With no major new tax increases, the state’s two-year, $46 billion budget was hailed Wednesday by both Democrats and Republicans as the state Senate overwhelmingly approved the spending plan on the final day of the 2021 regular legislative session. After five hours of debate, the Senate voted 31-4 in favor of the budget at 6:30 p.m. Four fiscally conservative Republicans voted against the .
Tax break for CT s working poor gains strong support in budget talks
Keith M. Phaneuf, CTMirror.org
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Sean ScanlonArnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media
While taxes remain a volatile part of state budget negotiations, one top priority for progressive lawmakers an income tax break aimed at Connecticut’s working poor seems to have a reserved spot in the next two-year state budget.
And while full details about Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit were unavailable late Thursday, social service advocates released new data showing most beneficiaries would be workers who kept vital services open during the coronavirus pandemic.
“These are the kind of people who worked three jobs during COVID,” said Rep. Sean Scanlon, D-Guilford, who co-chairs the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.
Rep. Sean Scanlon, D-Guilford, in 2018. Scanlon supports an income tax break for Connecticut’s working poor.
While taxes remain a volatile part of state budget negotiations, one top priority for progressive lawmakers an income tax break aimed at Connecticut’s working poor seems to have a reserved spot in the next two-year state budget.
And while full details about Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit were unavailable late Thursday, social service advocates released new data showing most beneficiaries would be workers who kept vital services open during the coronavirus pandemic.
“These are the kind of people who worked three jobs during COVID,” said Rep. Sean Scanlon, D-Guilford, who co-chairs the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.
Negotiators are pushing for a comprehensive budget deal in which Democratic legislators would back off from their high-profile push for major tax increases in exchange for multiple Democratic priorities.