Democratic Legislative Leaders Press Forward With Opioid Tax

HARTFORD, CT — A group representing pharmaceutical distributors sent a letter to lawmakers raising constitutional questions about a proposed opioid tax, but the warning is not making legislative leaders back down.

The tax was originally part of the “Connecticut Option” bill, but has been included in the state budget. It is estimated to bring in $20 million in the second year of the biennium.

Sen. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, said it will help 26,000 low-income parents get back on Medicaid. New income guidelines set in 2016 to close a budget deficit kicked them off the program.

Lesser said the opioid tax seemed like a good way to pay for it.

“It seemed that the least objectionable way was to ask companies associated with the opioid epidemic to chip in a very modest amount,” Lesser said.

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