Gubernatorial candidates say no tax hikes despite deficit projections

HARTFORD, Conn. – Even as policymakers were hammering out the details of a budget that projects an estimated $1.3 billion deficit in 2016, gubernatorial candidates said Friday they wouldn’t need to raise taxes to make up any shortfalls.

Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who is seeking election for a second term in November, said the expectation of more than a billion deficit in 2016 “isn’t real” because the state will not actually spend money the way the projection assumes. He said he had no intention of issuing a spending plan that would allow the budget to go into deficit and will not raise taxes.

“There will be no tax increase in the future. We will not overspend,” he said. “We have a pretty consistent rate of increase of spending… What I’m saying is the proof in the pudding is what we’ve performed and we’ve performed pretty darn well.”

Asked if he would ever sign another tax increase, Malloy said he had “no intention” of raising taxes again. The governor cited the world falling “off a cliff” or the earth ceasing to rotate in 24 hours as eventualities that might disrupt his plan not to raise taxes.

In 2010, Malloy refused to rule out tax increases and his first budget included a $1.8 billion tax increase to help close a $3.6 billion deficit.

See the complete story at CT News Junkie.