For Immediate Release: July 7, 2011

Rep. Dave Yaccarino: 1-800-842-1423

Jamison C. Bazinet, Press Aide: (860) 240-8726

www.repyaccarino.com

It’s a disheartening new day in Connecticut.  July 1^st has come and our taxes have gone up.  The state sales tax has risen to 6.35% and many items we used to pay zero tax on have had their exemptions taken away -- clothing and shoes that cost less than $50 and non-prescription medications to name a few.  But as harmful as these tax hikes are, the recent power grab granted to Governor Malloy by the legislature’s majority is far worse.
Late last Thursday night June 30^th -- the deadline for a balanced state budget -- the majority Democratic Party voted to give almost unlimited power to the Governor to make revisions to an underfunded and unbalanced budget that passed without a single Republican vote.  That failed budget hinged on state workers giving back $1.6 billion in concessions which weren't obtained.  I said at the time that the legislature needed a backup plan, and to prepare a comprehensive budget that all parties could agree to.  Instead, July 1^st came with the highest tax increase in state history and the promise of even more pain as the Governor now decides which state offices and programs stay open and which employees keep their job.
 
The elected members of the state legislature are responsible for finalizing and approving a state budget.  By ceding this authority to the Governor this legislature has abdicated their authority -- and with it the will of the people who elected us -- and its ability to make the proper decisions to move our state out of the massive hole we find ourselves in and towards fiscal prosperity.  Our government was firmly established with three co-equal branches to make sure no single group or individual had more power or influence over the people. We must avoid making the mistakes our Founding Fathers warned us about.
Instead of taking the easy way out and allowing the Governor to pick “winners and losers,” the state legislature needs to go back to doing their jobs, return to session and work out the problems we were elected to fix.  If we have to sit down and go through the budget line-by-line then we should do just that.  Months ago an alternative budget was presented by the Republican minority that balanced the budget, didn’t increase taxes and preserved essential state and town services.  Instead of using those ideas- or even using them as a springboard for discussion- the Governor and the Democrat majority party went on their own and passed an impossible budget that relied on empty promises and failed concessions.
The question we need to answer going forward is how to get back to fiscal responsibility?
I believe we must cut out-of-control spending, eliminate overlapping state agencies, reduce overhead, become more business-friendly, sell off unused or underutilized state assets and reduce redundancies in the state workforce.
We all must work together for the common good of Connecticut, regardless of personal party or politics. Good ideas matter more than Democrat or Republican ideas.         

As always, my door is open and I’m here for you if you have questions or concerns, need help tracking particular legislation or want to share your opinion.  If I can be of service please do not hesitate to contact me at 1-800-842-1423 or dave.yaccarino@housegop.ct.gov

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Rep. Yaccarino represents the 87^th district covering North Haven.

NORTH HAVEN -- State Rep. Dave Yaccarino, R-North Haven, will meet with constituents from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the West Ridge fire station on Ridge Road. Yaccarino invites everyone to stop in and share their concerns, ideas and questions.

Yaccarino also will be out in the community on Saturday, when he and a group of volunteers clean up the yards of two homes owned by senior citizens, one on Redbrick Lane and the other on Grove Road. The clean-up starts at 10 a.m.

"This winter took a toll on a lot of people, especially our elderly population. I organized this spring clean-up effort to help seniors who can’t quite maintain their properties as they once did," he said.

For more information or if you would like to volunteer please contact Michael Rell, director of outreach for the House Republican Caucus at 1-860-240-8780.

To keep up to date on Rep. Yaccarino’s news and events please visit www.repyaccarino.com or contact his office at 1-800-842-1423.

NORTH HAVEN — State Rep. Dave Yaccarino and Sen. Leonard A. Fasano, both R-North Haven, will meet with constituents from 6:30 to 8 tonight in a town hall meeting in the community room of the North Haven Public Library, 17 Elm St.

The legislators invite public to share their concerns and to ask questions about the state budget, the looming deficit and alternatives to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposal for tax increases. Both legislators said they’re concerned with the impact of the governor’s budget on families across Connecticut.

“I applaud the governor for seeking $2 billion in concessions from state employees and I wish him success but we still need to keep an eye on cutting spending,” said Fasano, who suggests real downsizing beyond eliminating 150 jobs in a 46,000-person work force by considering the privatization of services and selling assets.

The governor’s budget increases state spending by nearly $1 million and relies on increased tax revenue at a time when many Connecticut families, especially the middle class, are hurting, they said.

“Connecticut families are already struggling in this economy and the governor’s proposal doesn’t go far enough with spending cuts before raising taxes on basic necessities. North Haven families have had to tighten their belts and do more with less; it’s time for the state to do the same,” Yaccarino said.

For more information, contact Peggy Deschenes at 800-842-1421 or email peggy.deschenes@cga.ct.gov.

State Rep. Dave Yaccarino, R-North Haven,  will meet with constituents from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday March 2 at the McDonald's on Washington Avenue.
Yaccarino invites constituents to stop in for a complimentary cup of coffee and share their concerns, ideas and questions.
For information call Yaccarino at 800-842-1423 or his Website at www.repyaccarino.com