State Representative Michelle Cook, who serves as a Deputy House Speaker in Connecticut's state legislature, was first elected 16 years ago. Over that long span, our state has become a more expensive place to live and run a business. Representative Cook is simply out of touch with with the common sense concerns of Torrington residents. She is part of the problem. Her record in Hartford includes voting for:

2011 Budget - $1.8 billion in tax increases:
• Increased the Corporate tax surcharge from 10% to 20%;
• Increased the excise tax on cigarettes from $3.00 to $3.40;
• Lowered the estate and gift tax threshold from $3.5 million to $2.0 million;
• Eliminated the sales tax exemptions for clothing and footwear under $50, airport valet services, hazardous waste removal, and yoga instruction;
• Imposed a sales tax on motor vehicle storage, packing and crating services, motor vehicle towing, intrastate livery services, pet grooming, cosmetic medical procedures, and manicure/pedicure services;
• Increased the sales tax rate from 6% to 6.35%;
• Increased the Room Occupancy Tax rate from 12% to 15%;
• Increased the rental car surcharge to 9.35%;
• Increased the alcoholic beverage tax by 20%;
• Increased the diesel fuel tax to 29 cents per gallon;
• Adjusted the marginal income tax rates by adding 5.5%, 6.5%, and 6.70% marginal rates;
• Imposed a tax on electric generation from natural gas, coal, oil, and nuclear facilities;
• Decreased the maximum property tax credit from $500 to $300; and
• Established a provider tax.

2015 Budget - $1.3 billion in tax increases:
• Increased the top marginal rates for personal income to 6.99% which was even higher than what the Finance committee passed;
• Reduced the property tax credit from $300 to $200, which amounted to a middle- class tax increase of $152 million;
• Reduced the per-item sales and use tax exemption for the sales tax holiday from $300 to $100;
• Increased the luxury tax from 7% to 7.35%;
• Imposed a 1% tax on web services;
• Repealed the sales and use tax exemption on car washes;
• Extended the surcharge on corporations;
• Established a new 6% tax on Ambulatory Surgical Centers and increased the existing hospital tax to 6%; and
• Increased the cigarette tax $.25 in the first year and $.50 in the second year.

2019 Budget - $1.7 billion in tax increases:
• Increased the sales tax to 6.35% on digital downloads;
• Imposed a 1% meals tax;
• Expanded the sales tax on previously exempted services (including dry cleaning and laundry services, etc.);
• Reduced the personal income tax credit on the Pass-through Entity tax;
• Increased the annual business filing fee from $20 to $80; and
• Imposed a new 10-cent tax on plastic bags.

Mandatory payroll tax
taking .5% out of virtually every worker's paycheck whether they like it or not.