Rep. Rebimbas: Increased CEP funding is wasteful

Representative Rosa Rebimbas (R-70) joined her Republican colleagues today and voted against wasting three million taxpayer dollars to increase funding for the State’s Citizens Election Program.

“This money would be better served funding pensions, creating jobs, and helping Connecticut residents with affordable healthcare not funding a gubernatorial candidate’s already out of control spending,” Rep. Rebimbas said.

Recently, certain provisions of campaign finance reform laws enacted in 2005 were struck down in federal court. The court ruled that prohibiting lobbyists from donating to political campaigns and providing supplemental grants triggered by an opponent’s spending as unconstitutional.

Today, the Democrat controlled House passed S.B. 551 “An Act Concerning Clean Elections” which gives $3 million more in campaign funds to their gubernatorial candidate. Only one Democrat voted against this measure; the final vote was 106-30.

“This portion of the bill the Democrats passed was not mandated by the court’s decision and instead was just an opportunity for them to increase funding to their candidate,” Rebimbas said. “I was also shocked and appalled to see Democrats switching their votes from just 2 weeks ago so they would have enough votes to override the Governor’s veto. I blame the lawmakers for drafting these laws, not the candidates that follow the laws.”

To watch a video of Rep. Rebimbas on the floor of the House click here

Sales Tax Holiday, August 15-21, 2010

Connecticut is once again offering a Sales Tax Holiday from Aug. 15 through Aug. 21.

The one-week event eliminates Connecticut’s 6 percent sales tax on all clothing and footwear costing less than $300 per item from the third Sunday in August through the following Saturday. The increased exemption replaces the standard $50 exemption for clothing and footwear.

Since sales tax is calculated after the use of any coupons or discounts, if the final price is less than $300, the sale is exempt from taxes. Clothing or footwear under $300 either rented or put on layaway is also tax-free. Purchases totaling more than $300 will have sales tax calculated on the full cost.

For more information, visit the Department of Revenue Services website at www.ct.gov/drs.

Rep Rebimbas: Sexting Law is Proactive

Representative Rosa C. Rebimbas (R-70) thanked her colleagues in the House early Sunday morning after they unanimously passed a sexting bill by a 137-0 margin.

Sexting, defined as possession and dissemination of nude or semi-nude images via an electronic device, has become more prevalent in recent years with the explosion of cell phone cameras and digital cameras.

“Sexting has become a very serious problem with our teens and young adults and the legislature showed today they recognize the implications of that type of behavior,” Rep. Rebimbas said.  “I’m proud the legislation I spearheaded will provide an alternative for minors in a consensual relationship who send such messages but leaves the stricter penalties in place for those who fall under those criteria.”

House Bill 5533, “An Act Concerning Sexting” creates a lesser category for punishment for minors who are thirteen years of age or older but under eighteen years of age, who may knowingly possess and transmit any visual depiction of nude or semi-nude images by means of an electronic communication device. State law currently treats possession of such images as child pornography.  Possession of child pornography is a felony and those convicted are forced to register as a sexual offender. This bill would make possession of such images a class A misdemeanor for teens between 13 and 18 years of age if the facts of the case determine it should be a lesser threshold.

“Today, Connecticut took a proactive role to both protect and teach our teens about the consequences of their decisions,” Rep. Rebimbas said.  “We did not wait for another tragic story in order to pass a good law.  Instead, we took the opportunity to update our penal code by incorporating electronic communication devices.”

Rep. Rebimbas and House Republicans Unveil 2011 Budget Plan

Rep. Rebimbas and Fellow Republicans Reveal a Common Sense Budget on tax day erasing $736 million 2011 deficit without raising taxes.

See a video clip from the news conference. Download a copy of the Republicans’ budget presentation shown at the news conference.

Representative Rosa Rebimbas (R-70) stood with her colleagues Thursday and pledged support for the House Republican 2011 budget that erases the $736 million deficit for 2011.

The balanced Republican plan preserves municipal and school aid, establishes a $74.5 million job creation program and eliminates the Business Entity Tax on all companies without raising taxes.

The plan is accomplished by consolidating government agencies and shrinking the public workforce through an early retirement program while still committing $74 million to stimulate job growth.  In addition, Companies that hire the unemployed can earn $17.5 million in tax credits, and the plan establishes a $25 million small business revolving loan fund

“We’re running out of time to make the difficult decisions that will save our state millions of dollars and close the deficit,” Rep. Rebimbas said.  “The time for action is now, before the bill comes due; not after the November elections.”

The hallmarks of the savings:

• $58 million in line item cuts to 2009 levels;
• $64 million in early retirement for state workers;
• $10 million in state agency consolidations;
• $6.4 million to shed state office leases; 
• $20 million in privatization of state functions;
• $150 million in state worker concessions, including wage freezes, furlough days and health care;
• $3.8 million in legislative pay cuts, elimination of franked mail and travel.

The budget also makes significant investments in job creation and retirement security:

• $200 million will be paid into the state employee pensions;
• The Business Entity Tax is eliminated to save companies $32 million;
• A Small Business Revolving Loan Fund of $25 million is created;
• Tax credits of up to $17.5 million will be available to companies that hire off unemployment rolls.