Connecticut
Republican gubernatorial candidate promises to phase out CT’s income tax; some remain skeptical
Republican gubernatorial candidate Betsy McCaughey promised Friday to phase out the state income tax altogether if she’s elected.
It’s a promise other Republicans have failed to fulfill in Connecticut, but McCaughey said it could give Connecticut a competitive advantage over other states in the Northeast.
“Good-bye to dying New York, and welcome to booming Connecticut,” she said during a press conference at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
Former Gov. John Rowland never delivered on his promise, despite a decade in office, while Bob Stefanowski made the elimination of the income tax the cornerstone of his losing 2018 effort against Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Connecticut).
McCaughey, a Newsmax host and former lieutenant governor of New York, said her plan was different because she would make incremental cuts to the income tax as state revenues met certain benchmarks.
She did not have specifics on Friday, instead saying she would put together a panel to come up with a plan modeled after actions in states like South Carolina.
McCaughey said the state would make up for the revenue by attracting businesses and giving residents more money to spend, thereby increasing collections from the sales tax and other revenue sources.
The state is expected to receive roughly $13.6 billion in income tax revenue, slightly more than half of all state revenue. By comparison, forecasts project $5.3 billion in sales tax revenue.
Some economists question whether eliminating the income tax will spur sufficient economic growth to offset lost tax revenue elsewhere.
University of New Haven professor Patrick Gourley said people could spend some of that money in other states or use it for purposes that don’t generate tax revenue.
“Just because some of those additional earnings people get to keep, they’ll save themselves or invest and not spend,” he said.
McCaughey pointed to a report from the conservative-leaning American Legislative Exchange Council that ranked Connecticut’s economy 48th based on data from 2013 to 2023 as a sign that the state’s economy needs a jump start.
“Governor Ned Lamont, moneybags Lamont, claims that the state’s economy is resilient,” she said. “That’s a lie; this state’s economy is almost dead.”
More recently, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis said Connecticut’s economy had the 4th best growth rate during the third quarter of last year, a stretch that covers July through September.
Lamont defended his economic record, including his proposal and negotiation of an income tax cut in 2023.
“I think every 4 years for 30 years, Republicans said we’re going to eliminate the income tax,” he said after a press conference in Wethersfield. “Who’s the one guy who actually cut the income tax?”
Even some Republican gubernatorial candidates were dubious of McCaughey’s pledge.
Sen. Ryan Fazio, (R-Greenwich), touted his own plan to fund a tax cut, averaging $1,500 per person, using spending cuts and savings in the budget. Some of those savings would come from reduced pension payments.
“Empty promises are just that, they can never become reality, unless there’s a leader who can articulate them and deliver them,” he said. “I’m that candidate.”
Former New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, who is also seeking the nomination, declined to comment.
Connecticut
Florida High School State Bronze Medalist Dajah German Verbals To Connecticut For Fall 2027
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Florida high school state bronze medalist Dajah German has announced her verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Connecticut beginning in the fall of 2027. She publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Connecticut! I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, my family, coaches, teammates, and friends who have pushed me to be my best throughout the years. And a very special thank you to Coach Chris and Coach Nicole for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m so excited for what’s ahead. GO HUSKIES!
A rising senior at Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida, German trains year-round with Swim Fort Lauderdale and primarily specializes in the sprint and middle-distance freestyle events.
German has improved each year of her high school career, most recently dropping from 23.78, 51.39, and 1:50.56 in the 50/100/200 free to 23.54, 51.35, and 1:49.69 during the 2025-26 short course season.
German’s top meet of the season was the Florida Senior Championships in March, where she recorded her current PBs in both the 50 and 200 free. She finished second in the 500 free (4:55.94) and 1650 free (17:02.78), third in both the 50 free and 200 free, and fifth in the 100 free (51.43). She set her current 100 free PB at a smaller holiday meet in December. In the 500 free, she clocked a season-best 4:55.21 at the Speedo Cup in January, with her lifetime best of 4:53.19 coming at the 2025 Florida Senior Championships.
German has qualified for the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Championships for the past three years, with her top performance coming at the 2025 iteration in November. She placed third in the 50 free (23.96), fifth in the 500 free (5:01.12), and helped Fort Lauderdale to fourth place in both the 200 free relay (24.64 leadoff) and 400 free relay (53.08 anchor).
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 23.54
- 100 Freestyle: 51.35
- 200 Freestyle: 1:49.69
- 500 Freestyle: 4:53.19
A Division I Mid-Major program, Connecticut competes in the Big East, with the women’s team placing second out of seven teams at this past season’s conference championships. German’s current lifetime bests would have placed third in the 200 free, fourth in the 500 free, eighth in the 50 free, and ninth in the 100 free, setting her up as an immediate contributor with two full seasons of training still ahead before her first conference meet.
German joins Anna Mumford, Lyla Devlin, Lena Brown, and Louisa Holda in committing to the Huskies’ class of 2031 so far.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 80. Light west wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A chance of showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 59. Southeast wind around 8 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
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