With the largest tax increase in state history starting Friday, House Republican leader Larry Cafero said late Thursday night the average person will wake up to a new day in Connecticut.
"They don't ask for much. They get up. They raise their kids,'' Cafero said of the average person.
"Tomorrow is morning time. It represents a change in life as we know it in Connecticut. Most people don't realize that, but they will,'' Cafero said in a wrap-up speech on the floor of the state House of Representatives. "Maybe they buy a cup of coffee, a pack of cigarettes, maybe some gum. It costs a bit more than it did before. ... They'll soon realize that the sales tax on everything they buy just went up .35 percent.''
"Maybe it's someone who goes to DMV and says, "Whoa! Where did this come from?''
He noted that the sales tax will now be imposed on a series of items that had previously been tax-free, such as clothing and shoes under $50 and limousine rides. In addition, various fees will increase at the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
Cafero made his speech during the closing minutes of a special session that was called to close a projected budget deficit of $700 million for the fiscal year that starts Friday.
"We congratulated ourselves on passing a budget as early as possible,'' Cafero said. "Even on June 30, folks, we didn't even do our job. ... We gave the keys over to the governor's office. He's in charge.''