State Democrats not helping middle class

Connecticut Democrats talk the talk. But they don’t walk the walk.

The Democratic state Senate leader said he wants equity in state tax policy and a budget that avoids regressive taxes and user fees that hurt low- and moderate-income families. I agree with that goal wholeheartedly. The problem is state Democrats are doing the exact opposite. They are proposing regressive new taxes on things like gasoline, food and health insurance, at the same time they’ve given tax breaks and bailouts to the most well-connected.

People are already struggling to afford necessities, yet Connecticut Democrats are proposing a new $100 million tax on gasoline that will make it even more expensive to get to work and balance a family budget. As a Tufts University report on their proposal explains, “Gas price increases also tend to affect poor families more acutely, as they spend a higher portion of their income on gasoline.”

Long lines for free food persist more than a year into the pandemic and grocery prices are rising. And Democratic policies will increase the costs of food at the grocery store even further by establishing new taxes on trucks and fuel.

Health care remains unaffordable and inaccessible for far too many, yet state Democrats want to put a new $50 million tax on all health insurance policies.

Connecticut holds the title of being dead last in job growth and personal income growth in the nation, yet Connecticut Democrats have backed a state-run health program that will jeopardize 50,000 jobs in our flagship industry and the workforce it supports.

It’s infuriating because it doesn’t have to be this way … if only Democrats stopped giving bailouts and tax breaks to the wealthiest of Connecticut residents.

Last month, Connecticut Democrats fast-tracked a bill that gave a $300 million tax cut to a group of commuters who earn a median income of $433,000.

Democrats are also primed to give UConn Health Center another bailout, this time totaling over $50 million annually for the next three years to pay for pension fund overruns.

Democratic policies have not promoted equity. They have not given people a ladder out of poverty. They have not achieved tax fairness. They have not created the opportunities families need to achieve success. And despite all their talk this year, Democrats’ actions continue to make the working and middle class pay more and struggle more.

Republicans offer a better way for Connecticut’s future. We do not put the wealthy before others. We want to make Connecticut affordable for all people.

Connecticut does need tax fairness, but Democratic policies will only make our state more unaffordable for the middle class who can least afford it.