Senator Boucher Calls Commission’s Report a Mix of Good, Bad Ideas

Hartford – State Senator Toni Boucher (R–26) today thanked the Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth for its work analyzing Connecticut’s economic situation. She said the commission’s report represents a mix of good and bad recommendations.

“The commission did a yeoman’s job of collecting and interpreting information about Connecticut’s fiscal crisis, how we got here, and what steps it believes we should take to remedy the situation,” Sen. Boucher said. “A number of very good recommendations were made that I believe are necessary to improving our state’s economic climate and promoting business and job growth. However, I believe other recommendations by the commission would be counter to that goal.”

Sen. Boucher said she supports the commission’s recommendations to reduce the state income tax, eliminate the gift and estate tax, reform public sector health and retirement benefits, and stabilize the state’s unfunded liabilities. The group’s proposals to increase the sales and business taxes while also increasing the minimum wage and installing tolls, she said, run counter to the pro-growth strategies.

“Connecticut is the only state that has not recovered from the Great Recession of 2008. The two largest state tax increases under the Malloy administration have been a contributing factor to our shrinking economy. Raising taxes and putting more burdens continues these same failed policies,” she said. “Enacting those recommendations from the commission will effectively wipe out any progress we hope to make with tax cuts and state budget and benefit reforms.”

Sen. Boucher said the report presents lawmakers with a good starting point that she hopes they can use to negotiate a plan to get the state’s economy moving again by using some of the recommendations.

Senator Boucher is Vice-Chair of the Finance, Revenue, & Bonding Committee. She represents the communities of Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.