Roadmap to Recovery

Connecticut has been facing unprecedented budget deficits for the past two years that have contributed to record business closings, job losses and home foreclosures. Unfortunately, the supermajority legislative leaders have ignored our efforts to reach across the aisle to reduce spending and streamline state agencies. Instead, last year’s budget was passed without the Governor’s signature or the minority party’s vote. This unsustainable budget relied on one-time stimulus funds, massive borrowing, and tax increases on our employers.

We believe there’s a better way and have put forth plans that will create jobs and significantly reduce costs by consolidating government functions, eliminating duplication and reducing waste. We are hopeful that this historic fiscal crisis will provide the incentive to bring everyone together to move the state in a better direction. Our legislative priorities include:

BALANCE THE BUDGET!

The General Assembly has no greater responsibility than balancing the state budget. I voted against the two-year budget passed in 2009 which raised taxes on families and businesses, was $400 million in deficit upon passage, and leaves a more than $7.5 billion hole over the next three years.

REDUCE GOVERNMENT SPENDING DON’T RAISE TAXES!

The key to balancing the state budget in a responsible way is cutting government spending, not raising taxes.
perform public duties at a lower cost

PERFORM PUBLIC DUTIES AT A LOWER COST

Outsource DMV services, highway maintenance, maintenance of state parks and certain social services to non-profits and other private businesses that can perform the same functions more cost effectively.

CONSOLIDATE STATE AGENCIES

Streamline the executive branch, cut the number of state agencies in half, and save taxpayers money while still delivering the same quality of services by eliminating redundancy.

INCREASE TRANSPARENCY OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Just as every family and business in Connecticut is reexamining its spending habits to cope with the economic downturn, state government can reduce costs and combat waste, fraud and abuse through biennial auditing of all state agencies’ finances, effectiveness and efficiency.

HELP BUSINESSES CREATE JOBS

To improve the business climate in Connecticut and capitalize on our highly skilled and educated workforce, we should: expand job creation tax credits; repeal the 10% corporate tax surcharge; repeal the business entity tax; eliminate outdated, redundant and counterproductive state business regulations; and provide tax incentives to emerging and next generation industries including alternative fuel, environmental remediation and nanotechnology. We must remember people, not governments, create jobs.

LOWER PROPERTY TAXES BY ELIMINATING UNFUNDED MANDATES

One of the largest drivers of local property taxes is the General Assembly’s yearly enactment of costly new mandates on cities and towns without providing the means to pay for them. Local governments are equipped to make the policy decisions that best suit their individual circumstances. State government should get off their backs and stop passing unfunded mandates.