Patch Op-Ed: Gordon Calls For Special Session

TOLLAND COUNTY, CT — Jeff Gordon, candidate for the 35th State Senate District, recently penned an op-ed piece for Patch calling on the Connecticut Legislature to hold a special session now "to help make the state more affordable for everyone."

Here is what Gordon wrote:

Connecticut each day is becoming unaffordable for more and more hard-working people, families, and job-creating businesses. This is unsustainable. I see it every day meeting and talking with people. We all feel the pain filling our cars with gas, buying groceries, purchasing clothes and paying electric bills. I filled up my car today and paid $120. People need immediate help.

State revenues are surging because of the tax increases and new taxes levied by Democrats in prior years, coupled now with high inflation. Household budgets are strained to the breaking point.

Connecticut will close its fiscal year with an estimated $956.4 million surplus. Factoring in the state's revenue cap, this leaves $746.2 million surplus funds available for tax relief. CT Republicans proposed a $1.2 billion tax relief package during the regular 2022 legislative session, but every Democrat in the state legislature voted against the tax reductions. CT Republicans are now proposing to use the surplus to provide this relief. This requires no budget cuts, preserves a historic $2.85 billion in additional contributions to pay down on pension debt, and maintains a record breaking $3.3 billion in the budget reserve fund (the maximum amount allowed).

We need action right now. We need state lawmakers who will fight for people to keep more of their hard-earned money, not give it in taxes and wait for a refund that benefits only a select few. We need strong voices. As a State Senator, that’s exactly what I will do. I would vote YES for immediately cutting the income, sales, meals, diesel tax, and highway truck taxes, while extending the gas tax cut. I would vote YES to increase the eligibility limit for the state’s energy assistance program. I am asking for your support and your vote in November so that we can bring common sense to state government.

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Dr. Jeffrey Gordon is Chair of Woodstock’s Planning & Zoning Commission. He is the endorsed Republican candidate for the 35th State Senate District, which includes the towns of Ashford, Chaplin, Coventry, Eastford, Ellington, Hampton, Stafford, Thompson, Tolland, Union, Vernon, Willington, and Woodstock.