SEBAC Leadership Acknowledges New Revenues in Governor Rell’s Latest Budget Proposal; Calls It “Half Measure”
The leadership of the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) today acknowledged Governor M. Jodi Rell’s proposal to increase the income tax on households reporting over a million dollars in earnings, but said that it is only a “half measure.” In fact, some parts of the Governor’s latest proposal to reach a budget compromise will only make a bad situation worse. Her plan includes an additional $520 million in cuts to vital services, eliminates the millionaire’s inheritance tax, and reduces sales taxes, even those on luxury items.
“We’ve maintained all along during these budget negotiations that Connecticut’s crisis cannot be solved through cuts to vital public services,” said Sal Luciano, Executive Director of Council 4 AFSCME. “Our members stepped up this year and agreed to significant givebacks to help balance the budget. It’s too bad the Governor is still sheltering billionaires by cutting their inheritance taxes” Luciano continued.
Connecticut is one of the last states in the nation without a budget, and is the only state in the region that has not faced its revenue problem head-on. Residents have shown consistently over the last few months that they are worried about maintaining important services like Family Resource Centers, AIDS/HIV programs, and making higher education funding available during this recession.
“Our members who work in Connecticut’s community colleges are hearing over and over that students and parents are worried. They are worried that the Student Loan program won’t be there to help them with the rising cost of a higher education” said Steve Cohen, the President of 4Cs/SEIU Local 1973. “That’s not government bloat, as the Governor calls it. It’s a vital service. And the only way to pay for it is to ask the wealthy and corporations to help out” Cohen continued. “How does tossing the estate tax bring in needed funds?” he asked rhetorically.
Legislative leaders were scheduled to go into Special Session on Thursday, which has been postponed until next week to review the Governor’s proposal. Each new month without a budget brings a new Executive Order from the Governor’s Office and with it, more cuts in services to Connecticut’s vulnerable and middle class families.
Council 4 and 4Cs are two of the unions in SEBAC, which serves to unite approximately 50,000 Connecticut State public service workers to address issues of common concern. To learn more about the coalition’s campaign for a fair budget and a livable state with great public services visit www.InThisTogetherCT.org.
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