Senate Leadership
April 4, 2006
Looney Gains Mayors' Support for Earned Income Tax Credit
Proposal to assist the working poor gains momentum
State Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) today secured the support of mayors from across the state for his proposal for a refundable, state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to help the working poor of Connecticut.
Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez, Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi, West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka and Windham First Selectman Michael Paulus were among those announcing their support for the measure, which is included in the revenue plan passed yesterday by the General Assembly's Finance Committee.
"I am very pleased that these influential municipal chief elected leaders have endorsed and are enthusiastically supporting this very important measure," Sen. Looney said. "It would help working families become more self-sufficient, it would enhance the fairness of Connecticut's tax code, and it would provide an effective stimulus for the Connecticut economy."
The state EITC means those who now receive the federal earned income tax credit could "piggyback" on that and receive an additional 10 percent credit from the state. Taxpayers with incomes of less than $12,000 with no children, along with families with two or more children and annual incomes under $37,000 would be eligible.
Added Sen. Looney, "Economic self-sufficiency should be a goal for our state both because it is good for these citizens and because it is good for Connecticut. These low-income workers truly need more assistance than their higher-paid colleagues, but unlike all of our neighboring states, we currently do not offer them this help which would allow them to approach a better standard of living."
Bridgeport Mayor Fabrizi praised Sen. Looney for his advocacy for the EITC. "Like Sen. Looney, I support the Earned Income Tax Credit because it puts money directly into the pockets of those who need it most. Sen. Looney has been pushing this for years. This is our year," he said.
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Senator Williams’ Larry Cook |
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Senator Looney’s Larry Cook |
