Senate Dems Dig in Heels on Surplus
by Christine Stuart | February 13, 2008 5:01 PM
Posted to State Capitol
Determined to give back a projected $160 million state surplus, Senate Democrats held another press conference Wednesday to say that they want to refund taxpayers $100 to $300 if the surplus remains above $100 million through the end of the fiscal year.
“What we are doing is fighting for families and the governor at some level understands that,” Senate President Donald Williams said while standing in front of a sign quoting Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
The sign read, “I look forward to working with all of you … in both chambers to design a state stimulus package that works.” Below Rell’s quote, the sign also read, “We’re (still) ready.”
Rell has taken a cautious approach to spending the projected surplus. “Spending a ‘surplus’ that only exists on paper now - and is, in fact, shrinking as we speak - is extremely dangerous. No amount of stimulus now is worth a potential tax increase later,” she warned in a news release Monday.
Keep reading to see what Rell’s spokesman had to say about the latest proposal.
Williams said members of the Senate Democratic caucus understand why the governor is hesitant, and that is why they revised their plan to refund only 80 percent of the surplus if it remains above $100 million.
“I want to do everything I can to get something passed that’s real,” Williams said.
Rell’s spokesman, Chris Cooper, said the Senate Democrats’ revised plan is “long on rhetoric and short on detail.” He said the biggest refunds go to those who don’t even pay taxes, and that the plan offers “false hope,” because there might not even be any refunds if there is no surplus.
Click hereto see what your refund may be if the surplus remains above $160 million.
Comments (1)
Posted by: Joe | February 14, 2008 2:57 PM
The so-called stimulus plan is a bad idea on the federal level, and it is a bad idea on the state level. I can't believe I'm finding myself agreeing with the Governor but I am. If there's a surplus, then pay down debt or put it in the State's reserve ("rainy-day" fund). Christmas is over, and I wish everyone would stop trying to be Santa Claus.
This is amazing financial irresponsibility and demonstrates that no one party has a monopoly on dumb ways to use our tax dollars.