the time they need to seriously examine all options to craft a responsible, common sense budget that best serves the people of Connecticut.

• Governor Malloy has asked for “shared sacrifice” but so far the only people bearing the brunt of that sacrifice are the Connecticut taxpayers. No budget vote should be taken until the public state employee union concessions are made public and can be considered part of the budget.

• Governor Malloy and the Democrats in Hartford who refuse to seek alternatives to raising taxes and hopes of union concessions to balance the state budget are bullying Connecticut taxpayers. Connecticut doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem and Republicans in the Legislature have offered a no tax increase budget that cuts out government waste and the Governor and the Democrats in the legislature should adopt it.

Governor Malloy: (800) 406-1527 (Toll Free)/ (860) 566-4840 (Local)/ Online Contact Click Here

Senate Democrats: (860) 240-8600

House Democrats: (860) 240-8500

CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS

Write Letters to the Editor or E-Mails to Your Legislators:

Letter #1:

Dear X,

The effort being made by Governor Malloy and the Democrats in the Legislature to force an immediate vote on the state budget is unacceptable. Legislators should have a full debate and the public should be given the opportunity to participate in the process, not just attend staged town halls in towns of the Governor’s choosing.

Governor Malloy has asked for “shared sacrifice” but so far the only people bearing the brunt of that sacrifice are the Connecticut taxpayers. No budget vote should be taken until the public state employee union concessions are made public and can be considered part of the budget.

When I sit down to balance my checkbook and our family budget I have to make hard decisions about what we need, what we want and what we can afford. It’s time that our state practices some fiscal discipline and reins in spending before maxing out our credit card and sending the bill to tapped out taxpayers who cannot afford it.

The Republicans in Hartford have crafted a budget that reduces spending and balances the state budget without raising taxes. I urge the Governor to support this effort and start governing with common sense rather than partisan pandering.

Letter #2:

Dear X,

The effort being made by Governor Malloy and the Democrats in the Legislature to force an immediate vote on the state budget is unacceptable. Legislators should have a full debate and the public should be given the opportunity to participate in the process, not just attend staged town halls in towns of the Governor’s choosing.

Legislators have until June 8, 2011 to pass a budget and they should use all the time they need to seriously examine all options to craft a responsible, common sense budget that best serves the people of Connecticut.

The budget that Governor Malloy and the Democrats have agreed to hinges on nearly $2 Billion in new taxes, the highest tax increase in state history, and $2 Billion in concessions from the state employee unions the details of which have yet to be seen.

If I ran my business or family finances the way the State of Connecticut runs its finances I would be bankrupt. Borrowing to spend and taxing to grow will only drive our state into a bigger financial mess with every Connecticut resident already owing $54,885 to pay off our current debt.

There are vital services that government must provide for the good of society, however we must look for ways to provide these services and live within our means. I support the efforts by Republicans in the legislature to rein in spending without raising taxes and I urge the Governor and the Democrats to follow their lead and start governing responsibly.

Local Weekly Papers

Tags: Connecticut Budget, Dannel Malloy, Government Spending, Income Tax