Candelora, House and Senate Republicans Call for Informational Hearing on Contradictory Budget Projections
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Deputy Republican Leader Vincent Candelora (R-86) joined Senate and House Republicans in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford on Monday, October 17, to call upon the governor’s budget office, the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), and ask that they answer to state lawmakers regarding why the administration was not transparent regarding a shortfall in the state budget.
Both House and Senate Republicans asked that the Appropriations and Finance, Revenue & Bonding committees hold an informational hearing so that officials from the governor’s OPM can explain the discrepancies in their budget numbers as compared to projections from the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA).
OFA recently reported a reduction in personal income tax to the tune of $80 million and underperforming sales tax revenue to the tune of $39 million, which have put Connecticut in a nearly $79 million deficit. Meanwhile, the governor’s budget office, OPM, has insisted that there is no deficit.
[caption id="attachment_83526" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Photo Caption (l to r): State Representatives Vincent Candelora, Melissa Ziobron, Arthur O’Neil, Senator Kevin Witkos, Senator Rob Kane, State Representatives Christopher Davis, John Scott, Senator Michael McLachlan, State Representative Lezlye Zupkus and Senator Henri Martin. Senator Len Fasano and Representative Themis Klarides (center).[/caption]
“This is just another example where the Democrat-controlled legislature is being dishonest with the public regarding our state’s finances.” said Candelora. “I am proud to stand by my Republican colleagues in the House and Senate to ask that the governor’s budget secretary, Benjamin Barnes, come before the legislature and clarify the difference in opposing budget deficit numbers. The truth is that we’ve seen this type of shifty behavior in the past from the Majority party and it’s time that we get to the bottom of it.”
OFA’s detailed report clearly indicates that OPM’s claims that the budget is balanced were completely false. Namely, On Aug. 20 and then again on Sept. 20 in reports to Comptroller Kevin Lembo, OPM indicated that there was no revenue problem and therefore no deficit. However, 14 days later on Sept. 6 in a letter to government agency heads, OPM indicated that their projections were $133 million short on the revenue side.
For a detailed report of the FY 17 General Fund Budget Projection by the OFA visit: https://www.scribd.com/document/327607205/FY-17-GENERAL-FUND-BUDGET-PROJECTION#from_embed.
Photo Caption (l to r): State Representatives Vincent Candelora, Melissa Ziobron, Arthur O’Neil, Senator Kevin Witkos, Senator Rob Kane, State Representatives Christopher Davis, John Scott, Senator Michael McLachlan, State Representative Lezlye Zupkus and Senator Henri Martin. Senator Len Fasano and Representative Themis Klarides (center).[/caption]
“This is just another example where the Democrat-controlled legislature is being dishonest with the public regarding our state’s finances.” said Candelora. “I am proud to stand by my Republican colleagues in the House and Senate to ask that the governor’s budget secretary, Benjamin Barnes, come before the legislature and clarify the difference in opposing budget deficit numbers. The truth is that we’ve seen this type of shifty behavior in the past from the Majority party and it’s time that we get to the bottom of it.”
OFA’s detailed report clearly indicates that OPM’s claims that the budget is balanced were completely false. Namely, On Aug. 20 and then again on Sept. 20 in reports to Comptroller Kevin Lembo, OPM indicated that there was no revenue problem and therefore no deficit. However, 14 days later on Sept. 6 in a letter to government agency heads, OPM indicated that their projections were $133 million short on the revenue side.
For a detailed report of the FY 17 General Fund Budget Projection by the OFA visit: https://www.scribd.com/document/327607205/FY-17-GENERAL-FUND-BUDGET-PROJECTION#from_embed.