Check out these YouTube videos of the packed March 17 news conference announcing the Better Choices revenue plan:

Jamey Bell of CT Voices for Children outlining a balanced approach to reducing CT's budget deficit

William Cibes, Chancellor Emeritus and former Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, on revenue options that make sense for CT

Connecticut religious leaders urging lawmakers to adopt revenue options to close the budget deficit and protect vulnerable families

Phil Sherwood of CT Citizen Action Group on taxing the excess profits of electricity generators

Maggie Adair of CT Association of Human Services on why CT legislators must adopt revenue options to protect families

Also, see photos from the packed Better Choices news conference please subscribe to the Better Choices YouTube channel!

March 17, 2010
At a news conference today, Better for Choices for Connecticut released a report outlining several options to modernize Connecticut’s revenue system while closing our state’s massive budget deficit. The Better Choices coalition, made up of nonprofit providers, public service workers, and community and advocacy organizations, pressed legislators to adopt the measures to protect families in this devastating national recession, and maintain vital public services— including education, health, public safety, environmental protection, and transportation systems—when families are needing them most.

Increasing revenue, according to the Better Choices report, would align Connecticut with 30 other states that have acted in the last year to increase state revenues to not only keep pace with the growing need for public services, but to position themselves for future growth and sustainability when better economic conditions return. Notably, citizens in Oregon themselves voted to raise personal income taxes on higher-income households in order to maintain the state’s quality of life.

The menu of revenue options advocated by Better Choices for Connecticut includes proposals to:

• Close corporate tax loopholes that benefit multi-state companies over local companies;
• Evaluate the $5 billion in tax breaks in state tax laws and reduce or eliminate unproductive tax breaks;
• Increase income taxes for those who can best afford it, the state’s wealthy residents;
• Delay reductions in the gift and estate tax, a tax that affects only a handful of the state’s wealthiest residents;
• Either increase the sales tax or modernize it to cover services rather than only goods;
• Raise taxes on unhealthy products such as soda;
• Restore the scheduled Petroleum Gross Earnings Tax rate increase; and
• Tax excess profits of electricity generators.

Better Choices for Connecticut supporters are encouraged to attend a Better Choices News Conference and Advocacy Day on Wednesday, March 17 at 10 a.m. in Room 1A at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. At this event, Better Choices will release a report outlining options for modernizing Connecticut’s revenue system while closing our state’s budget deficit.

Better Choices for Connecticut, a statewide coalition advocating for revenue solutions, criticized Governor Rell and her latest budget proposal for failing to make the tough decisions that will make Connecticut more fiscally sound. By using one-time money to plug the hole in fiscal year 2011 and not including revenues as part of the solution, she is simply creating a larger budget deficit for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 that will have devastating effects on middle- and low-income families.

Better Choices for Connecticut, a statewide coalition advocating for state revenue solutions to the state’s revenue shortfall, called on Governor Rell to sign the budget bill approved today by the Connecticut General Assembly. The Coalition expressed support for the measure as one that, while containing some painful cuts, begins to make the state’s revenue system more fair and protects families who rely on services in the areas of health care, education, and human services. The Coalition warned that the Governor’s budget proposal would further delay Connecticut’s economy recovery, add to the ranks of the unemployed, drain public investment from the economy, and harm families struggling through an economic downturn.

Better Choices for Connecticut, a statewide coalition advocating for state revenue solutions, criticized Governor Rell’s latest state budget proposal as a fundamentally unfair plan relying on cuts that harm middle- and low-income families, while requiring no sacrifices from the state’s wealthiest residents and corporations. The coalition also argued that the Governor’s budget would further delay Connecticut’s economy recovery, add to the ranks of the unemployed, drain public investment from the economy, and pull the rug out from underneath families struggling through an economic downturn. The Coalition instead urged the Governor to adopt a more balanced approach between revenue increases and spending cuts, such as the tax and budget plans adopted by Appropriations and Finance Committees of the General Assembly.

"We need to address our state’s revenue shortfall with a revenue solution and avoid severe cuts that will cause damage to our economy and our struggling families,” said Maggie Adair, Policy Director at the Connecticut Association for Human Services and co-chair of Better Choices for Connecticut. “Governor Rell’s proposal is an anti-stimulus bill that fails to reform our inadequate revenue system."

Wednesday, April 22, 10 a.m.
Legislative Office Building, Hartford, Room 1A

Legislators need to hear from you about the crucial role that revenues play in protecting vital services to our state residents. Please join us for Better Choices for Connecticut Lobby Day and meet with your legislators and ask them to support progressive tax increases. Without revenues in the mix, there will be no choice but to decimate social services, education, public safety, community development, transportation, and many other things we care about and value in Connecticut.

Come at 10 a.m. to hear from legislators, pick up a Better Choices sticker and materials to help with your legislative visit. If you are a member of Better Choices for Connecticut, please make every effort to attend this important Lobby Day.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, April 2, 2009

Better Choices for Connecticut applauded the Connecticut General Assembly’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee today for releasing a revenue package that begins to reform the state’s imbalanced revenue system. “This is a giant step in the right direction,” said Maggie Adair, Policy Director of Connecticut Association for Human Services and co-chair of Better Choices for Connecticut. “We commend the Legislature for taking a realistic approach to the state budget gap. By proposing a progressive income tax, not only are they helping to alleviate some of the most devastating cuts called for by Governor Rell in February, but they are also addressing a fundamentally unfair aspect of Connecticut’s tax structure.” The revenue increases are critical to a budget that strives to preserve key provisions in the areas of health care, education, and human services.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2009

The day after a rally outside the State Capitol in Hartford with over a thousand Connecticut residents in support of the Better Choices for Connecticut revenue plan to close the budget gap, the call for progressive taxation has been heard by state legislators – in Albany, New York.

Tonight, New York State’s legislature and Governor have reached a tentative deal to raise income taxes on the state’s top earners as a way to help balance the state’s budget.

Democratic legislators are hosting Town Halls and Budget Forums across the state in March and early April. Some of the forums include both Senate and House members.

This is a great opportunity to talk about the need to protect vital services and inform legislators and forum attendees about the Better Choices for Connecticut revenue plan. Please use this opportunity to:

• Review the schedule for March and April events.
• Spread the word about the forums and encourage others to attend.
• Attend a local forum and ask legislators to support the Better Choices revenue plan.
• Print copies of the Better Choices fact sheet (PDF) and share it with attendees at the budget forum and with legislators.