Seymour Delegation Listens to Constituents and Talk Budget at Town Hall Meeting

SEYMOUR- Last week, State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria and Senators Eric Berthel and Kevin Kelly held a post-session wrap-up event in Seymour to talk to residents about the 2017 legislative session, which ended on June 7th, and to give an update on the state budget.

“The number one issue facing the state of Connecticut is the $5.1 billion budget deficit for the next two fiscal years,” said Rep. Klarides-Ditria. “I was extremely disappointed that a budget was not passed during the regular session. Republicans repeatedly produced balanced no-tax-increase budget proposals and were ready to vote on them before the June 7th deadline, but the Speaker failed to call for a budget vote. We need to act quickly to pass a budget, and I will continue to fight to implement a budget that controls state spending and borrowing and makes real long-term structural changes.”

“It was great to join Rep. Klarides-Ditria and Sen. Kelly to hear directly from taxpayers in Seymour,” Sen. Eric Berthel said. “At the State Capitol, we are fighting to pass a budget which does not raise taxes. We are fighting to restore cuts to town aid and cuts to local education funding. We are working to protect core services for seniors, the disabled, children and our most at-risk residents. We can turn Connecticut around and put our state back on a sustainable path. We thank Seymour taxpayers for attending our forum.”

“I think the conversation at our town hall meeting was productive,” said Sen. Kelly. “All eyes are on us, whether it’s large corporations with headquarters here or the Wall Street credit agencies, all are watching anxiously as the Connecticut economy continues to flounder. We cannot fail to do our jobs; we must put Connecticut on a path to prosperity. Connecticut Republicans have a plan to do this. Our plan lays the foundation for a new Connecticut, a plan that will put hard-working families first, a plan that creates jobs through a stable and predictable economy. Connecticut needs a new direction, and Connecticut Republicans are ready to lead the way.”

The lawmakers handed out the 2017 Major Public Acts report, which provides brief descriptions on a number of issues including legislation on opioid drugs, education, transportation and the state’s business climate, among others. Residents can read the full document by visiting www.cga.ct.gov/olr.

A major concern amongst legislators and residents is what happens if the legislature does not pass a budget before the end of the fiscal year July 1. The delegation provided residents with another document from the Office of Legislative Research that gives a summary of what has happened in the past. In opinions issued in 1991 and 2003, former Attorney Generals have ruled that the governor may issue an executive order to ensure continued essential and necessary government operations and the General Assembly may adopt continuing resolutions for that same purpose. However, the governor has the authority to veto the resolution. In the absence of an override, the resolution would have no legal effect.

Rep. Klarides-Ditria and Senators Berthel and Kelly all said that their caucuses are calling on a budget to be passed by the June 30th deadline. They noted that if a budget wasn’t adopted by June 30th, it would be the first time in modern history that a biennium would expire without the legislature taking action on a budget.

NOTE: The Speaker of the House failed to call a budget vote before the end of the fiscal year June 30th. The Speaker is now looking to pass a budget by July 18th.

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