Rep. Bacchiochi listens to debate during discussion on the House floor

Hartford- State Representative Penny Bacchiochi (R-Somers) has achieved a perfect attendance record for roll call votes taken in the state House of Representatives during the 2010 legislative session, according to information provided by the House Clerk’s Office.

“Every bill we consider will affect someone in Connecticut either positively or negatively,” Rep. Bacchiochi said. “That is why we have to be on the floor as often as possible – not just for roll call votes, but to participate in debates and to pay attention to what is going on behind the scenes so that when we cast a vote, it will be an informed one.”

The House of Representatives cast 271 votes during the regular session which ran from February to May this year. There was also a special session held to deal with changes to Connecticut’s campaign finance law and 8 votes to override vetoes made by Governor Rell. In total the House of Representatives cast 279 votes during the 2010..

“I take my responsibilities as a state representative very seriously,” Bacchiochi said. “My job is to ensure that the interests and needs of the citizens of the 52nd Assembly District and elsewhere in Connecticut are protected and advanced. To do that effectively requires me to be present and voting on the floor of the State House – and in my committees – as often as possible.”

Bacchiochi was one of just 20 of the 151 representatives to cast all 279 votes.

HARTFORD – On the last day Connecticut residents have to mail in their tax bills, House Republicans unveiled their 2011 budget that erases the $736 million deficit for 2011 without raising taxes; instead, consolidating government agencies, shrinking the public workforce and rolling back spending to 2009 levels.

The balanced plan preserves municipal and school aid, and sets aside $74.5 million to encourage job growth. Companies that hire the unemployed can earn $17.5 million in tax credits, and the plan establishes a $25 million small business revolving loan fund, and eliminates the Business Entity Tax.

“There is never a desirable solution to a budget deficit but, I believe, this is the right solution. The people and businesses in Connecticut are struggling right now and they should not be forced to bear the burden of runaway spending. This plan encourages job growth while refusing to raise taxes,” said State Representative Penny Bacchiochi (R- Somers).

“We really have to close this budget gap immediately,” said Bacchiochi. “The longer we wait to fix this deficit the fewer options there will be available to us and, the fewer options we have, the more painful this process is going to be for everyone involved.”

 The hallmarks of the savings:

• $58 million in line item cuts to 2009 levels;
• $64 million in early retirement for state workers;
• $10 million in state agency consolidations;
• $6.4 million to shed state office leases; 
• $20 million in privatization of state functions;
• $150 million in state worker concessions, including wage freezes, furlough days and health care;
• $3.8 million in legislative pay cuts, elimination of franked mail and travel.

The budget also makes significant investments in job creation and retirement security:

• $200 million in previously cancelled contributions to state employee pensions;
• Elimination of the Business Entity Tax to save companies $32 million;
• Creation of the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund of $25 million;
• Jobs Creation Tax Credit of $3.5 million.

 Republicans outlined a variety of small and large potential savings in the state work force. For example, if all state workers agree to freeze wages for one year it would save $183 million; one furlough day results in a $9 million savings.

 “With so many businesses closing and jobs being lost our economy simply can’t sustain any additional taxes. It’s time to get serious- cut spending and encourage job growth. It just makes sense,” Bacchiochi added.

 Bacchiochi and her Republican Colleagues called upon Democrats to take action immediately and work in a bi-partisan manner and work toward a reasonable solution.

 Two tax hikes alone – the estate and hospital taxes – amount to more than $282 million in new revenue.

 “The bills coming out of the Finance Committee hit just about everyone in the state of Connecticut. The Democrats really sent a clear message today ‘No matter if you live here, work here or play here- you aren’t welcome’,’’ State Representative Penny Bacchiochi (R- Somers) said. “The Democrats are still focused on treating the symptoms when, we should be treating the root problem- our spending problem. Unless and until we do that, the budget deficit will continue to grow.’’

 Connecticut will have the highest estate or “death tax’’ in the country at a maximum 20 percent of the value of an estate under the plans approved by the Democrats against unanimous Republican opposition. The Democrats want to raise the taxes on estate by a whopping 66 percent and tax sick people in hospitals by $207 million.

 A 5 percent tax on utility bills will raise millions more. On Monday the Democrats voted to raise hotel room taxes by 3 percent costing tourists and business travelers $19 million more a year.

 A “unitary’’ tax on corporations that have operations in Connecticut will make Connecticut even less business-friendly than it already is, Bacchiochi predicted.

 “Unemployment is up over 9% and businesses have been closing at an alarming rate. Now we are going to make it even more difficult for businesses to remain here? This is ludicrous.”

 Just last week the budget-writing Appropriations Committee voted to actually increase spending by $373 million despite a $500 million budget deficit right now and an anticipated $700 million budget hole next fiscal year. Bacchiochi said Republicans will continue to offer alternatives to any new taxes this legislative session.

 By signing the statement the legislators, on behalf of the Connecticut General Assembly, promise to honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA).

 Representative Penny Bacchiochi (R- Somers, Stafford and Union) signed the statement of support on behalf of the Connecticut House Republican Caucus.

 “I am proud of the men and women that honorably serve our state and our country in the guard and reserves,” Bacchiochi stated. “This statement is a relatively small but important gesture to formally signify the legislature’s support of our country’s service members.”

 The mission of the ESGR is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflict through mediation. For more information please visit their website at www.esgr.org

Senators Guglielmo and Colapietro and Representatives Lesser and Graziani were the other legislators that signed the statement along with Rep. Bacchiochi.

Even worse, they provided no clear idea of when they would mop up the red ink.

“If a contractor found a leak in your roof you’d fix the problem before it got worse, right? We know we’ve got structural problems in state government, problems that cost taxpayers a lot of money,” Bacchiochi said. “Yet here they go again—ignoring an issue that has ‘collapse’ written all over it.”

It was a year ago that super-majority legislators ignored warnings from Bacchiochi and her minority party colleagues about a lasting fiscal crisis, an attitude that led to record levels of borrowing and fresh taxes on some of Connecticut’s largest employers in order to mask the state’s financial troubles.

Bacchiochi and her minority party colleagues have repeatedly offered alternative budgets, including a deficit mitigation plan two weeks ago that doesn’t raise taxes, restores proposed funding cuts to municipalities, eliminates public money for political campaigns while protecting against special interest influence, and closes the budget deficit mostly through fair spending cuts across all agencies.