House Republican Press Release

December 22, 2005

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. DelGobbo Named Connecticut “Friend of the Taxpayer”

State Rep. Kevin M. DelGobbo, R-70^th, Naugatuck has been named Connecticut’s “Friend of the Taxpayer” by the Yankee Institute for Public Policy for his strong advocacy of responsible state budgeting, spending restraint and limited taxation.

In announcing the honor, the free-market think tank based at Trinity College in Hartford, said, “For his commitment to spending restraint and tax relief, DelGobbo was truly a friend of the Connecticut taxpayers in 2005.”

The Yankee Institute praised Rep. DelGobbo for introducing and lobbying on behalf of a bill to implement the state’s constitutional spending cap, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters at the polls in 1992.

The organization also lauded Rep. DelGobbo’s effort to suspend the newly enacted petroleum-products tax that added to the pain of record high gasoline, diesel and home heating oil and natural gas prices, following energy disruption in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The award was one of the 2005 “Fiscies” announced by the Yankee Institute in a year the organization said “that saw the Nutmeg State’s addiction to Big Government worsen.”

“It is an honor to be recognized as a friend of the taxpayer,” said Rep. DelGobbo. “This award encourages me to continue fighting for the average working people and retired citizens of Naugatuck and the entire state.”

Rep. DelGobbo has long been one of the strongest voices in the legislature for sound fiscal restraint. He has been particularly vocal in defending the state spending cap against efforts to move spending items off-budget to avoid the cap. This past year, he engaged in one of the most spirited and lengthy debates during his nine years of service in the legislature, attempting to block the legislature’s effort to ignore the state spending cap and against the use of one-time revenues and other budget gimmicks that only create greater financial problems in future years.

Rep. DelGobbo has received the highest rating of any member of any member of the Connecticut legislature by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association for promoting job creation and a stronger economy, as well as sound fiscal policy.

Rep. DelGobbo serves the 70^th Assembly District of Naugatuck in the state House of Representatives. He is a member of the legislature’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, the Regulations Review Committee and the Energy and Technology Committee, of which his ranking House member.