The following statement was issued today by Thomas A. Schatz, President of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste:

               “On behalf of the 16,820 Connecticut members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW), I applaud Governor M. Jodi Rell (R) for continuing to insist that the Connecticut General Assembly adopt a budget without any tax increases.

               Instead, Governor Rell proposes to cut state government waste by eliminating many state agencies and consolidating others.  The Governor’s budget calls for fiscal year 2010 spending that is 1.4 percent below fiscal 2009 levels, eliminates 10 state offices and 70 boards and commissions, and consolidates 10 boards and commissions with other agencies.

               It is refreshing to see a governor that is willing to hold the line on taxes at a time when many other governors around the country support higher taxes for their citizens instead of cutting the waste out of their state budgets.  If Governor Rell is successful in getting the General Assembly to cooperate, Connecticut taxpayers will be the winners.  As an example, Connecticut’s top income tax rate would remain at 5 percent, compared to neighboring states of New York and New Jersey at nearly 9 percent and Rhode Island at almost 10 percent.”

CCAGW is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, the nation’s largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.