House Republican Press Release

May 3, 2005

Press Office: 860-240-8700

“Enough is Enough”

\Rep. DelGobbo, Republicans Announce Connecticut Tax Freedom Day

Notes Connecticut Taxpayers Work 123 Days Before Earning Enough to Pay Taxes

State Representative Kevin M. DelGobbo (R-70^th, Naugatuck) and other House Republican legislators today joined in announcing Tax Freedom Day ® for Connecticut taxpayers, the latest of any state in the nation.

Rep. DelGobbo said, “Enough is enough. How many more taxes will the state legislature impose on the taxpayers before it utterly crushes incentive, drives away jobs and turns Connecticut into an economic wasteland?”

Rep. DelGobbo noted, “People in Connecticut have to work 123 days just to pay taxes, more than any other state in the nation, before they get to support themselves and their families. Connecticut is the worst in the nation and is getting even worse, if the legislature succeeds in adding $1 billion in new revenues onto the backs of the taxpayers.”

At a press conference in Hartford, Rep. DelGobbo stated, “From January 1 to today, Connecticut residents have been working to pay government. That is 123 days, the latest in the nation. Starting today, Connecticut families can finally begin to work for their needs: food, housing, clothing.”

“On behalf of Connecticut taxpayers, we are here to say enough is  enough,” said Rep. DelGobbo. “This ever increasing tax burden is a crushing burden on Connecticut residents, harmful to our economy and strangling job creation.”.

According to calculations by the Tax Foundation in Washington, Connecticut taxpayers work until May 3 to pay combined federal, state and local taxes. The national average is April 17, while Alaska is the lowest at April 2, a month earlier than Connecticut.

“On behalf of all the taxpayers, we mark this occasion by saying this cannot go on. Tax Freedom Day is projected to be later and later each year. People will work more and more days to pay government, before they can spend money on food, clothing, housing and all their other family needs. Taxpayers should join in saying enough is enough.”

Information from the Tax Foundation is available at: http://www.taxfoundation.org/

Connecticut’s Runaway Spending and Taxes

Rep. DelGobbo and the Republicans released Connecticut figures that show Connecticut tax and spending data are spiraling upward, especially since enactment of the state personal income tax in 1991.

From 1990 to 2005, Rep. DelGobbo noted state revenue between 1990 and 2005 has more than doubled from $6 billion to $14 billion.

Meanwhile, Rep. DelGobbo noted, inflation between 1990 and 2005 has increased by 46 percent, meaning that taxes and spending by Connecticut state government have increased at nearly triple the rate of inflation.

“So many people ask, ‘Now we have an income tax, casino revenues and recent tax increases across the board. How can we be in a hole?’ The answer is the legislature is addicted to digging into your pockets. The first step in kicking any addiction is realizing you have a problem”.

“State spending and taxes are outpacing the rate of inflation, they are outstripping the ability of people to pay and they are depressing the state economy,” he said. “Connecticut is significantly lagging the rest of the nation in economic growth, job creation and income growth. We need to slow down government growth and speed up economic growth.”