House Republican Press Release

 

 

 

June 9, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

 

A VIEW FROM THE INSIDE

State Representative Ruth Fahrbach

 

Early retirement plan would help solve state’s fiscal woes

 

As legislative leaders and the Governor seek a way to find revenue to shore-up a projected budget shortfall, and do what they can to help ease the burden of rising gas prices. The alternative Republican budget first proposed in April would roll back another scheduled gas hike set for July 1 and provide relief from the state’s pending fiscal woes.

 

In response to Gov. Rell’s challenge to legislative leaders last week to find $25 million to forestall the increase in the gross receipts tax, we are prepared to offer-up our alternative budget proposal. The GOP proposal, which was vetted and analyzed by the non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis, included the repeal of the gross receipts tax increase.

 

As of this writing, the legislature is scheduled to go into special session on June 11. The Governor has indicated that she has reached an agreement with the majority Democrats on some sort of arrangement to stave off the scheduled increase in the gasoline gross receipts tax. Regardless of what deal may be struck, the GOP budget plan is the best option for the state.

 

The GOP budget not only halts the scheduled increase in the gross receipts tax, but also restores education program cuts and includes more money for towns and cities and nursing homes.

 

Gov. Rell should reconsider the central feature of the GOP alternative budget: the Early Retirement Incentive Program (ERIP) that saves the state more than $155 million in payroll to pay for the gas tax cuts and other items in the Republican alternative budget.

 

The current state of our economy and difficulties being experienced by residents throughout the state require difficult decisions and action by the leaders in Hartford. 

 

During the regular legislative session which adjourned on May 7, the Democrats who control the legislature flatly rejected any action on the budget this spring despite rising fuel costs, cuts to education programs and grants to towns and cities that will produce municipal layoffs. Instead, they have opted to allow the state deficit to continue to grow. Republicans warned that Connecticut residents would not stand for a Do Nothing approach to budget because they needed relief at the gas pump and elsewhere.

 

The Democrats’ insistence on increasing real estate conveyance taxes by $35 million and their reluctance to address the Connecticut’s high gas taxes are the clearest examples of being out of touch with what Connecticut needs right now. 

 

The GOP alternative budget is written and ready to go for the special session. For the good of our state, the majority party needs to show some leadership, or get out the way and let the House Republicans lead the way.

 

State Rep. Ruth Fahrbach represents the 61st District, including Suffield, and parts of Windsor and East Granby, in the General Assembly.