“At a time when residents find themselves scrutinizing every dollar their government spends, the legislature should make available to citizens the details making up the budget,” Rep. Lile Gibbons said. 

The goal, Gibbons said, “is transparency.”  

“People in this state, no matter the community, have struggled through the worst fiscal crisis most of us have ever seen,” said Rep. Camillo, who attended a conference in Washington, D.C. that focused on this very topic of transparency. “In many cases they’ve made the most difficult financial choices of their lives, so I can’t blame anyone for wanting to know what happens to a big part of their paychecks. This measure is a proven winner, for both the citizen and the government.” 

What’s more, Williams contends the Web database would not only provide valuable data to concerned citizens but also help debunk incorrect information that often ends up in the hands of residents. 

This is one of those rare instances where the legislature is giving the people it represents more power.  In my opinion, that’s a very good thing,” Rep. Floren added. The proposal requires the Office of Fiscal Analysis to have the system up and running by July 2011. 

The legislation moves to the State Senate for consideration.

GREENWICH-State Representatives Livvy Floren (149), Lile Gibbons (150) and Fred Camillo (151), today reminded consumers that Connecticut’s “sales tax-free holiday” will take place shortly. From Sunday, August 15th through Saturday, August 21st, all clothing and footwear under $300 will be exempt from the state’s six percent sales tax.
 
Examples of clothing exempted during the sales tax-free holiday are jeans, dresses, blouses, shirts, shoes, sneakers, scarves, gloves, and belts. Non-apparel items, such as jewelry, wallets, and luggage are not included in the exemption.

  “Not only do lower Fairfield County residents send far more tax payments to Hartford than we receive back in state services, but we are by several computations, the most highly taxed state in the country,” said Rep. Camillo.

Rep. Floren said, “It is unfortunate that we can only give our hard-working taxpayers this once a year benefit, so we urge you to take advantage of it as much as possible!”

“This concept was first introduced in August 1999 – modeled after a successful New York program – as a way of providing additional relief to Connecticut families while boosting the state’s economic competitiveness among neighboring states,” Rep. Gibbons.

Consumers seeking more information on the state’s “sales tax-free week” can visit the Department of Revenue Services’ website at: www.ct.gov/drs

HARTFORD – Last night, April 27^th, legislation to have cell towers not be sited within 750 feet of a school unless the Siting Council finds that there are no economically feasible alternative sites within the municipality passed the House of Representatives according to State Reps. Livvy Floren (R-149), Lile Gibbons (R-150), Fred Camillo (R-151).

“This cell tower language seeks to put added focus on the safety of children, students, and adults who work in schools first when siting cell towers in the vicinity of these venues,” said Rep. Camillo, a member of the Environment Committee.

Rep. Livvy Floren added, “This bill is a first step and takes into account local input regarding health and safety concerns about placing cell towers near schools.”

Rep. Lile Gibbons said, “Although not an outright ban of siting a cell tower within 750 feet of a school, the bill does require the Siting Council to acknowledge the proximity of a school as well as safety standards, neighborhood concerns and the latest transmission technologies in rendering its decision.”

The vote was unanimous in the House of Representatives 139-0. The bill now heads to the State Senate.

Rep. Livvy Floren dropped by Greenwich High School to help Rep. Fred Camillo at the E-waste Day on April 17th

HARTFORD – Today being Tax Day, April 15th, the last day Connecticut residents have to mail in their tax bills, State Reps. Livvy Floren, Lile Gibbons and Fred Camillo along with the rest of the House Republican caucus unveiled their 2011 budget that erases the $736 million deficit for 2011 without raising taxes by consolidating government agencies, and shrinking the public workforce and commits $74 million to stimulate job growth.

The balanced plan preserves municipal and school aid, and sets aside $74.5 million to stimulate job growth. Companies that hire the unemployed can earn $17.5 million in tax credits, and the plan establishes a $25 million small business revolving loan fund, and eliminates the Business Entity Tax.

“This proposal is fair and balanced. We eliminate the budget hole without raising taxes and without gutting social service programs. Every household in Connecticut has faced difficult financial choices and has made the tough decisions we are confronting today,’’ said Rep. Lile Gibbons, lead republican on the Human Services Committee.

“We cannot leave for the session in May knowing there is a $736 million deficit for next fiscal year which begins on July 1st. If we ignore the problems now, they will become insurmountable. It would unconscionable to leave this looming problem until after the November elections,’’ Rep. Fred Camillo, member of the Appropriations Committee said.

The Common Sense plan offers a flexible menu of choices to create savings from concessions that have all been validated by the non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis.

The hallmarks of the savings:
• $58 million in line item cuts to 2009 levels;
• $64 million in early retirement for state workers;
• $10 million in state agency consolidations;
• $6.4 million to shed state office leases;
• $20 million in privatization of state functions;
• $150 million in state worker concessions, including wage freezes, furlough days and health care;
• $3.8 million in legislative pay cuts, elimination of franked mail and travel.

The budget also makes significant investments in job creation and retirement security:
• $200 million will be paid into the state employee pensions;
• The Business Entity Tax is eliminated to save companies $32 million;
• A Small Business Revolving Loan Fund of $25 million is created;
• Tax credits of up to $17.5 million will be available to companies that hire off unemployment rolls.

Rep. Livvy Floren added, “This Common Sense plan achieves the common sense ideals we have advocated for since the beginning of the year. The mantras of “Not spending more than you have” and “only borrowing what you can afford to pay back” need to be set in stone when it comes to crafting a budget.”

The House Republicans along with the Greenwich Delegation have called upon the Democratic supermajority to immediately come together as they did on April 13 and work toward a reasonable solution.

HARTFORD – Today, State Reps. Livvy Floren, Lile Gibbons and Fred Camillo of Greenwich did not support the legislative Democrats’ tax and spending plans that do not address the current deficit of $500 million but actually add additional spending to the state budget.

The budget, which was voted out of the Appropriations Committee on a party-line vote, would increase spending by $331 million for human services – the largest single jump in the proposal. The plan would increase spending in the judicial and corrections departments by $3.3 million over Governor’s Rell’s plan and by $1.64 million to restore legislative commissions that Rell had sought to eliminate.

The Democrats are relying on a new hospital tax and hoping for additional federal revenue instead of any new spending reductions. According to the plan, there is approximately $91 million in federal funds gained unfortunately it costs $331 million in new spending to achieve that savings.

Rep. Camillo, a member of the Appropriations Committee said, “At a time when the state is facing deficits of more than $350 million in the current fiscal year and an estimated $700 million in the next fiscal year the supermajority party has decided to actually increase spending.”

“Greenwich Hospital would be penalized under this new hospital tax. I will not support a proposal that adversely affects Greenwich residents,” said Rep. Floren, a member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

Rep. Lile Gibbons, also a member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee added, “We have repeatedly put forth alternative budgets to consolidate state agencies, eliminate waste and reduce costs and the size of the government workforce. Meanwhile, nearly 100,000 private sector jobs have been lost and state government grows larger. It’s time to focus on the real problems of Connecticut faces.”

Rep. Livvy Floren and Rep. Lile Gibbons meeting with the Greenwich Realtors on Realtor’s Day at the State Capitol in Hartford.