Buckbee: Legislature Must Vote on Budget

HARTFORD – State Representative Bill Buckbee (R-67) expressed great disappointment on Tuesday after learning that there will be no legislative session prior to the end of the fiscal year to debate and vote on a budget.

“We are charged as a legislative body to pass a biennium budget before the close of the fiscal year. It simply did not happen, which is an extreme failure at the fault of the majority party leadership that has not brought a budget out for debate,” explained Buckbee.

House and Senate Republicans have put forth six separate drafts of a budget for consideration. All of which have closed the relevant budget deficit projections, without tax increases, and all have been denied the opportunity for a legitimate vote.

“Legislative Republicans have put together valid options for the legislature’s full review. It is time for the majority to stop ignoring these proposals and work towards getting a biennium completed as soon as possible. As of today, legislative Democrats have presented zero budget proposals,” said Buckbee.

Recently, House Republican Leader, Representative Themis Klarides, called on legislative Democrats to put the Republican proposal up for a vote. However, the majority has indicated that no session will be held before the conclusion of the current fiscal year. Consequently, the Governor will enact his own plan to handle the state’s finances until the legislature produces its own document.

“I must sound like a broken record, but the budget proposal I support takes into consideration long-term pension obligations, minimizes overall spending, enacts structural change, and does not further burden our state’s taxpayers. That proposal is on the table, it’s time to vote on it. Bring the options that are out there to the floor for discussion and allow the house to take action. Party affiliation is not an excuse for barring a fruitful debate and vote. Allow those who were elected to represent the people express that through taking action on a budget. Playing partisan politics is not why we were sent here,” concluded Buckbee.

According to Buckbee, the House Republican produced budget documents and details can be reviewed at cthousegop.com/budget/.

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