Republican legislators, the minority party in the General Assembly, and some Democrats have expressed disappointment in the tax-cutting plan presented by leaders of the Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee
Connecticut’s state lawmakers have advanced a Democratic proposal to lower state income tax rates, but the plan has not satisfied some legislators who say it is not enough
Representative Holly Cheeseman, the panel’s top House Republican, said that the plan falls short of the income tax relief that Governor Lamont proposed, adding that it is “pretty stingy”. Cheeseman estimated that the average married couple would save about $300 a year, whereas Governor Lamont had estimated that they could save around $600 a year under his plan.
Representative Maria Horn, the committee’s co-chair, defended the package, stating that a range of other tax cuts is also included in the bill. She pointed out that taxes in Connecticut are not only personal income tax, but also a range of other taxes.
The package aims to strike a balance and help businesses, consumers, retirees, and others with tax reductions
However, the Democratic-controlled Appropriations Committee’s two-year $50.9-billion spending package has drawn criticism for not providing more money to human service programs, such as homeless shelters and addiction treatment. The committee’s Democratic leaders acknowledged that they were limited by the state’s cap on spending, which is expected to be debated in budget talks with Governor Lamont.
The tax-cutting plan and the spending package will be further discussed in the upcoming budget talks between the General Assembly and Governor Lamont. The legislators hope to find a balance between lowering taxes and spending on necessary programs for the state.
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