Rep. Candelora Opposes Increased Spending

Despite Huge Deficit, Democrats Spend More No Cuts--Just Shuffling Paper Around

HARTFORD – Democrats today ignored the massive budget hole they created last September and proposed spending an additional $373 million while taxing hospitals $200 million and shifting millions in governmental costs to private companies. Currently, the State of Connecticut is running an estimated $520 million deficit for 2010. That deficit is projected to grow to $725 million for 2011. The budget proposed by Democrats contained no significant cuts.  The proposal passed in the Appropriations Committee on partisan lines. “In a time when we are faced with a deficit and rising healthcare costs, the Democrats vote to increase spending and pay for it by taxing resident’s healthcare.  This is unbelievable.” said State Representative Vincent Candelora. “We are driving toward a cliff and the Democrats just stepped on the accelerator.” Representative Candelora noted a lack of leadership and breakdown between the House and Senate Democrats who are battling openly on the issue. “Some Democratic leaders want to continue putting a band aid on the red ink flowing out of our state budget, or worse, continue to completely ignore it. This current proposal includes a few sleight of hand tricks, where the Democrats have shuffled some paper to give the appearance of tackling problems. We are in the third year of a recession and the Democrats have not yet made an honest attempt to reduce the cost and size of government.  There is no choice.  This budget proposal only makes things worse,” said Candelora. Republicans have repeatedly put forth alternatives budget to consolidate state agencies, eliminate waste and reduce costs and the size of the government workforce. Meanwhile, according the state comptroller, Connecticut faces a growing 101,000 in job losses and the taxpayer funded state government budget grows larger. “We must act now and make tough decisions. Otherwise we are going to wish we could hit the ‘do-over’ button next fall with skyrocketing debt and nearing a billion dollar hole. We have to reduce expenses just as everyone else has had to do; it is our entrusted responsibility,” Candelora said. “It’s very easy to expect ‘someone else’ to pick up the tab, whether it is higher income earners, employers, the federal government – always someone else – but this style of governing doesn’t work in the long run.  In fact, it is irresponsible.  We saw with our transportation funding requests that federal funding is never a guarantee.  Employers leave and high income earners move across state lines. We must take responsible steps to balance our budget,’’ said Candelora. Republicans tried to work with the Democratic super majority to act on a deficit mitigation plan months ago to eliminate the deficit, but to no avail. Now there are just two months left in the fiscal year and it seems there will be no chance for state savings. “Super majority Democrats in the legislature have again failed to responsibly tackle our state’s problems. Once again the legislature puts off making any tough decisions,’’ Candelora said.