Legislature told: “Create a budget where all families thrive, not just the wealthiest few.”

Connecticut's extreme racial, economic and gender inequalities, exposed during the pandemic, are unacceptable and must be addressed now says the Recovery for All Coalition (RFA) of 60 labor, community and faith based organizations, They will launch an Equity Agenda on January 19 at the State Ca;Capitol.

“Decades of bad policy that have made Connecticut ground zero for the most extreme racial, economic and gender inequalities in the nation,” says RFA. “But we can make a change.”

The State Legislature is being urged “to use the state's budget surplus to fully fund the services our struggling communities need and reduce Connecticut's extreme racial, economic and gender inequities.”

On January 4, the first day of the session, RFA executive director Puya Gearmi emphasized, “As the wealthiest state in the country, Connecticut should be a shining example for the nation – a place where every family has what we need to live a good life. Instead hundreds of thousands of working people are struggling to raise families here, while a handful of ultra-wealthy corporations and residents are getting even wealthier. Adding insult to injury working people in Connecticut are also contributing a much greater share of their income to fund the services we all rely on while the wealthiest are failing to pay what they own to state and local governments.”

The statement continues, “This inequity especially harms women, people of color and their children who are also caught in a vise between record inflation and employers who fail to pay living wages. In addition, the state's failure to meet the skyrocketing need for health care, affordable housing, public education and child care harms the majority of Connecticut's residents – yet the state has continued to prioritize the wealthiest and corporations.

“At the same time that our communities are suffering from a massive crisis of unmet need, the state faces a multi-billion dollar surplus and an overflowing Rainy Day Fund. We will be using the newly enacted budget provision Section 92 to hold lawmakers accountable for their stated commitment to passing a budget that will truly mitigate the state's extreme racial, economic and gender inequities.

“This legislative session p;resents a historic opportunity for our state lawmakers to use the budget surplus to create a future where all families across Connecticut have the chance to thrive, not just the wealthy few.”