Rell, speaker at odds on rich tax

HARTFORD -- Speaker of the House Christopher G. Donovan indicated Wednesday that higher taxes for the rich may be inevitable in the current fiscal crisis.

But in reaction, Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she would not agree to adding further stress on Connecticut families.

Donovan, D-Meriden, speaking on WNPR radio's "Where We Live" morning call-in show, said that the rich should pay their share as the General Assembly grapples with a billion-dollar deficit in the current year and multibillion-dollar shortfalls in the two-year budget that will take effect on July 1.

Donovan responded to a caller who wanted to know if majority Democrats were going to pursue higher taxes to address the state's deficits.

"The wealthy as well as the average person needs to kick in," Donovan said.

This statement prompted Chris Cooper, the Republican governor's spokesman, to say that Rell is opposed to further financial strains on taxpayers.

"Gov. Rell does not support taxes being increased at any level -- local, state or federal -- because Connecticut families and businesses are already struggling during this national recession and government should not add to their burden in these difficult economic times," Cooper said in a statement from Rell's media office.