House Republican Press Release

July 13, 2005

Press Office: 860-240-8700

DelGobbo Backs Lawsuit on New $27-Million Program that Violates Spending Cap

State Rep. Kevin M. DelGobbo, R-70^th, Naugatuck, supports a lawsuit on behalf of the Connecticut taxpayers against a new state law that imposes a fee on land records and raises an estimated $27 million outside of the state’s constitutional spending cap.

House Republican Leader Robert M. Ward, R-86^th, Northford, is conferring with public interest groups about filing suit on behalf of the voters of Connecticut, who approved a state constitutional spending cap in 1992 by an 80-20 margin.

Rep. DelGobbo said, “This legislation undermines the legitimacy of the rule of law. The next time the legislature wants to raise some money, it will just put another fee on something and simply not call it an appropriation. This should not be allowed to stand.”

“To say it is not an appropriation is an absolutely ridiculous interpretation,” said Rep. DelGobbo. “It is beyond outrageous. It is an utter rejection of the will of the Connecticut voters. This is a result of the legislature’s failure to implement the constitutional spending cap that was approved by an overwhelming majority of voters.”

“I believe this law violates the oath that legislators take to uphold the Constitution of the state of Connecticut,” said Rep. DelGobbo.

Rep. DelGobbo added, “This ploy has dire consequences for the fiscal stability of the state. It is creates a loophole in the state spending cap that is big enough to drive a truck through. The spending cap will become totally ineffectual in holding down state spending, as voters intended it to be.”

Rep. DelGobbo serves the 70^th district of Naugautuck.