Letter to Editor: Legislative Majority Mocks Budget Process

To the Editor,

At a time when we should be coming together and making progress toward creating a balanced budget – one that moves Connecticut forward – the legislative majority continues to demonstrate that they are not fit to lead.

On Tuesday, the House was called into session, hastily, by the Speaker and Majority Leader. Usually, when sessions are convened, members of both parties are provided with an agenda in terms of what the business of the day will be. This did not occur.

In order to override a veto, the House must have 101 votes in the affirmative. The legislative majority party leadership was aware that several members within their caucus, that had previously supported the budget that was sent to the governor, could not physically make the session. It should also be noted, Tuesday’s session was called with less than a 24-hour notice, which is simply not enough time.

A later date, with adequate notice, would have provided an actual chance to build a bi-partisan consensus to override the monarchical veto of a budget that originally garnered support from both sides of the aisle. However, the majority party put the veto override up for a motion.

Regardless of the attempt, no action was taken to override the budget veto on Tuesday. As a result of this inaction, the possibility of a veto override remains an option at a later date. The legislative majority party has not put forth a new concept, and the Governor’s near-sighted plan to eliminate funding to our cities and towns must be reversed.

As a result of political posturing, the budget process has only been mocked. Tuesday’s session was a simply a display of an abuse of power, which holds the entire citizenry of Connecticut in a state of limbo.

I look forward to taking real action on state budget in the coming days.

Sincerely,

Jay Case

State Representative, 63rd District