State Representative Linda Gentile wants to portray herself as an anti-tax crusader in her race against Republican Joseph Jaumann. Her record, however, proves the exact opposite.
Representative Gentile voted for the single largest tax increase in Connecticut history in 2011 (SB 1239). She voted for an overall increase of $2.6 billion across at least 25 different categories of taxes, including an increase in personal income and sales taxes.
Most distressingly, she voted for these obscene tax increases without seeking any protections for the residents of Ansonia and Derby, who to this day are struggling with above-average unemployment and a distressed economy.
If any question remained about her willingness to pummel residents with tax hikes after 2011, she quickly removed it by voting for the second largest tax increase in state history in 2015 (HB 7061). Once again, she did so with apparent disregard for how residents in her home district, who are some of the hardest hit by high taxes.
Yet that’s not where the tax-o-rama ends with Representative Gentile. In 2015 she voted to increase taxes on nonprofit hospitals and universities (HB 6965). In 2010 she voted to increase taxes on hotel owners (HB 5483). Most recently in 2016 she voted for a controversial measure that imposes state-run retirement plan on businesses with five or more part-time and/or full-time workers, eliminating tax-deferred savings for employees (HB 5591).
It is therefore little comfort that Representative Gentile has indicated her public opposition to the proposed mileage tax and proposed UI rate increase. Conveniently these tax increases are not up for vote, and the state legislature does not have a say on UI increases. In other words, it’s a ploy.
If Linda Gentile wanted to fight for lower taxes, she should have voted against the record-shattering tax hikes of the last five years. Instead, she embraced tax increases with open arms, making excessive taxation a signature accomplishment of her time in office.
Opposing imaginary tax increase will not help Ansonia and Derby. We need a representative who will oppose tax increases when they are actually up for vote.
Respectfully,
Dave Dojnia
The writer is an Ansonia resident.
