House Republican Press Release

January 24, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Hetherington Lays Out Priorities

If you happened to catch Channel 12's Focus on Connecticut in the past several weeks, you already know something about what to expect in the coming legislative session.

On the panel with me were several other legislators who were remarkably frank about their determination to raise taxes. What was even more remarkable, and a little disturbing, is their rationale. The driver for higher taxes apparently is not so much revenue as it is a desire to redistribute wealth. When I made a pitch for repeal of the estate tax, a relative small and diminishing source of revenue, the other side made it clear that repeal or even reform of the estate tax would be held hostage to a hike in the income tax. I was surprised to hear rhetoric I thought had collapsed with the Berlin Wall.

Discussion of fiscal matters is timely, of course, because next month we return to a legislative session scheduled to consider adjustments in the biennial budget. The minority party successfully resisted a tax increase in 2007 and my intention is to hold that line again. Connecticut citizens are already among the most heavily taxed in the country and, with a softening economy, this is no time raise taxes. To her credit, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz has joined a bi-partisan effort to end the $250 annual levy on business entities. The tax, creating a particular burden on small and start-up businesses, is simply a toll on the road to success.

Besides fiscal matters, it is likely that the General Assembly will soon focus on criminal justice in response to the brutal killings in Cheshire last July. A proposal almost certain to emerge elevates home invasion under very limited circumstances to a Class A felony with a sentence of 10-25 years. The particular crime is so narrowly defined that many violent felons would likely slip by. But significant support also continues for a "three strikes" law that would impose a life sentence on criminals convicted of three dangerous felonies. Changes in the parole system are likely, including the creation of a full time board with a more complete record on potential parolees.

A controversial proposal from the governor's office this year floats the concept of capping property tax increases at 3 percent per year, with citizens having the right to over-ride the cap through a referendum. The idea has appeal to taxpayers, especially seniors and those on fixed income. But municipalities have responded furiously, pointing to unfunded state mandates, relentlessly increasing costs, and the loss of local autonomy. Any cap, many argue, would at a minimum have to be part of a comprehensive solution. No one is betting on the success of the cap proposal, but at least it serves to keep the plight of our taxpayers in front of lawmakers.

Ethics are sure to continue to be a key topic in the legislature, especially in the Government Administration and Elections Committee, where I serve as ranking member.

In spite of some prominent lapses, my strong belief is that the overwhelming majority of lawmakers, Democrats and Republicans, are honest and dedicated people. To the extent that there is an issue, it is mainly one of poorly defined conflicts of interest. We have a General Assembly of nearly full-time legislators working for less than part-time pay who are charged with controlling vast sums of public money. Therein lies fertile ground for problems.

I thank everyone who responded to the survey that I sent. The return has been excellent, far exceeding the response to any earlier survey I have done. Let me assure you that I personally review every response, including the many comments, and I will report on the results when I have them compiled.