House Republican Press Release

May 10, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. Greene: CT, 105th District, Say No to Tax, Spending Hikes, Yes to House GOP ‘No Tax Increase’ Budget

Quinnipiac University Poll Findings Mirror Anti-Tax Hike Sentiments in 105^th District   

This week’s Quinnipiac University poll showing Connecticut residents prefer the House Republican ‘No Tax Increase’ state budget alternative to competing packages that feature substantial tax and spending increases mirror the anti-tax hike sentiments of most Ansonia, Beacon Falls, and Seymour residents, state Representative Len Greene said today.     

The poll found that 41 percent support the House Republican plan; 33 percent, the plan supported by the state legislature’s majority Democrats; and 16 percent, Governor Rell’s proposal. Both the Democrats’ and Governor Rell’s proposals call for substantial tax and spending increases.

“Like most Connecticut residents, people in the Valley overwhelmingly oppose the massive spending and tax increases proposed by the majority Democrats and support the House Republican ‘No Tax Increase’ alternative we unveiled almost three weeks ago,” said Representative Greene, R-105^th District. “The message I have been receiving for the last three months from the folks I represent is that they want tax relief, lower energy costs, and affordable health care.”

“Now, with Governor Rell’s announcement Wednesday that major tax hikes may not be necessary because state tax revenues are coming in well above the amounts that were projected at the beginning of the year, it is time for the majority Democrats to listen to what the people of Connecticut are saying and back off from the massive spending and tax increases they proposed in mid-April,” Representative Greene said.

“When we developed our proposal, we wanted to demonstrate that it was possible to maintain current services and invest more in critical areas such as health care and education without raising taxes. We put together a detailed plan that was reviewed by the state legislature’s nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis and declared fiscally sound,” Representative Greene said. “The Quinnipiac poll shows the people of Connecticut, by a sizeable margin, believe our budget proposal is superior to the other plans.”

The poll also showed that solid majorities oppose two key features of the Democrats’ plan – their proposals to eliminate the $50 sales tax exemption on clothing (60 percent oppose it while only 36 percent support it) and to tax internet sales (61 percent are opposed and only 31 percent are in favor). In addition, when asked what they consider the most important issue in Connecticut today, taxes came in first at 29 percent; the economy second at 22 percent, then education and health care, both tied at 8 percent, Representative Greene said.

“The poll’s findings show that when Connecticut residents fully understand the implications of the Democrats’ budget proposal, they realize it is basically a shell game,” Representative Greene said. “The Democrats keep saying 90 percent of Connecticut taxpayers will receive a tax cut, but because their package repeals important sales tax exemptions, most of their so-called tax relief disappears. The people of Connecticut don’t want the Democrat majority to drastically increase government spending and impose a massive tax hike that will cripple the state’s economy, drive employers out of state, and put thousands of people out of work.”