A Big Gulp at Lamont’s speech
HARTFORD — Lawmakers took a Big Gulp as they listened to Gov. Ned Lamont’s budget address in the ornate Hall of the House at the state Capitol Wednesday. Literally, a Big Gulp for about 15 of them.
Members of the Conservative Caucus showed up with 30-ounce Big Gulp containers from 7-Eleven, filled with some nastylooking, brightly colored sugary drinks — to make a point about Lamont’s plan to tax sweetened drinks by 1.5 cents per ounce.
“We did it as a silent and mild protest to the new taxes that are in the budget,” said Sen. Rob Sampson, R-Wolcott. “It’s the exact opposite of what we should be doing.”
He was about halfway through finishing the drink — red fruit punch. I asked whether he’d keep going. “I may, it depends,” he said. “My blood pressure is already high.”
Governor “Mom and Dad” Lamont says he’s doing it for our health, not the money. But it’s not chump change. It would raise $163 million in Fiscal 2021, the first year it would take effect under Lamont’s proposal.
I asked Livvy Floren, R-Greenwich, why few if any Fairfield County Republicans had a Big Gulp container. “We’re more sophisticated,” she said, smiling.
That was a dig at Sen. Alex Bergstein, D-Greenwich, who was quoted in a Hartford Courant story saying Gold Coast residents understand the need for highway tolls because they’re “sophisticated.”
Unfortunately for the Conservative Caucus members, Lamont didn’t give them a chance for a Big Gulp moment. His 3,860word speech didn’t have a word about the sugary drinks tax.