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"The budget is once again front row and center as we face around a $3 billion deficit the next two years," Bocchino said in a statement. "The proposed budget continues to put Connecticut’s finances at risk and will further hurt businesses in a state that already is the most unfavorable toward them."
He slammed the revenue side of Gov. Dannel Malloy's proposed budget.
"Despite campaign promises of not raising taxes, the proposal includes lowering the sales tax but increasing state revenue by eliminating exemptions," Bocchino said. "The proposal eliminates the sales tax exemption on clothing and footwear and lowers the threshold for sales tax-free week from $300 to $100. This affects all of us, and I have joined the delegation in fighting this tax increase."
Bocchino is also slamming the prospect of tolls on state highways.
"Although the governor’s proposed budget eliminated the prospect of tolls, a bill raised by the Transportation Committee was brought to a public hearing in February. I joined the delegation in taking a firm stand against the bill," he said. "In written testimony, I told the Transportation Committee the proposal will increase pollution and traffic to those residents, like me, that live near the proposed toll locations.
"I also emphasized tolls will adversely affect our wonderful and unique local businesses that rely on customers from our neighboring state, and adversely residents who travel to New York for work and other expenditures.
"It is essential to the prosperity of Greenwich that this proposal not happen, and I am doing everything in my power to fight against it," Bocchino said.
To keep up to date with the work of the state legislature in Hartford, visit Bocchino's legislative website or Facebook page.
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