Democrats Try to Distract from Their Damaging Tax Increase Record

Statement in Response to CT Democrats’ Tax Day Press Conference

HARTFORD – Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) released the following statement in response to a press conference held by Connecticut Democrats in Hartford today regarding tax day and federal tax changes.

“The fake outrage today about policies made a year ago is almost laughable coming from the very same people responsible for some of the biggest tax increases in Connecticut history and the same lawmakers who have been silent on the massive tax increase proposed by the governor this year. Under Gov. Malloy, these very same lawmakers repeatedly approved devastating tax increases totaling billions of dollars making Connecticut one of the highest taxed states in the country, putting us at a disadvantage today. And this year, Gov. Lamont has proposed a tax increase estimated at a cost of $2.4 billion annually, which Democrats have yet to speak against. The reason Connecticut’s ‘Tax Freedom Day’ – the day when all residents have earned enough money to pay our total tax bills – falls behind the rest of the nation is because of Connecticut Democrats’ repeated pickpocketing of taxpayers. Yet today they suddenly are finding a voice when it comes to taxing wealthier residents, at the very same time their own proposals would dramatically increase taxes on the poor and middle class.

“It’s no surprise that Connecticut Democrats want to talk about the politics of Washington D.C., which no state lawmaker on either side of the aisle has a say in or can control. It’s a great distraction from the regressive tax increases they’ve enacted and proposed on every Connecticut resident. It’s a distraction from lawmakers voting today on new raises for state employees that will crowd out funding for core services and cause taxes to increase even more. From tolls, to new sales taxes on services and products like medication and car seats, to eliminating tax breaks for seniors – Connecticut Democrats are not shy when it comes to taxing Connecticut’s most vulnerable. Before they start looking in someone else’s backyard, perhaps they should clean up their own.”