Sen. Berthel Pushes to Make CT More Affordable

April 1, 2026

CT Families Aren’t Laughing.

Sen. Berthel Pushes to Make CT More Affordable

HARTFORD – State Sen. Eric Berthel (R-Watertown) on April Fool’s Day continued the call to make Connecticut more affordable as Democrats offer legislative proposals to make the state even more unaffordable for working families.

“Here we are, on April Fool’s Day, and families across our district are no better off from the Democrat majority’s policies in Hartford. Electricity bills, grocery bills, property taxes, and daily necessities have become even more of a burden. People are being crushed. I hear their struggles every day. What is the reason? One-party majority rule has made our state more unaffordable. Democrats at the State Capitol will endlessly blame Washington because they know they own Connecticut’s affordability crisis. Do not be fooled. Our daily struggles go far beyond who is in the White House,” said Sen. Berthel.

Under Democratic leadership, Connecticut now ranks:

Just this year alone, Democrats have championed a bevy of bills that will only make Connecticut even more unaffordable, including: ‘An Act Establishing a Capital Gains Surcharge,’ ‘An Act Concerning a Climate Change Superfund,’ and ‘An Act Concerning Unemployment For Striking Workers.’ It is clear our state is on the wrong path, with our quality of life eroding under current leadership.

Connecticut Senate Republicans have put forth a comprehensive plan to save families thousands of dollars a year. It effectively eliminates the car tax for working families, limits property tax increases, lowers income tax burdens for working class families, and reduces electricity bills.

The Senate Republican Caucus is advocating for the following:

WORKING CLASS CAR TAX ELIMINATION:

100% refundable income tax credit for single filers making less than $100,000 and joint filers making less than $200,000 on property taxes paid to towns on their cars
No loss of revenue to towns
Maintains existing $300 property tax credit

WORKING CLASS INCOME TAX CUT:

A $1 billion income tax cut

40% reduction for single filers making $50,000 and joint filers making $100,000
16% reduction for single filers making $100,000 and joint filers making $200,000
Eliminate income tax for single filers making $25,000
Up to $1600 in tax relief for joint filers, up to $800 for a single filers (not including the car tax elimination)

The Senate Republican Caucus’s Affordability Plan also includes:

Institute a Property Tax Levy Cap for municipalities of the greater of 2% or the cost of inflation. Towns are allowed to override the cap for major projects with 60% vote at referendum
Eliminate occupational license fees for professions including: electrician, HVAC, plumber, teacher, realtor, speech and language pathologist
Reduce Democrats Payroll tax (CT Paid Family Leave) by 20%
Implement the Bipartisan Supported Association Health Plans
Cut All Public Benefits Charges from electric bills for end use customers of each electric distribution company and move such expenses to the state budget process
Cap Power Purchase Agreements at 2.5 times the wholesale price of electricity
Prohibit PURA from Enacting Programs with Ratepayer Impact without Legislative Approval
Immediate study by state agencies on how to reduce the costs of living and working for the people, businesses, municipalities, and non-profit organizations of Connecticut

“Few days remain in the 2026 legislative session. I do not see a sense of urgency among the majority to make our state more affordable. Republicans have the will to get it done. Let’s work together to provide the significant and permanent relief that Connecticut families need and deserve,” said Sen. Berthel.