House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby The top Republican in the House of Representatives took aim Tuesday at proposals to regionalize school districts and expand the sales tax. House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, challenged Gov. Ned Lamont and his fellow Democrats in the legislature’s majority to focus more on options to reduce government spending. Democrats […]
Sales Tax
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With few options, Lamont considers taxing groceries
He says extending the sales tax to groceries, medications and other long-exempt items might be necessary to achieve fiscal stability.
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Ruling enables CT to capture millions in taxes from online sales
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Thursday opening the door for states to capture sales tax receipts for online and other remote transactions could help Connecticut capture more than $100 million annually in new revenues.
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Fiscal panel’s formula for revitalizing CT provokes Democratic resistance
Progressive Democrats in the General Assembly pushed back Friday against the state’s new fiscal stability panel, charging its recommendations shortchange key priorities, like poor cities, education and social services.
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CCM backs plan to revitalize CT — despite risk to local aid
Despite a proposal that could jeopardize state aid in the coming years, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities has endorsed the full report of the Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth, arguing it offers more long-term benefits for the state and its communities.
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Plan to revitalize CT runs into doubters of all persuasions
A much-anticipated report on stabilizing state finances and jump-starting Connecticut’s economy isn’t likely to get far before legislators adjourn in early May to run for re-election.
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State tax overhaul key to plan to revitalize CT
A state panel recommended a dramatic shift in state tax burdens Thursday from wealthy income taxpayers onto businesses and consumers as part of a sweeping plan to stabilize government finances and jump-start the economy.
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Partisan rift threatens efforts to close CT budget deficits
Democratic and Republican legislative leaders, who returned this week to the Capitol to open the 2018 session, conceded they are sharply divided on how to wipe more than $400 million in red ink off Connecticut’s books. And while they also pledged to reach for a bipartisan compromise, no one expressed optimism this would be achieved before Connecticut’s next governor takes office 11 months from now.
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Malloy to take one last shot at balancing CT’s books
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will use the final budget proposal of his tenure next week to urge lawmakers to close a nearly $165 million gap in next fiscal year’s finances and mitigate much larger shortfalls facing his successor.
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House sends veto-proof, bipartisan budget to Malloy
With the final flourish of a veto-proof margin, the House of Representatives voted Thursday to give final legislative passage to an overdue, bipartisan budget crafted without the direct involvement of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
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After 117-day marathon, Senate passes bipartisan budget
The Senate took a major step early Thursday toward ending Connecticut’s nearly 17-week budget impasse, overwhelmingly adopting a $41.3 billion, two-year plan that closes huge deficits without raising income or sales tax rates, imposes modest cuts on local aid, and provides emergency assistance to keep Hartford out of bankruptcy.
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AG offers no assurances on legality of Malloy budget order
Attorney General George Jepsen offered a legal opinion Tuesday that questioned the legality of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s plan to administer municipal aid in the absence of a state budget. But he offered Malloy and the legislature just one alternative — write a new state budget.
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Dems shy from sales tax increase in effort to end budget impasse
Democratic legislative leaders and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy made progress over the weekend toward a new plan to end the state budget standoff by week’s end — one that would abandon efforts to raise the primary sales tax rate of 6.35 percent.
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It’s official: CT finances in deficit after seven weeks with no budget
Just over seven weeks into the new fiscal year without an approved budget, state finances — not surprisingly — are running $94 million in deficit, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration reported Monday.
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Sales tax hike seems an ‘inevitability,’ but questions remain
Connecticut’s top state senator said Wednesday he believes moderate Democrats are “growing increasingly comfortable” with a sales tax increase that could ease pressure to slash municipal aid and help break an impasse that has left the state without a budget.