House Republican Press Release

June 5, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

COLUMN: Not With a Bang, But a Whimper....

Since last April's column invoking T.S. Eliot was so noteworthy, I thought reference to the last line of the "Hollow Men" was exceptionally appropriate as the General Assembly headed into the last hours of this year's session. As you are reading this, we have [finally!] adjourned, but as we headed for the deadline, like a charging tortoise, this is the less-than-exciting news:

- Budget: the singular most important reason for the session, and naturally, we did not get one done yet....can you say "Special Session soon" three times quickly? Of course, we House Republicans tried to pass a budget with NO TAX INCREASES, and it was voted down by the legislative "supermajority", and you don't have to take my word for it, so look up LCO 8342 on www.cga.ct.gov and see what happened at 6:37 p.m. on May 30!

- Tax cuts: are you serious? The Governor's proposal to eliminate the property tax on cars did not even get the courtesy of a hearing, the "temporary" conveyance tax increase will be with us forever, and a "phase-out" of estate tax....NOT. As a matter of fact, those folks who hold the legislative "supermajority" are on record as wanting increases in the tax!

And....

- Gas tax holiday: you might think that with a surplus heading close to ONE BILLION DOLLARS we might be able to give our overtaxed citizens a temporary summer tax holiday from the gas tax, thereby saving you a few bucks a tank? Not a chance, said the folks holding the legislative "super-majority", our House Republican "gas tax holiday" amendment was killed by them no less than four times...and as Casey Stengel said "you can look it up " and you can look up the amendments on www.cga.ct.gov as LCO 7531 on SB 429, LCO 7969 on HB 7338, LCO 8339 on HB 7400, and LCO 8606 on HB 7432.

- Energy issues: after months and months of inaction, we finally got around to passing HB 7432. Governor Rell summarized it as doing "little to offer immediate relief to the struggling ratepayers of Connecticut" but making some long-term beneficial changes to our energy policy. In other words, another hardly exciting result.

- Eminent domain: once again, we finally, very late in the session, we got around doing something, and The Bill we did SB-167 An Act Revising The Process For The Taking Of Real Property By Municipalities For Redevelopment And Economic Development, while better than nothing (most states have already acted on this burning topic while we fiddled) was not as inclusive and effective as our amendment! LCO 8714, which narrowly failed 67-72; again, you can look it up!

So please take a look at the daily media to get the details of what (if anything) important happened in the closing hours of this year's General Assembly session and what final budget deal eventuates. But all in all, given the huge majorities in both Senate and House that Governor Rell's opponents enjoyed, does one give her, and the small but hardy Republican minorities, bonus points for damage control? Does one conclude that the legislative "supermajority” spectacularly underachieved? And do those failures actually benefit Fairfield County? Stay tuned to what the final budget/tax package does!

And we will have lots of time this summer and fall to examine specific issues and the doings of various committees, and the portents for the future. Enjoy June!

As always please feel free to contact me with your concerns and issues. As your state representative, it is my job, and my priority to represent you and to make sure that your needs and concerns are addressed at the capitol. You can write to me at Room 4200, Legislative Office Building, Hartford, CT 06106-1591, send me e-mail at John.Ryan@housegop.ct.gov or call my office toll-free at 1-800-842-1423.