Budget Short on Positives, Long on Negatives

State Representative Craig Fishbein (R-90) today voted against a negotiated state budget plan because it did not make deep enough cuts to avoid substantial revenue and fee increases, and provides additional state funding for areas that are not essential to running the state, funding pension obligations or reducing the tax burden on hard-working residents.

“The budget passed today is a step in the right direction but did not go as far as I would have liked to put our state on a faster track to fiscal reform,” Rep. Fishbein said. “There was a lot of good in this package and I’m encouraged by the effort put in by all sides to find solutions to our constant budget deficits, but I believe there’s a lot more work to do. I cannot support raising taxes once again to cover massive deficits caused by runaway spending.”

Passage of the budget effectively means Governor Malloy’s executive order will be vacated and end the draconian cuts he implemented when the regular session ended without a budget in place. The governor can still veto the measure which would trigger a possible veto override by the legislature. The bill passed both chambers with wide margins, usually termed “veto proof” because they far surpass the two-thirds of the legislature needed to override a veto. The bill passed the House by a vote of 126-23 and the Senate 33-3. It will now be transmitted to the governor for his action.

“Today’s budget was historic because it institutes both spending and bonding caps which, due to the three-fifths majority approval, will become Constitutional amendments and help control government spending in the future,” Rep. Fishbein said. “Unfortunately, state spending will increase in the short term and must be offset by revenue grabs and tax increases.  Raising taxes and fees to balance a budget, and spending money to create or expand programs that only benefit a small minority in the state in a time of major fiscal crisis, should be the last resort.”