added education funding. By April, Amann had endorsed an income tax reduction for most taxpayers to be paid for by a small income tax rate increase on wealthier individuals. He also proposed giving legislative leaders sharing power with the governor on choosing projects for state bonding because of the record debt run up by the Governor. The Hartford Courant opposed these initiatives Competing 2007 budget In May 2007 Quinnipiac University Polling Institute released a poll showing Amann's proposal for increasing the state income tax for wealthier residents and lowering the income tax for less wealthy residents was less popular than a no tax increase state budget offered by legislative Republicans Amann also opposed a proposal by Republicans to suspend the state's gasoline tax over the summer months claiming that there is no evidence the oil industry will pass the savings on to the consumers and the proponents offered no way to pay for lost state revenue . Amann eventually compromised with Rell and the Republicans and supported a budget that exceeded the state spending cap and raised the cigarette tax, but did not raise the state income tax. Efforts to reduce the state gasoline tax were dropped by Republicans during budget negotiations. 2010 gubernatorial bid On January 31, 2008, Amann announced his creation of an exploratory committee to explore the possibility of a run for governor in the 2010 election. Amann is the first candidate to create an exploratory committee for the 2010 election, and as of December 2008 had raised $50,000 for his campaign. In February, 2010, Amman withdrew from his campaign to seek the governor's office. Retirement from the legislature On April 23, 2008 Amann announced that he would not seek another term as House Speaker and would be retiring from the General Assembly at the end of his current term. In January 2009 Amann's successor as Speaker, Christopher Donovan, hired Amann for a $120,000/year staff post at the State House. Shortly thereafter, Amann decided not to accept the job offer, as there was a massive outcry from voters who opposed the move during the state's financial crisis. References External links Rep. James Amann's official state website 1956 births Living people Speakers of the Connecticut House of Representatives Democratic Party members of the Connecticut House of Representatives Politicians from Bridgeport, Connecticut