House Republican Press Release

January 7, 2009

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. O’Neill: Economic Recovery, Jobs, Must be Legislature’s Top Priority in 2009

Prudent Spending Reductions, Avoiding Tax Hikes, are Key to Mitigating Deficit, Early End to Recession

As the 2009 General Assembly session gets underway, the state legislature’s most important goal must be to resolve the state’s budget crisis in ways that do not aggravate and prolong the recession, resulting in more business closings and layoffs, state Representative Arthur J. O’Neill said today.

“Connecticut’s budget deficit could go as high as $356 million this year and by as much as $6 billion over the next two years. As we begin crafting measures to resolve the budget crisis, we must focus our efforts on measures that will not worsen the current recession and result in more business closings and layoffs,” said Representative O’Neill, R-69^th District.

“The most effective strategy for eliminating the deficit without doing further damage to the economy is to implement responsible reductions in state spending and to avoid tax increases on families, individuals and employers who are already struggling to make ends meet in a weak economy,” Representative O’Neill said.

“Governor Rell had it right in her State of the State speech today when she said: ‘As families struggle to pay their monthly bills, so will we. As they cut back on expenses and forego new purchases, so must we,’ ” Representative O’Neill said.

“This difficult economic situation calls for all of us to share the sacrifices necessary to balance the budget,” Representative O’Neill said. “Unlike the federal government, we don’t have the option of printing money to balance the budget. As a former governor once said: Raising taxes in the middle of a recession would be like throwing gasoline on a fire.”