How do we make Connecticut more affordable for everyone? I have a plan:

Audit every departmental budget in the state to find cost savings.

I am used to searching for ways to maximize budget dollars and cut back on waste.  As the head of the Finance and Budget Department for the Newington Board of Education, I used the audit process to increase the school budget while simultaneously lowering the mill rate in Newington. It’s one of the accomplishments I am most proud of because it eased the financial burden for every resident.

Additionally, as a former federal loan officer, I know how many grants and loans are available to help small businesses sustain and grow. As a State rep, I will fight passionately to bring that money to Connecticut, because when local businesses thrive, we all win.

Eliminate any consideration of a Transportation and Climate Initiative Program and other tax that impacts those who travel our roadways.

By tolling our roads, adding taxes and fees to the truckers who use them, and penalizing all of us who rely on gas-powered vehicles to live, we are overwhelming every Connecticut resident with painful taxes. Clearly, climate is an important consideration, but we should not be pursuing an “all-green” energy system at the expense of our lower- and middle-class families. I believe we should look for responsible initiatives that reduce our reliance on oil and gas without punishing our residents.  Too many Connecticut families can’t afford a Tesla or other types of electric vehicles, and public transportation is not a realistic option for some especially if they work in the evening hours. 

Evaluate our current energy policy.

Connecticut has one of the highest costs of energy in the country. That is unacceptable. As Eversource demands “transmission costs” that substantially raise the cost of electricity to hedge against the coming “green” requirements, we all suffer. Our veterans, seniors and the working poor suffer most of all.  We must find every way possible to remove taxation and usage charges and encourage competition among energy providers to bring costs down again.

Restructure Connecticut’s income tax.

In a state that has been generously blessed by resources (including a well-educated population), we should not have to punish residents for playing their part in our economic engine.  We can realistically eliminate our state’s income tax on the first $250,000 of earned income, eliminate the need for a CT tax return, and put an approximately 5-7% flat tax on incomes/earnings over $250,000.  These measures will stimulate buying and spending, relieve financial hardships for many and encourage businesses to consider setting up shop or expanding in CT.

Cut back on over-regulation of business.

We are one of the richest (if not richest) state in the nation, but we feel the need to lay the financial burden of this over regulated state squarely on the middle class and small business owners.  Professional fees, licenses and other requirements add up quickly, and it’s a major reason that many businesses are packing up and moving to other more business-friendly states. We can’t afford to lose employers – we must do better. 

The time is now to make Connecticut affordable. Don’t let our current governor fool you into believing we are on firm footing financially – nothing could be further from the truth. We must begin to manage our state budget more responsibly today - it’s the only way to prevent the sinkhole of pensions, irresponsible borrowing and payments to special interests from crippling our state.