The Milford-Orange Times is continuing its election-year tradition of asking the candidates to respond to questions about what they would do for the residents of Milford and Orange if voters elect them. Election Day is Nov. 3.
Q: What will you do if elected to help make your district a more affordable place to live? Be as specific as possible.
State Rep. Kathy Kennedy, Republican, District 119 (Incumbent)
Kathy Kennedy
It’s a very frustrating question to answer because almost all of my common-sense proposals have been debated for a few years.
First things first, any actual relief the majority party has given you in recent years has been the crumbs at the table, as they continue to spend, spend, spend, the state’s multi-billion-dollar surplus on new programs while giving you a few bucks that evaporate quicker than boiling water.
It’s not just one bill. It’s the electric bill, the grocery bill, the property tax bill, the cost of filling up the car, and the price of just about everything in between. Families are working hard, seniors are stretching their retirement dollars, and small businesses are trying to keep their doors open while costs continue to climb.
I believe state government needs to start looking at affordability from the perspective of the people paying the bills.
That means I will continue to push for real, lasting relief.
One of the most immediate things we can do is provide relief at the gas pump. Connecticut drivers pay a 25-cents-per-gallon gasoline tax, while diesel tax is nearly 50 cents per gallon. Republicans are calling for a suspension of those taxes, and I believe Connecticut should seriously consider putting that money back in the pockets of drivers and small businesses. With the Special Transportation Fund carrying substantial reserves, we should be looking for ways to provide relief when families need it – now.
But affordability is about much more than gasoline.
I will continue fighting to eliminate the public benefits charge from electric bills. Families should not have to wonder why their electric bills keep climbing when they are already struggling to keep up with the cost of groceries, housing and everything else.
I also believe we need to do more to address property taxes. I have heard from countless homeowners who are being squeezed by rising municipal costs. The state needs to provide meaningful support to our towns and address the underlying costs that drive property taxes higher.
That includes fixing our education funding system. When the state doesn’t adequately fund its responsibilities, the bill eventually finds its way to local property taxpayers. Providing predictable state support to our communities can help take some of the pressure off local taxpayers.
I also support lowering income taxes, eliminating taxes that unfairly burden working families, and looking for ways to reduce the cost of health insurance. Our affordability agenda should also include eliminating the sales tax on meals purchased at grocery stores and continuing to look for ways to reduce the everyday costs families face.
And we need to remember our small businesses. The local restaurants, shops, contractors, manufacturers and family-owned businesses in Milford and Orange employ our neighbors and keep our communities strong. When the state piles on another tax, fee or regulation, those costs don’t simply disappear. They eventually get passed along to customers or make it harder for a business to hire and grow.
My goal is straightforward: let people keep more of what they earn.
I’ve been proud to fight for affordability during my time in Hartford, and I am not finished. Whether it is lowering electric bills, reducing property tax pressure, cutting taxes and fees, making healthcare more affordable, or providing relief at the gas pump, I will continue pushing for policies that make a difference in the household budgets of Milford and Orange families.
Connecticut doesn’t need another slogan about affordability. We need action.
Families know that they are paying each month. They know what their grocery bill costs. They know what it costs to heat their home and fill their gas tank.
They deserve a state government that knows it, too, and is willing to do something about it.