House Republican Press Release

April 11, 2006

Press Office: 860-240-8700

HOUSE DEMOCRATS BLOCK VOTE ON REPUBLICAN ELECTRIC BILL TAX CUT

HARTFORD –House Republican Leader state Rep. Robert M. Ward of Northford, today said Democrats blocked a vote on a Republican proposal to reduce electric bill taxes by 41 percent  when they scuttled a bill that exposed Democratic opposition to the Republican initiative.

After more than an hour of debate, Democrats in the House resorted to a procedural method to cut off debate in an attempt to limit political damage from an issue that could hurt the majority party at the polls.

“Consumers need a break from their ever-escalating electric bills. We have a $660 million budget surplus, we can afford it,’’ Ward said. “Utility costs are going to either drive some people out of business or out of state.’’

He added, “By avoiding a vote on this matter you are telling voters in your district that you don’t want to cut their skyrocketing electric bills.’’

The House voted 90-52 to end debate without a vote. All Republicans supported the tax cut and only two Democrats voted for the Republican proposal.

The proposal was part of the House Republican agenda at the start of the session but has been ignored by the majority party Democrats.

The measure would have cut utility taxes for both average consumers and businesses by 41 percent. Ward said the Democrats can try to ignore the issue but it is not going away.

“If we don’t reduce electric rates consumers will feel it when they open their electric bills,’’ Cafero said. “The Democrats would prefer to hatch a budget behind closed doors rather than conduct business out in the open on bills such as this.’’