Frey Votes Against State Budget, Decries Its Tax Increase

The Ridgefield Press

September 3, 2009

State Rep. John H. Frey (R-111th) Monday voted against the budget, passed by the House of Representatives.

“I voted against this bill because there is no task more important to me than to put Connecticut residents back to work in this recession,” said Rep. Frey.

“The budget passed by the House of Representatives today will add to the 70,000 jobs our state has lost in the last two years by foisting the largest tax increase in state history on employers. Furthermore, by actually increasing state spending despite plummeting revenue collections, the Democrats have built a structural hole in state finances that will continue dog our budget year after year.

“As I speak to Ridgefielders about the state budget, the common theme is the state budget is too big — the state spends too much. This budget doesn’t do what nearly every homeowner and business owner has done — reduce spending. It actually spends more!”

Mr. Frey said the budget passed by the House on a party-line vote raises taxes by $1.5 billion on Connecticut individuals and business owners, despite job historic job losses, personal bankruptcies, and foreclosures over the last two years. In addition, while state revenues have declined by $2 billion in the last year, the budget makes no corresponding cuts to government spending, he said.

“Gov. Rell offered to meet the majority party with a revenue plan if they agreed to $520 million in spending cuts,” Rep. Frey said.

“That plan was rejected in lieu of higher spending, greater reliance on borrowing and more taxes. I cannot fathom that despite a 270% increase in state spending over the last 20 years, the majority cannot make a single reduction in the size of government in the name of fiscal responsibility. With this budget, we have further delayed making the hard decisions — the end result will be even more difficult years in the future.”

The governor has said she will allow the budget to stand, without her signature.