| 02/11/2005 |
| Lawmakers criticize governor’s budget plan |
| By PENNY RIORDAN , Staff Writer |
|
NEW BRITAIN -- Tax increases proposed
by Gov. M. Jodi Rell are too burdensome to consumers, area lawmakers
said Thursday. As part of her two-year, $31.1 billion budget
plan, the governor proposed increasing taxes on alcohol, cigarettes
and gasoline. The tax increases would help reduce the state’s $1.3
billion deficit, Rell said during her Wednesday budget
address.
"It basically takes from the poor and middle -ncome people in New Britain and elsewhere," said state Rep. John Geragosian, D-25th District, at a press conference Thursday afternoon. Geragosian, along with state Reps. Peter Tercyak, D-26th District, Timothy O’Brien, D-24th District, Demetrios Giannaros, D-24th District and Christopher Donovan, D-84th District, expressed opposition to the governor’s spending plan during a press conference Thursday. Instead of enacting the so-called "sin tax" proposals, the state should increase taxes for the rich, the legislators said, adding that they plan to reintroduce legislation to up taxes for those who earn more than $1 million per year. "When times were good, I supported some of the tax cuts for the rich," Geragosian said. "Let’s have a system that’s fair instead of balancing the budget on the backs of the poor." The lawmakers also decried Rell’s proposed cuts to a state program that provides health care to poor families. Under the HUSKY program, both parents and children in poor families receive health insurance benefits from the state. However, if the governor’s budget is approved as is, parents would no longer receive benefits. Also, Rell’s proposal would increase prescription co-payments by $3. Madeleine Fontanez emigrated from Puerto Rico with her husband. She said the co-payment hike would burden her three-member family. "I can’t afford to pay $3 for all seven prescriptions," she said. Fontanez and her husband, who was recently in the hospital with kidney problems, are both searching for jobs. Members of the city’s Common Council also expressed concern that the budget did not increase state aid more; Rell’s plan outlines a $1.2 million increase to the city’s share of state education money. The 2-percent increase can not cover the 5.7-percent funding increase the city’s school district has asked for, said Michael Trueworthy, the council’s majority leader. Therefore, the city may have to increase taxes or trim spending, Trueworthy said. Not all area legislators had harsh words for the governor’s proposal, though. "From my community, these tax increases do add up," said state Rep. Elizabeth "Betty" Boukus, D-22nd District. "But I am keeping an open mind." Penny Riordan can be reached at priordan@newbritainherald.com, or by calling (860) 225-4601, Ext. 221. |
