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.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Members and supporters of Better Choices for Connecticut gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday to oppose cuts in vital services and to show support for increased revenue. More than a thousand state residents converged on Hartford to urge the Governor and Legislature to stop the cuts, enact fair taxes and help Connecticut overcome the economic crisis.

Rally speakers highlighted the many ways in which the fiscal crisis is wreaking havoc on people’s lives and how much worse it will be if Connecticut’s budget is balanced solely with cuts to life-saving services. Rally emcee, Shawn Lang of the CT AIDS Resource Coalition discussed potentially devastating cuts to human services proposed by both the Governor and the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee noting that, “if these cuts go through, more and more Connecticut residents will fall through a safety net already rife with holes.”

Join with neighbors, friends, community groups labor and others to support these Better Choices for our State Budget that will stop the cuts and help Connecticut survive this difficult economic crisis

• Increase income tax rates for those who can best afford it
• Close corporate tax loopholes
• Increase the sales tax by one percentage point
• Scale back public subsidies to the entertainment industry
• Increase cigarette and alcohol taxes
• Transfer money from the state’s Rainy Day Fund

A newly formed campaign in Connecticut announced its "Better Choices" budget plan to reform the state tax system and raise the revenue to protect crucial public structures – like schools, health care programs, roads, environmental protection agencies, and public safety organizations – from severe cuts that would undermine the state's economic recovery and quality of life.

On February 2, 2009, the new "Better Choices for Connecticut" campaign, which was formed by nonprofit providers, public service workers, and community and advocacy organizations, released a policy paper explaining a detailed plan to balance the state's budget through increased revenues. Connecticut Voices for Children is a member of the new coalition. The group says that proposals that depend heavily on service cuts will only deepen the recession in the short term and make the state less fiscally sound in the long-run.

Revenues in the "Better Choices" tax plan for Fiscal Year 2010 come from:

• Raising income taxes on the state’s wealthiest residents ($0.8 to 1.2 billion)
• Closing corporate tax "loopholes" ($130 to 150 million)
• A one percentage point increase in the sales tax ($575 to 625 million). This would be offset by new tax credits aimed at stimulating the labor force and economy:
• a state earned income tax credit (-$50 million)
• a new small business property tax credit (-100 million)
• Scaling back public subsidies to the entertainment industry ($90 to 100 million)
• Increased taxes on alcohol and tobacco ($78 to 80 million)
• Funds expected from the federal economic stimulus plan ($700 million)
• Funds drawn from the state's "Rainy Day Fund" ($500 million)

More details can be found in the news release and proposal below.

• News release (PDF)
• State budget proposal (PDF)

Organizations who want to join the Better Choices coalition can fill out the sign-on form.

• Organization Sign-on Form (Word)