HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)– Tax cuts, prison justice reform, and the way forward for COVID-19 restrictions are among the many host of points Connecticut lawmakers are anticipated to take up when the 2022 legislative session convenes on Wednesday.
It can mark the third yr in a row the Basic Meeting might want to full its work throughout a unbroken pandemic. Lawmakers anticipate to carry digital conferences throughout not less than the month of February. However not like the 2 previous legislative classes, this yr Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont is going through reelection in November, in addition to the whole Democratic-controlled Basic Meeting, and politics are anticipated to play a bigger position within the three-month-long session. Already, it seems a few of the points will seemingly spill over into the governor’s race.
Right here’s what to anticipate:
TAX CUTS-Lamont is scheduled to current state legislators with proposed modifications to the two-year $46.3 billion state funds enacted final yr. Contemplating the state is projecting to have a $1.48 billion working surplus by the top of the present fiscal yr, each Lamont and Republicans have proposed tax reductions.
Lamont final week unveiled a five-part plan that features increasing eligibility for the state’s property tax credit score towards the non-public revenue tax; capping native property taxes on motor automobiles; dashing up the deliberate, phased-in exemption of revenue earned from pensions and annuities from the non-public revenue tax; and increasing eligibility for a pupil mortgage tax credit score program for employers who assist repay their staff’ loans.
In the meantime, Senate Republicans have already proposed quickly decreasing the Connecticut gross sales tax price to assist households impacted by inflation. They’ve referred to as for reducing the tax from 6.35% to five.99% and eliminating the extra 1% meals tax from February 15 by way of the top of calendar yr 2022.
Lamont’s anticipated Republican rival within the governor’s race, Madison businessman Bob Stefanowski, has criticized the governor’s plan for falling in need of what’s wanted to make Connecticut extra inexpensive. He has additionally referred to as for reducing the gross sales tax, eliminating the tax on meals and eating places, and making gasoline cheaper.
The Connecticut Enterprise and Business Affiliation criticized the governor’s plan for not doing sufficient to assist companies, a lot of that are combating the labor scarcity and persevering with impacts of the pandemic. CBIA has proposed various initiatives, together with exempting security attire and private protecting gear from the gross sales tax and utilizing extra federal coronavirus reduction funds to decrease the state unemployment fund’s estimated $1 billion debt that companies will in the end should repay. “Too a lot of Connecticut’s small companies—crucial to our restoration prospects—are struggling and desperately need assistance addressing the labor scarcity, inflation, pending tax hikes to repay the state’s unemployment fund debt, and quite a few different challenges,” CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima stated in an announcement.
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS– One of many first duties state legislators face when the session convenes is deciding what to do in regards to the governor’s roughly 12 remaining govt orders, that are set to run out when his public well being and civil preparedness emergencies expire on Feb. 15. The listing contains some controversial measures, together with face masks and vaccination necessities.
A vote to increase a few of Lamont’s orders may come within the early days of the session. On Wednesday, the governor advised there could also be modifications to mask-wearing guidelines in faculties. “Effectively, if the numbers hold entering into the best route, we’re going to have a very sturdy dialog with the Legislature over the following week. Let’s see the place we’re just a few days from now, however there may very well be some modifications coming,” he stated. Nevertheless, Lamont nonetheless needs the state Division of Training to have the power to reinstate mask-wearing if it turns into essential.
OTHER ISSUES– Regardless that the legislative session is abbreviated this yr, given the November elections, legislators are anticipated to nonetheless debate a variety of subjects, together with juvenile crime. Whereas some Democrats argue there’s a pandemic-driven uptick in sure prison exercise in Connecticut that each one states have skilled, Republicans contend there’s been a surge in violent crime particularly in Connecticut that should be addressed this session. “Connecticut should act to make our state a safer place. We want motion,” stated state Senate Minority Chief Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford.
In the meantime, anticipate lawmakers to debate how the state ought to spend a remaining $232 million in federal COVID-relief funds, a determine that can seemingly change after Lamont releases his state funds proposal.
They’re additionally prone to talk about how greatest to spend $5.38 billion in federal funding Connecticut expects to obtain over the following 5 years; whether or not to put aside extra federal funds to enhance air flow in faculties; the best way to assist financially struggling nonprofit group organizations; whether or not to assist terminally in poor health sufferers die; the best way to handle varied labor shortages; whether or not to ban flavored vaping merchandise; the best way to handle racial disparities in public well being; and whether or not to attempt once more to impose limits on isolation in prisons after Lamont vetoed such a invoice final yr, amongst different points.
