For too long, policies have benefited the ultra wealthy and corporations. Our Equity Agenda is a step in the right direction. We need to invest in programs that will address generational poverty and racism, invest in working people, reject the corporatization of government, and prioritize democracy and government transparency.

A budget that works for us

Coalition partner organizations are leading the work needed to adopt a budget that works for the people of Connecticut and invests in the public services our communities need to thrive.  

• HUSKY For Immigrants: Expand Husky for immigrants 15 and older, regardless of immigration status. Enhance data security to ensure personal data is safe from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

• Invest in Families by Reestablishing a Child Tax Credit: Expand the child tax credit from $250 to $600 per child. Make it permanent and refundable. 

• Just Cause for Tenants: A universal Just Cause law that protects tenants without a lease, whose lease is ending, or who are month-to-month from being evicted for no reason. 

• ECS funding for PreK–12: increase funding for public preK-12 districts in need.

• Equity in Special Education Funding: Adjust the Educational Cost Share Formula to include and account for the needs of special education students. 

• Healthcare for Childcare Workers: Establishing a healthcare trust for Care4Kids providers to help with out-of-pocket costs.

• Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers: Authorize unemployment benefits for striking workers to level the playing field between workers and management and standardize pro-worker laws in our immediate region. 

• Fair wages for Healthcare workers - Nursing Homes: Raise wages of the predominantly Black, brown and white working class workers to help recruit and retain staff and provide essential services to our elderly community and adults with disabilities. 

• Fair wages for Healthcare workers - Group Homes:  Raise wages of the predominantly Black, brown and white working class workers to help recruit and retain staff and provide essential services to adults and children with intellectual disabilities.  

• Protections for Rideshare Drivers: Ensure livable wages and pass health and safety protections for rideshare and delivery drivers in Connecticut. 

• Fair wages and retirement benefits for Paraeducators: Support improvements to wages and retirement benefits for paraeducators across Connecticut.  

• Protect & Expand Public Services: Address the state’s ongoing recruitment and retention challenges through fully funding critical public services and passing fair and honorable state employee contracts as soon as possible to create more accessible and affordable public services for our communities.

  • Fight Against Employer Wage Theft: Increase Department of Labor Wage and Hour Investigators by hiring 45 inspectors to fill vacancies and make sure working people receive the earned wages they deserve. 

  • Restore and expand public sector mental health, substance abuse, and safety net healthcare services for children and adults: No matter where you live, what you look like, how much money you make, or whether you have insurance—every single Connecticut resident deserves access to life-saving state services.

  • Robustly fund public institutes of higher education to enhance instructional quality and expand affordable access to post-secondary education. Every CT resident deserves access to real college, regardless of income level and location.

  • Expansion of PACT to cover CSU students - Extend the PACT program to income eligible State University students (Eastern, Central, Western, & Southern Connecticut State Universities).  This program is currently available to income eligible Community College students. 

Equity Requires Revenue

In order to meet the needs of our communities, we must demand that billionaires and wealthy corporations pay what they owe. We envision a Connecticut that invests in quality public schools, colleges, and universities; child care; health care, and many other essential services that all our families deserve. 

• Capital Gains Surtax: Impose a 5% surtax on capital gains, dividends, and taxable interest for individuals earning $500,000 and joint filers earning $1 million or more to fund the needs in our community.

• Capture offshore corporate taxes on profits: Require complete reporting of all profits everywhere.