Labriola Joins Republicans As They Offer Third No Tax Increase Alternative Budget

In an effort to fuel stalled budget negotiations, House and Senate Republicans today delivered their third No Tax Increase budget to solve the state’s fiscal crisis through governmental consolidations and spending cuts, but does not cut aid to towns and cities.State Representative David Labriola (R-131) joined with Republicans in using revised budget revenue estimates that required additional adjustments, and have again demonstrated that the state can balance its budget with no tax increases. Democrats want to raise taxes by a whopping $1.8 on businesses and workers with no tax breaks for the middle class. Republicans today proposed cutting the bloated state bureaucracy by an additional $446 million to meet the revised budget revenue estimates.

“The first thing we should be doing during this economic crisis is cutting spending where we can,” said Rep. Labriola.  “So far that hasn’t happened, and I don’t think we should be asking the people of Connecticut to foot the bill for more spending until we have done that.”

Republicans rolled funding back in some state programs to slightly more than 2007 levels. The budget is balanced through a series of new revenue streams similar to those adopted or proposed by Democrats and Gov. Rell:

·         A $75 million tax amnesty program;

·         $70 million in state asset sales such as unused property

·         Additional securitization of state assets for $125 million

·         $50 million in additional debt collection for individuals and companies that owe the state fees and fines;

·         $10 million for cell towers on state buildings.

 Labriola noted that this new budget adopts many of the aspects of other proposals that have already been negotiated, such as reimbursement formulas for Medicare and Medicaid.

 Budget negotiations are expected to resume next week.