The Hartford Way: Keep Raising Taxes In Connecticut

IBD ^ | June 5,2015 | EDITORIAL

[Hojczyk]

So now several of the largest corporations in the state, including Yankee mainstays such as insurance giants Aetna and Travelers, as well as General Electric, are threatening to leave and get out of this abusive relationship.

GE's CEO Jeff Immelt told his thousands of Connecticut-based employees that he has put together a team to evaluate a move to another state with "a more pro-business environment."

He says the company's state taxes have increased five times since 2011 and the new hike would impose "significant and retroactive tax increases for businesses."

Aetna complained that it already pays $65 million a year in state and local taxes and under this budget its burden rises another 27%.

What has infuriated Connecticut taxpayers is that in a state that already has the third-highest state and local taxes in the nation, income taxes are headed up yet again. Doubly infuriating is that Dan Malloy, the liberal Democratic governor, pledged in his re-election campaign last year that "there will not be a tax increase."

The Northeast state was once one of the richest places in America, and now it's losing out to the rest of America in nearly every category — jobs, population and income. A state that ranks in the bottom five in nearly every ranking of economic climate has just labored to make things even worse.

Don't be surprised if Malloy and his tax-hike cronies are knocking on taxpayers' doors in another year or two asking for more still. It's become the Hartford way. The mystery is why the voters of Connecticut keep tolerating such incompetent leadership.

[Hojczyk]

Only fools live in the Northeast….they are becoming like Detroit…only problem is the fools move to other states and ruin them…

[boycott]

Way too many people on the government’s payroll.

The working class cannot afford it any longer.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Government needs your money for urgent things like global warming, LGBT research, EPA regulations, public employee unions, and high speed rail.

After all, you earn more than enough.

[Leaning Right]

Soviet slogan: The beatings will continue until morale improves.
Liberal slogan: Taxes will increase until the economy improves.

It’s hard to decide which one is more counterproductive.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Why is Connecticut a state anyway? It’s no bigger than most counties. Did Franklin lose a bet?

[dowcaet]

Florida comes to mind because they have two former New Yorkers who serve in congress: Alan Kook Grayson and Debbie Blabbermouth Schultz. Liberals in this country share something in common with illegal aliens. They may leave their homes but they take “home” with them to the new places they inhabit, and in the process begin to ruin those places too. California, Florida, etc...

[The Antiyuppie]

“the liberal Democratic governor, pledged in his re-election campaign last year that “there will not be a tax increase.”

That’s a good one...

[CGASMIA68]

These CEO’s should stop the lip service,do the research,move and never look back.
These tax and spend scum bag socialist will slow down for a moment but speed up again real quick..F’em move

[rrrod]

and yet the libs cannot understand why they are hated by decent people.....

[brivette]

don’t forget Rhode Island.

[Kid Shelleen]

Who are really the fools? That is the problem my FRiend. Conservatives look at all the failed policies from Venezuela to Camden, NJ. and think that liberals are going to have an epiphany. Liberals just look for another locale to plunder and lament, if only we had more time, more money, more government.
In a sane world Hillary Clinton would be in prison.

[DPMD]

Waitadamminnit! Jeff Immelt is worried about taxes? Did he and The One get a divorce suddenly?

[farming pharmer]

The whole of ‘New England’ ought to be walled off, returned to territorial status and re-organized under the supervision of the State of Texas.

[grania]

People forget. CT used to be a very well-off state. There was no state income tax, a lot of manufacturing jobs, lots of beautiful geography, and incredible wealth in the gold coast towns.

They lost their manufacturing base when jobs went overseas. They replaced that income with a state income tax and revenue from the casinos. Now the state is a long way down the slippery slope.

I can't believe it's the same state I grew up in (HS Class of 1963)

[matt04]

We can thank Bridgeport for the Malloy getting elected the first time and Hartford for the 2nd time. Dems in CT will use what ever means are necessary to win.

[N. Theknow]

But, but, but....Lowell Weicker and his lap dog Republican, Marie Herbst of Vernon, CT, that caved and gave him the final vote he needed to pass the income tax into law for Connecticut, ASSURED everyone that the income tax law would solve Connecticut's revenue problems FOREVER!

Stupid B!&#%!

[McGruff]

Taxes will increase until the economy improves.

I was going to say the same thing but you beat me to it.