Wilton Delegation Hosts Town Hall on Budget Crisis

March 31, 2011

Wilton delegation listening to constituents at the Town Hall Meeting Tuesday Night in the Middlebrook School Auditorium

Wilton, CT – Nearly 60 people listened intently to the legislators on the stage of Wilton’s Middlebrook School Tuesday night. The focus of the presentation was the governor’s proposed state budget and alternatives to the tax increases.

Senator Toni Boucher (R-26) and Representatives John Hetherington (R-125) and Gail Lavielle (R-143) all agree there are some good alternative ideas to tax increases.

Representative Gail Lavielle said, “We received some excellent feedback from our Wilton constituents last night. There is an undoubted opposition to solving our budget crisis through taxation, especially when this budget actually increases spending. Connecticut needs to take a good, hard look at reducing the size and cost of government and to build a financial strategy that will help people and businesses succeed here.”

Senator Toni Boucher was struck by the number of small business owners who are on the brink of closing up shop; many will be pushed over the edge if the tax increases are approved. Senator Boucher commented on the courage of New York’s governor to propose a balanced budget with no tax increases.

“Governor Andrew Cuomo took a brave step and New York residents are happy about that,” said Senator Boucher. “We don’t want our people to leave, but Governor Dannel Malloy’s budget is taxing them right out of Connecticut.”

Representative John Hetherington was asked about the ‘first five plan’ touted in the
governor’s budget address and whether it was the right kind of incentive.

“Incentive programs are not reliable,” said Representative Hetherington. “It may send a good signal, but it is limited in how many jobs it can create. Our state lost 100,000 jobs and this idea would create perhaps 1,000.”

The delegation extended an invitation to the crowd for a visit to the Capitol and asked them to keep the lines of communication open during the budget process.

A second Town Hall Meeting has been planned in Wilton for April 9, from 10 am to noon at the Library on Old Ridgefield Road.