Rich don’t need tax increase to send a check

The people who said they can afford to pay more are free to do so — but don’t raise taxes on everyone else.

In the Register’s July 24th Forum, “Make us part of the solution in Connecticut,” 12 citizens claim that they “can afford to pay more to the state of Connecticut and are willing to”.

We challenge them to do that right now; they don’t need a tax increase to send Connecticut a fat check. It is evident that they wrote this letter to justify a tax increase for everyone else. Proposing to raise income taxes on the rich is a tired and old solution that doesn’t work.

Across the country, states with the highest tax burdens are in the worse fiscal shape; Illinois, Connecticut, New York and California are good examples.

The letter writers plan and information is flawed.

Connecticut had the largest tax increase ever, a few years ago and we are still bankrupt. The non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis said, “357 families in Connecticut account for 11.7% of the total Connecticut tax burden”.

What happens if a third of these families move to Texas or Florida?

In 2012 4,506 Connecticut residents moved to Florida taking with them $1.3 billion in income. Do we really want to chase more high-wage earners away?

Connecticut is not business, taxpayer or senior citizen friendly and will continue to push people and businesses out of the state. One hundred thousand people leave Connecticut every year; GE left, and Aetna, which has been in Hartford since 1853, is looking to get out.

This means fewer jobs and housing prices that will continue to plummet.

Connecticut has an insatiable appetite for money. What happened to the income tax that (former Gov. Lowell) Weicker put in? It was supposed to be the end-all solution and eliminate the sales tax, but it never did. Just look at (Gov. Dannel P.) Malloy’s record tax increase just four years ago. Facts such as these dictate that the deficit swells and the economy sags after tax increases

In our opinion, the group that wrote this piece wants to raise your taxes, while paying lip service to a balanced approach of tax increases and spending cuts. They list numerous programs that should not be cut, but don’t mention one that should be reduced. The solution is easy: Cut costs across the board, just like every sound business did during the Obama years had to.

Stop taxing Social Security on seniors, we’ll stay in Connecticut and pay all the other taxes.

Reduce regulations that deter businesses from staying and relocating here.

Revise workman compensation laws.

Reform our tax policy and make everyone pay their fair share even if it’s $100. Everyone should have “skin in the Game”.

Be fair to state workers and teachers and get pensions funded.

Restructure pensions and healthcare plans so they are geared like most businesses and don’t continue to bankrupt Connecticut.