Thank Legislators Who Support a Progressive Income Tax

There's an 8 billion dollar hole in the budget. And we'll all have to sacrifice to close it.

Gov. Rell thinks the working and middle class should bear the whole burden in cuts to healthcare, education and more. But some legislators are starting to see that there's a better choice. Two legislative committees passed a budget with a progressive income tax, raising rates on those earning over $250,000 a year.

It's the best way to make sure those who can most afford it are sharing in the burden to fix our budget too.

This new budget proposal from is certainly far from perfect. But it's the first serious proposal that asks everyone to pitch in. So it's important to tell our legislators that they we're glad they're moving in the right direction.

Tell the legislators who voted for the progressive income tax that they have our support.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Thanks for supporting the progressive income tax

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Praise is due for making some tough decisions and taking the first steps towards an honest and fair budget.

Thank you for recognizing that shared sacrifice means that Connecticut's wealthiest residents should make major contributions towards filling the enormous hole in the budget. For decades the wealthy in Connecticut and the United States have seen their taxes lowered by cutting capital gains rates, lowered estate taxes, and lowered tax rates in general. At the same time effective tax rates for working families and the middle class have increased.

The Governor's budget was fundamentally dishonest and cruel. It balanced a sham budget on the backs of the poor, the disabled, the elderly and students. The Appropriations budget makes strides in rebalancing those cuts. In many ways it does not go far enough. There's more to do to protect working families.

The Finance Committee has proposed a bold package to fill the hole that the Governor created by putting out a dishonest budget. While there are changes that I would make to raise more revenue and to make the tax package more fair, I am especially pleased by the progressive tax proposals. Connecticut remains competitive in our region. I would like to see some more attention paid to the ways corporations evade paying their fair share of taxes. So many large profitable companies continue to hide their profits or are exempted from taxes all together while smaller companies pay their fair share simply because they can not afford to hire high priced tax attorneys.

There are many weeks still to go before a final budget agreement is reached. I will continue to support your work for a fair budget.

Thanks very much.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 07, 2009

Background Information

The Appropriations Committee last Thursday voted on a budget that acknowledges the depth of the state budget deficit and yet preserves critical services for our most vulnerable citizens and funds core functions that all Connecticut citizens value. On the same day, the Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee voted on a revenue package that asks everyone to share in funding a solid and honest budget.

It is important that legislators who voted in favor of the spending or revenue plan know that the people of Connecticut support them for making tough decisions and taking the first steps toward an honest and fair state budget plan. These legislators are getting hammered with calls and emails criticizing their votes, so they really need to hear from supporters!

The Democrats' spending package restores many of the cuts to health care, education, and other services that the Governor proposed in her own budget. The Democrats' budget also addresses the real budget deficit, which the Governor failed to do in her own budget. At the same time, the Democrats' revenue package asks shared sacrifice of everyone: our wealthiest citizens, our business community, and middle- and low-income families.