House Republican Press Release

 

 

 

February 1, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

 

REP. STRIPP ANNOUNCES TARGETED HELPING HAND DURING ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

 

“Middle-class relief from rising health care, energy prices”

 

HARTFORD – Most middle class individuals and families squeezed by skyrocketing health care and home heating expenses would get a significant reduction in their state income tax liability if tax credits proposed today by House Republicans become law, said state Representative John E. Stripp.

The House Republican proposals were unveiled at a news conference at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

“If the economic downturn many are predicting hits our state within the next few months, the tax credits we proposed today will come as welcome relief to middle class taxpayers in Connecticut who already are struggling to cope with the increasingly high costs of health care and heating their homes,” said Representative Stripp, R-135th District.

“The tax credits we developed were offered in good faith as a way to help relieve two of the most burdensome expenses shouldered by middle income taxpayers in Connecticut. They are similar in spirit to proposals presented by the majority party in the Senate earlier this week, some of which our caucus has supported for years,” added Representative Stripp.

“It is our hope that legislators from both parties can agree on a non-partisan package for middle class and business tax relief consisting of the best proposals developed by all four caucuses and pass them as soon as possible,” Rep. Stripp concluded.

For the short term, Republicans outlined a specific timetable of public hearings and various committee reviews that could produce a bipartisan, comprehensive relief package by March 19. Republicans proposed using roughly $200 million of the state’s $263 million surplus to: