Most lawmakers know better than to say the quiet part out loud — especially when the CT-N cameras are rolling. But sometimes, they forget the microphones are still hot.
On Tuesday — fittingly, Tax Day — Democratic legislators from the Tax Equity Caucus held a press conference to push for a capital gains tax increase, along with proposals to expand the child tax credit and override the state’s fiscal guardrails.
That’s when Rep. Anne Hughes (D-Easton), evidently pleased with the proceedings, was caught on camera exchanging a high-five with Rep. Sarah Keitt (D-Fairfield) while laughing about the idea of taxing her own constituents.
It didn’t stop there. Just moments later, Rep. Hughes turned to Rep. Keitt, Rep. Nick Menapace (D–East Lyme), and Rep. Jason Doucette (D–Glastonbury) and added, “We’re not rich. But I always tell the governor to tax my people — they won’t even notice.”
This is what passes for comedy at the Capitol — Democrats openly laughing about sticking it to their own voters.
The optics say it all. Lawmakers weren’t caught wrestling with the hard realities of budget math. They were celebrating the chance to squeeze more out of the very people who pay the state’s bills.
Connecticut already has one of the highest tax burdens in the country, ranking near the bottom for business climate, taxpayer return on investment (ROI), and outbound migration. Residents aren’t just paying more — they’re getting less in return. And in Fairfield County, where Rep. Keitt’s constituents shoulder a disproportionate share of the load, the message couldn’t be clearer: Hartford is laughing all the way to the treasury.
Hughes may have meant it as a joke. But for Connecticut taxpayers, the punchline isn’t funny.
Randall Slack
April 15, 2025 @ 5:21 pm
This is just plain sickening.
democrats talk about taxing the wealthy but it is always the millet guy getting screwed!!!
Michael Calise
April 18, 2025 @ 3:47 pm
My profession is real estate. I work many hours each week maintaining my properties and paying the related expenses as well as the many othe requirements of my profession. recently teh courts decided that our commission earning are too high and forced a channge in how we deal with clients. Meanwhile in the state of connecticut every real estate trandsaction is charged more than double the percentage we earn in the form of transfer daxes for doing nothing but stand with their hands out. meanwhile legislators like representative hughes joke abou it. we need to clean out hartford. i try to reach out to our legislators on a regular basis. unfortunately, the quality of response is dismal at best