House Republican Press Release

May 21, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. Labriola: CT Residents Bear Heaviest Tax Burden in U.S.; State Budget Should Not Add to It

Tax Freedom Day Arrived Sunday for CT – Later than Any Other State in the Country

Connecticut residents bear the heaviest tax burden in the United States, a fact the state legislature’s majority Democrats should not forget during negotiations over the new state budget, state Representative David K. Labriola said today.

“Sunday was Tax Freedom Day for Connecticut, the day when taxpayers in our state finally pay off their combined state, local and federal taxes and start working for themselves and their families,” said Representative Labriola, R-131^st District. “According to the Tax Foundation in Washington, D.C., once again, we were the last state in the country to achieve tax freedom. The General Assembly’s majority Democrats, who have veto-proof majorities in both the state House of Representatives and the state Senate, should bear that in mind as this year’s negotiations over the new state budget draw to a close.”

“Before they raise taxes on us once again, the majority Democrats need to remember that the people of Connecticut already bear the heaviest tax burden in the country. The new two-year budget that will be finalized in the next two weeks should not add to it by raising taxes,” Representative Labriola said.

“According to the non-partisan Yankee Institute in Hartford, on average, Connecticut residents pay 38.3 percent of their incomes on their combined federal, state and local tax obligations. That is a frightening statistic. Our tax policies are a major reason why we shoulder the heaviest tax burden in the country. Connecticut’s tax policies also are choking our small businesses, stifling economic growth and making it harder for employers to create new jobs,” Representative Labriola said.