On Monday state Senate Democrats issued a very populist proposal.
They said they want to find a way to place a surcharge on bonuses of $1 million or more received by residents who have been employed at companies that benefitted from the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program.
In other words, they want a new tax on Fairfield County.
But seriously, since the idea would impact monied executives living in Greenwich and some of the other wealthy neighborhoods in that end of the state, I decided to ask three Fairfield County Democrats who are running for Governor or U.S. Senate for their thoughts.
All three attended Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s final state-of-the-state address today at the capitol.
“I wouldn’t be talking about taxes right now,” said Ned Lamont, the Greenwich businessman/millionaire who tried to unseat “independent Democrat” U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman in 2006 and is exploring a run for Governor.
Another possible Democratic gubernatorial candidate – recently retired Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy – said he needed to review the details of the TARP surcharge but questioned its legality.
“I’m not sure it’s Constitutional to single out employees of TARP recipients,” Malloy said.
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Greenwich, who last year subpoenaed around a dozen Fairfield County residents who received the controversial AIG bonuses, said his support of a TARP surcharge depends on the details.
Blumenthal is running to succeed long-time Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd.
I asked Blumenthal if it is fair to single out these individuals for a special tax?
“The question of how and when and why any tax is imposed certainly has to be thought through very carefully,” Blumenthal said, adding: “I don’t think the Senate Democrats’ proposal was very specific, as far as I can gather.”
