Our Budget Deserves a Signature

To the Editor,

Last Friday, the legislature came together and passed a state budget through both chambers. Members from each party voted in support of the budget, which does not rely on increased taxes to erase the current deficit while also funding the core services of government.

This budget preserves the right for every child in Connecticut to get a quality education through a new Education Cost Sharing formula that equitably distributes education dollars to the Northwest Corner. Additionally, it reduces municipal mandates providing a little more flexibility for cities and towns to allocate their budgets appropriately. Day programs for our seniors and the intellectual and developmentally disabled communities are vital. Critical social services, such as these, will continue to be funded under this budget.

Prior to the budget passing both chambers, the legislative majority urged passage of a budget before the governor’s executive order could take effect on October, 1st. It was made clear to us that any vote cast against budget equals a vote to rubber stamp the devastating order that would slash funding to our cities and towns by eliminating education dollars.

What is perplexing is that this very leadership that urged a yes vote on a budget did not lead by example. The legislative majority leadership voted against our budget, despite urging the legislature to pass one.

The governor has stated that he will veto the legislative plan. If he does so, then he has single handedly rejected a proposal that actually takes a step in helping Connecticut recovery economically. Clearly, Connecticut’s fiscal stability is not a priority to the majority party if the budget, which both the House and Senate passed, is vetoed.

I urge the governor to sign the budget bill into law. Feel free to call his office at (800) 406-1527, and let him know how you feel about his threat to reject the legislative budget.

Sincerely,

Jay Case

State Representative, 63rd