Rep. Ferguson speaks about state budget cuts during event in New Fairfield

Rep. Ferguson Fears Middle Class the New Target in State Budget Crisis

HARTFORD – State Representative Michael Ferguson (R-138) today explained his opposition to new taxes and fees included in a budget proposal released by House Democrats this week, stating “a sales tax increase is still a tax increase” and that he will continue to resist raising taxes on Connecticut residents as a means to balance the state budget.

Although no date has been set, majority legislative leadership has indicated a preference to vote on their budget during the week of September 11.  House Democrats recently released a budget proposal that contains over $1 billion in new taxes, while reducing municipal and education aid.  They propose raising the sales tax to 6.85%, $50 million of new motor vehicle fees, as well as taxes and fees on cigarettes, home heating oil, prescription drugs, and other items.  At the same time, Governor Malloy is still supporting his proposal to shift to municipalities the responsibility for one-third of the cost of the state’s annual contributions to the teachers’ pension fund.

Rep. Ferguson and fellow House Republicans have been on record since January maintaining adamant opposition to any kind of tax increase for Connecticut residents. He and his colleagues have also continued to stand firm against the governor’s proposal to shift responsibility for the teachers’ pension contributions to the towns, because it would lead to dramatic property tax increases, which they have called “unfair to municipalities” because they do not control pension costs.

“It is important to remember how we got to this point where majority leadership is now telling us that we have no choice but to include these new taxes and fees in a budget,” said Rep. Ferguson.  “All year, legislative Republicans have produced several versions of a budget proposal that maintained current levels of funding for education and municipal aid without increasing taxes by significantly reducing the size of state government.  All year, our ideas were summarily ignored – we weren’t even allowed to discuss them on the House floor.  Instead, the majority party tried to push gimmicks like tolls to raise money in the short-term.  Now, two months into the new fiscal year, House Democrats have the nerve to lecture us on why we have to approve a budget that forces middle class families to foot the bill for reckless state spending rather than the bloated bureaucracy which caused the problem in the first place.” 

Rep. Ferguson urged against raising any kind of tax, noting the affects the sales tax hike and other new taxes could have on Connecticut’s middle class and questioning the wisdom of more tax increases as a sensible long-term strategy.

“Each tax proposal in the Democrats’ budget will directly impact middle class families by overall making it more expensive to live here, at a time when families are still reeling from two record tax increases in the past six years,” said Rep. Ferguson.  “I am truly astounded by the shortsightedness of levying more new taxes in a desperate attempt to plug a hole in the state budget.  How does that work to win back people’s confidence in Connecticut?  How does that convince the businesses and families who are fleeing the state to come back?”

“This budget proposal is more of the same and I want to reassure my constituents that I will not vote for any tax increase or any attempt to balance the budget on the backs of middle class families,” added Rep. Ferguson.

State Representative Michael Ferguson represents the 138th district communities of Danbury, New Fairfield, and Ridgefield.  He is a member of the General Assembly’s Education, Transportation, and Internship committees.

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Submitted by New Fairfield, CT

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