Bolinsky Votes Emphatic “NO” on Democrats’ Budget Plan

HARTFORD – Following today’s announcement of revisions to the FY17 budget by the Democrat leaders of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, Representative Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) voiced his disappointment with the proposal and later registered a loud “NO” vote in the subsequent committee meeting.

“I can’t believe how far short this proposal actually falls!” said Rep. Bolinsky.  “We’ve known since January that Connecticut’s fiscal crisis is daunting and growing worse by the week, yet this incomplete document does nothing to address the types of ‘outside the box thinking’ needed to make long-term structural changes to the way Connecticut operates.  When we did last month’s $220 million bipartisan 2016 deficit mitigation plan, everyone’s ideas were on the table but, for whatever reason, this $900 million deficit for FY 17 was addressed behind closed doors and does not even cover the entire deficit.  When you have a $900 million problem, why on earth would anyone only address $569 million of it?  Is the missing $330 to $360 million going to fix itself?”

Bolinsky continued, “I had to vote against this – it’s irresponsible to put forth an incomplete proposal with a wink and another ‘trust me’ promise. No wonder nobody trusts politicians.  The majority party’s leadership cannot even conceive of thinking ‘outside the box’ and beginning the process of applying the kind of structural changes needed to adapt our state to survive and thrive in the new, 21st century economic reality.  They’ve never before seen this kind of structural shift in the government. They keep applying the same solutions, but revenues are down.  Their answer is to stay the course and raise more revenue.  Ladies and gentlemen, this is Democrat-speak for our next tax increase…I predict they’ll hit us with it right after the November election.  We must all reject these ‘business as usual’ policies by knowing who keeps voting to impose the taxes and job-killing regulations that have Connecticut’s economy in this long-term funk.”

The Democrats’ budget revisions amount to $569 million in cuts, the same amount in rescissions Governor Malloy proposed back in February, before the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) raised the budget deficit projections from $569 million to $900 million.  In testimony by OFA today, the deficit is now $940 million, yet Democrats still chose to use the outdated $569 million as their goal number in making budget adjustments.

“Governor Malloy has already gone public and criticized his own Democrat committee leaders’ proposal as incomplete and stated his office will present an alternative plan next week.  It’s pretty telling when the guy who heads-up your party in the state makes his disappointment this plain and simple,” added Rep. Bolinsky. “Like I’ve said before, everything has to be on the table and, collectively, it’s time to think ‘outside the box’ and get this done.  Now!  There’s no turning back, if we don’t get down to reversing these killer tax policies, welcoming innovative employers and great job opportunities, the Connecticut of tomorrow will continue down a path of outward migration and declining revenues.  This is not the path we want.  I’d prefer we turn this state away from the fiscal cliff – starting now!  I am ready to do the hard work needed to help make our outcome one in which we can all prosper.”