policy. The coalition's mission statement emphasizes cutting state spending to balance the budget, including consolidating, privatizing, or outsourcing government services and targeting so-called "budget gimmicks". The CSCC's efforts contributed to the highest number of newly elected officials within one party since the removal of the party lever in 1986. Political stances Connecticut Constitution In 2009, the veto-proof Democratic majority proposed Connecticut Raised Bill 1098, which mandated independent committees to run religious organizations' finances. Coutu joined thousands in a protest rally and challenged this legislation as a member of the Judiciary Committee. Coutu called it "an embarrassment that it's even made it this far." Coutu signed on to a 2010 resolution denouncing federal mandates, claiming they "squeezed budgets of cities and towns" and claiming they contravened the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In May 2011, Coutu joined a group of Republican state legislators in challenging Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy's budget in court. The plaintiffs claimed the budget was unconstitutional because it was signed into law with a $2 billion deficit. The lawsuit was thrown out at the Connecticut Superior Court on June 24. Fiscal policy Coutu is one of the most fiscally conservative members of the Connecticut House of Representatives. He has been a notable critic of Connecticut's fiscal policy, which he claims inhibits job creation. He opposes the extension of the State of Connecticut Earned Income Credit for middle-class and low-income families, stating that the federal tax credits for low-earning families are sufficient. In 2011, he proposed removing the Small Business Entity Tax for businesses with 10 or fewer employees. and to cap bonding at 10% of total budget. Later that year, Coutu assisted and proposed a Connecticut no-tax budget. On October 26, 2011, Coutu cast the lone no vote against a $1.1 billion piece of legislation. He stated, "How can we raise taxes on all families by $800 annually to provide hundreds of millions of dollars to a few private companies." Gun control In 2009, Coutu joined a bipartisan coalition that successfully challenged legislation that banned large-capacity ammunition magazines and firearm microstamping. He cosponsored mail in permit registration and deer hunting with a revolver. In 2010, he received an A rating from the National Rifle Association and was endorsed by the CT Citizen Defense League. Climate change In 2012, he accused Governor Daniel Malloy and his appointed Two Storm Panel of veering into politics by including a