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| Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice |
For Immediate Release:
June 22, 2007
Hope for a State EITC (A Piece of Economic Justice) - Gone!
The Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice (GHICEJ) is deeply
disappointed and outraged at the refusal of the Governor of Connecticut - and the inability of
the State Legislature - to enact a State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). A state EITC would
have helped 165,000 hard working low-income families to make ends meet.
GHICEJ, together with a huge coalition of agencies and activists, put an enormous amount of
time and resources into passage of an EITC. Over 8,000 petitions, collected statewide, were
delivered to the Governor and leaders from both parties. Our signatures reflected across the
board support from Democrats, Independents and Republicans and from families of all
different income levels. Our petition signers understood that a typical low wage worker
making just $8 to $9 per hour can not cover basic housing, medical care and other basic
living expenses.
A Clergy Press Conference, an Advocates Day, a Public Forum, and a One Connecticut Press
Conference were also held. Phone calls, meetings with leadership, individual letters and
public testimony were all provided to lift up this issue. After so much commitment and hard
work of many, we certainly thought that this legislative session would yield and produce a win
on this issue.
In the end, Governor Rell was unable to grasp the enormous benefit that a state EITC would
bring to so many families; there was more commitment to helping a small number of wealthy
people to preserve their enormous assets. At the same time a veto proof majority party was
unable to muster enough will and commitment to stand firm on this issue. Both are to blame
and should be held accountable for a missed opportunity to show low wage workers that their
government cares.
As people of faith we are concerned and wonder what is wrong with this picture of
government? Why was it so hard to listen and act responsibly to the voices and needs of the
people at the lowest end of the ladder? Instead the Governor’s office asked the inappropriate
question as to how low income people would spend a state EITC credit!
This decision is a sad outcome for low-income workers and for us in the faith movement. It
is shameful that the richest state in the union was unable to bring a piece of economic justice
to the poor in its cities. As people of faith, GHICEJ appeals to political leaders to stop the
numbers game and do the right thing by those who need and deserve additional assistance
to improve their quality of life.
June 22, 2007
Hope for a State EITC (A Piece of Economic Justice) - Gone!
The Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice (GHICEJ) is deeply
disappointed and outraged at the refusal of the Governor of Connecticut - and the inability of
the State Legislature - to enact a State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). A state EITC would
have helped 165,000 hard working low-income families to make ends meet.
GHICEJ, together with a huge coalition of agencies and activists, put an enormous amount of
time and resources into passage of an EITC. Over 8,000 petitions, collected statewide, were
delivered to the Governor and leaders from both parties. Our signatures reflected across the
board support from Democrats, Independents and Republicans and from families of all
different income levels. Our petition signers understood that a typical low wage worker
making just $8 to $9 per hour can not cover basic housing, medical care and other basic
living expenses.
A Clergy Press Conference, an Advocates Day, a Public Forum, and a One Connecticut Press
Conference were also held. Phone calls, meetings with leadership, individual letters and
public testimony were all provided to lift up this issue. After so much commitment and hard
work of many, we certainly thought that this legislative session would yield and produce a win
on this issue.
In the end, Governor Rell was unable to grasp the enormous benefit that a state EITC would
bring to so many families; there was more commitment to helping a small number of wealthy
people to preserve their enormous assets. At the same time a veto proof majority party was
unable to muster enough will and commitment to stand firm on this issue. Both are to blame
and should be held accountable for a missed opportunity to show low wage workers that their
government cares.
As people of faith we are concerned and wonder what is wrong with this picture of
government? Why was it so hard to listen and act responsibly to the voices and needs of the
people at the lowest end of the ladder? Instead the Governor’s office asked the inappropriate
question as to how low income people would spend a state EITC credit!
This decision is a sad outcome for low-income workers and for us in the faith movement. It
is shameful that the richest state in the union was unable to bring a piece of economic justice
to the poor in its cities. As people of faith, GHICEJ appeals to political leaders to stop the
numbers game and do the right thing by those who need and deserve additional assistance
to improve their quality of life.
