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Shaban held two sessions, one in Easton and the other in Weston with fellow Republican State Sen. Toni Boucher (R-Westport, Weston, Redding, Bethel, New Canaan, Ridgefield and Wilton).
“The 2013 session saw the creation and/or continuation of many important public policy initiatives -- some good, some controversial, and some just plain wrong,” Shaban said at the Easton session.
In particular, the two Republicans were critical of the Democratic-controlled legislature’s economic policies. In his presentation Shaban noted that the recently-passed budget raised state spending by nearly 10 percent and raised the gas tax and other fees for businesses and residents.
Boucher also pointed to a recent Fitch report that Connecticut was last in state Gross Domestic Product among the 50 states last year, and the only state to shrink its GDP.
“We’re dead last in economic growth. We’re the only state in the nation where the combined total of goods, services and salaries paid shrunk,” Boucher said in Weston. “That is a failure, that is our reality, and that is the result of the different road that the governor has taken us down. Instead of continually deflecting criticism and blaming the past, it is time to accept responsibility and change course.”
For those unable to attend the sessions, you can download a copy of Shaban’s PowerPoint presentation on the House Republicans’ website.
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