Gov. Rell is vowing to veto the progressive income tax plan passed by Democrats yesterday:
Neither the Senate or House vote was a veto-proof majority and Gov. M. Jodi Rell, whose budget proposed a 7 percent spending increase, promised Wednesday to kill any bill that expanded the state’s income tax. (Dixon)
Fairfield County Democrats, among others, broke ranks with their colleagues to vote against the bill, which would have raised the income tax for the top tax brackets, while lowering it for others. The bill also included a proposal to scrap the gas tax for the summer–a plan originally pushed by the Republican minority.
Source
Dixon, Ken. “Rell vows veto of Democrats tax hike plan.” Connecticut Post 31 May, 2007.
12 responses so far ↓
I would hope the Dems plan to tax the poor an additional $270.00 per-year fails.
Saves 95% of taxpayers? Don’t believe it. Over 32% of the adult population in lower income towns and cities enjoy cigarettes. In Bridgeport it’s closer to 40%.
Hiking the cigarette tax does the following:
Increases the percentage of bootlegged product brought into CT from 22% (higher than the state will acknowledge, but never-the-less the correct current percentage)
Decreases volume at over 3600 small mostly family owned convenience / variety stores (cigarettes make up around 36% of the profit in such stores – a large enough percentage that a serious cutback will literally bankrupt many if not most of them)
Increases spending on those that can least afford it.
Never mind the argument that “they should all just quit…” as it’s simply not going to happen.
Cigarette consumption in towns where the per-capita income is under 20K is 400% higher than town’s like Wilton where they (like Clinton) have never learned to properly inhale. (Smoking specialists should be sent in to help these folks, after all they can afford to smoke and we need the revenue!)
Online sales stopped by the AG?
Not a chance – simply call a retailer in Virginia, South Carolina etc and read them your credit card number. Your cigs will be in the mail (takes a federal warrant to investigate the US Mail and the post office isn’t cooperating) the same day at a 20 buck a carton savings.
Hiking the cigarette tax pleases the overly pious Volvo-Honda-Preius / Birkenstock crowd (largely former smokers and now quite vocal about it) and no one else.
This just in from GOP Chairman Healy
Democrats Lack Conviction Except for Senseless Tax Hike
Democratic legislators from the House and Senate have demonstrated they do not deserve the trust or confidence of the voters following their all-out assault on the working class Wednesday.
The House Democrats tax hike vote last night by a margin of 90-57 which followed an 19-17 vote by their Senate counterparts demonstrates shows how clearly out-of-touch Democrats are with the everyday needs of Connecticut taxpayers.
With a $1 billion in the bank, with businesses thinking about their next move – out of state, with taxpayers already paying more taxes than any other citizens in the country, the Democrats said ‘we want more; Well, that dog won’t hunt.
In its editorial today, the Hartford Courant lamented the lack of leadership and vision by the majority party saying:
“As the legislative session nears next week’s finish line, the Democratic majority in the General Assembly is not making a very good case for being returned to power in the next election.”
“And the tax plan put forward by the Democrats this week – this year’s rendition of their longtime favorite, the millionaire’s tax – is a suspect product even among the party faithful.”
-Hartford Courant excerpts – May 31, 2007
The Republican budget alternative, which provides services and investments in health care, energy and the environment, and does it without new taxes, should be a starting point for negotiations.
Governor Rell and the Republican legislators do understand what the stakes are believe we can pass a budget without destroying our economy.
When are the Democrats going to tune in and get with the program?
Is that the same Chris healy who was running around to the RTC’s just a few monthe ago telling them that Rell’s tax hike was ONLY 10%? You bet!!
A man with real convictions, that Chris Healy!
[quote comment="10784"]Is that the same Chris healy who was running around to the RTC’s just a few monthe ago telling them that Rell’s tax hike was ONLY 10%? You bet!!
A man with real convictions, that Chris Healy![/quote]
That’s right, follow the keith strategy of blog commenting, when you don’t like the questions posed, throw some bombs and change the subject.
Who changed the subject, archie? ACR, introduced Healy at #2. I am just pointing out that he blows like the wind, just as Rell does. I have always been against the tax hikes just as I have been in favor of getting the state on gaap and haveing Rell issue exec orders that she can to reduce spending while improving services.
[quote comment="10792"]Who changed the subject, archie? ACR, introduced Healy at #2. I am just pointing out that he blows like the wind, just as Rell does. I have always been against the tax hikes just as I have been in favor of getting the state on gaap and haveing Rell issue exec orders that she can to reduce spending while improving services.[/quote]
How can someone change the subject when they post the first 2 comments?
That’s right, archie. ACR introduced the subject and I foillowed along to make sure everybody remembers who Healy is – the guy who wants the righteous right to take over the CT GOP.
[quote comment="10795"]That’s right, archie. ACR introduced the subject and I foillowed along to make sure everybody remembers who Healy is – the guy who wants the righteous right to take over the CT GOP.[/quote]
ACR posted quotes by Healy regarding the tax plan, he was not discussing him. You changed the subject and personally attacked Healy since you didn’t feel like addressing the questions posed at the end of ACR’s post…. either that or you didn’t read that far and just had this insuppressible urge to attack Healy. I wouldn’t put it past you.
I have addressed Healy’s bullshit and economic illiteracy in the past as well as his inability to build a GOP that includes anybody but the radical right such as yourself, arch.
In early May, after tax bills were reported to bring in a surplus of nearly $850 million, Mrs. Rell backed off her own tax increase and preached the idea of no tax increase with the zeal of a new convert.
even Cafero had remarked that Rell listened to the polls at the time of her conversion
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/31/nyregion/31conn.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin
>>build a GOP that includes anybody but the radical right
“Radical Right”????
You’re kidding.
The CT GOP is over 63% pro-choice last time I checked and is in fact the oldest civil rights organization in the State of Connecticut.
Further we field women candidates that the Dems refused due to their obvious lack of penis. (Odd, last time I tried to use mine to think ….I didn’t think right at all – makes no sense to insist on of those as a requirement for candidacy (Ann Dandrow held CT assembly seat 30 for 16 years as a Republican after a long career as a Dem serving on the BOE & Town Council).
“Radical Right”????
We fielded an openly Gay male for congress 2 times.
This is “Radical Right” to you?
[quote comment="10806"]I have addressed Healy’s bullshit and economic illiteracy in the past as well as his inability to build a GOP that includes anybody but the radical right such as yourself, arch.[/quote]
Oh, wow, and you think I’m a misinformed spin machine. Look at you go, damn.
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