House Republican Press Release

May 10, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. Rowe: State Residents Favor Republican ‘No Tax Increase’ Alternative Budget

Statewide Poll Shows Support For Budget That Would Increase Education Aid for Trumbull

HARTFORD – A Quinnipiac University Poll released Wednesday, May 9, shows that the House Republican “No Tax Increase’’ budget is overwhelmingly favored by state residents compared to either Gov. Rell’s proposal or the Democrats’ tax and spending plan, said State Rep. T.R. Rowe, R-Trumbull.

The Republican “No Tax Increase” budget drew the most support among respondents with 42 percent saying they favored it. The Democratic proposal to increase spending by a whopping $2.1 billion received only 33 percent of those who responded, with the Governor’s across-the-board tax increase of 10 percent to pay for her education plan supported by 16 percent of respondents.

Trumbull would receive an additional $1.25 million in state Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funds under the “No-Tax-Increase Republican Budget Alternative” (vs. an additional $75,540 under the Democrat plan) with no increase in the state income tax. The Republican budget proposal would also begin to reduce other taxes, including the state income tax on senior citizen pension benefits.

“This poll clearly shows that the majority of people support a more common sense budget proposal,” said Rep. Rowe. “We recognize that Connecticut is already the most heavily taxed state in the nation and people cannot tolerate any more hikes to the state income tax.”

Rep. Rowe added that the poll also confirms what House Republicans have said – Connecticut residents do not support the majority party plan to increase taxes on everything from clothing, to Internet sales and the price of a funeral. “Taxpayers cannot afford the Democrat budget plan to increase spending by over 10 percent. The Republican plan is far more fiscally responsible, while at the same time directing more education money to Trumbull. I’m also pleased that the Governor has abandoned her initial plan to raise the income tax. As things now stand, there are three budget plans out there and the only one that raises taxes comes from the Democrats,’’ said Rowe.

In direct contrast to the Democrat plan that would raise spending by $1.7 billion, the Republican plan would spare Connecticut another tax hike. Rep. Rowe noted that the House Republican plan increases spending in several key areas, including:

· $358 million in public school funding and $1.1 billion for fully funding teachers’ pensions;

· Municipal aid for town and city PILOTS, Town Aid Road and the Pequot Fund goes up by $23 million;

· $20 million for a unique first-time home buyer’s initiative for college graduates that will help keep young people in Connecticut