Labriola, Rebimbas decry governor’s budget proposal

0
72
State representatives Rosa Rebimbas (R-70) and David Labriola (R-131).
State representatives Rosa Rebimbas (R-70) and David Labriola (R-131).

HARTFORD – State representatives Rosa Rebimbas (R-70) and David Labriola (R-131) decried Governor Dannel Malloy’s proposed budget as another unnecessary burden on Connecticut taxpayers.

Malloy presented a two-year, $43.8 billion budget proposal on Wednesday.

In a press release Rebimbas and Labriola criticized the proposal for its spending increase at a time when the state is facing a $2.5 billion budget deficit, according to the release. Malloy’s proposed budget includes a spending increase of 9.7 percent, $1.8 billion over the current budget, and bonding of $3.1 billion for the biennium, the release stated.

“At a time when Connecticut is facing a $2.5 billion deficit, Gov. Malloy is proposing to increase spending by 9 percent and also to raise taxes on our citizens. This is absolutely the wrong direction for the state and Connecticut’s taxpayers deserve better,” Labriola said in a statement. “Malloy’s budget is a house of cards which cannot stand.”

Rebimbas added “The devil, as they say, is in the details and this proposed budget details more spending, more taxes and budget gimmicks. Borrowing $750 million to pay the state’s day-to-day expenses, eliminating PILOT programs and increasing, instead of sun-setting, the onerous electric generation tax hurts both municipalities and businesses.”