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GOP Reaction to Shumlin-Smith Proposal |
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HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT WITH DEMOCRAT BUDGET PROPOSAL
February 26, 2009 CONTACT: Rep. Patti Komline (908) 938-1616 Montpelier – The House Minority leader today expressed disappointment with the budget proposal put forward by House Speaker Shap Smith and Senate President Pro Tem, Peter Shumlin.
After not enacting any necessary cuts in the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Adjustment bill, and in fact increasing spending by over $800,000, Smith and Shumlin today announced that they will look to enact $33 million in tax increases to be included in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget.
“This proposal is extremely disappointing,” said Rep. Patti Komline of Dorset. “At a time when our Vermont families and small businesses are struggling to pay their bills, any proposals to increase sales and use taxes, income taxes, and rooms and meals taxes, send exactly the wrong message.”
“It is time for responsible leadership in the State Legislature,” continued Komline. “We are in the middle of an economic recession that we cannot tax our way out of. We must structurally reform government and make difficult, but necessary, spending cuts, while protecting our most vulnerable. But we cannot raise taxes on our struggling Vermont families and businesses.”
On a positive note, Republicans are pleased that Democrat leaders look favorable upon Rep. Peg Flory’s legislation (H.204) to create a Department of Revenue, and included the provision in their outline.
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