November 20, 2015

Area Legislators Hail Republican Proposals to Address CT Budget Shortfalls

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HARTFORD – Legislators who represent Thomaston and Harwinton today hailed Republican proposals to close the state’s current budget deficit and make long-term structural changes to help the state avoid future shortfalls.

These proposals were shared with Democrat leaders and Governor Dannel P. Malloy in bipartisan budget negotiations Nov. 12 and with the public at a Nov. 13 press conference in Hartford.

“Our proposals aim to protect our most vulnerable residents – seniors, children, the disabled – from harmful cuts to vital services,” Sen. Henri Martin said. “We protect hospitals, like Bristol Hospital. We also look to strengthen our state’s finances now and well into the future. We’ve got to emerge from this perpetual budget crisis and put Connecticut on sound financial footing. Our plan puts Connecticut back on the right path and helps to fix the broken state budget.”

“Ultimately, the final plan must contain structural changes that will stop the fiscal bleeding and restore stability to our state,” said Rep. John Piscopo. “It is unbelievable that the budget touted by the majority-party Democrats and the governor has completely fallen flat on its face only mere months into this budget cycle. Our Republican plan maintains funding to our community hospitals and those citizens who need our help the most while balancing the budget without raising taxes. I hope that our proposals are given serious consideration.”

The Republican proposals include modifications totaling over $370 million in Fiscal Year 2016, enough to close the current year’s projected deficit while also restoring cuts made to social services by the governor’s September rescissions. None of the immediate proposed solutions require labor concessions. The proposals also include tax changes to improve Connecticut’s business environment, including eliminating Unitary Combined Reporting.

The long-term Republican budget proposals include lowering state debt by limiting the amount Connecticut can borrow, identifying and addressing inefficiencies in state government, protecting transportation funding, better managing the state’s pension system, and modest labor modifications.

For more information, visit: https://cdn.cthousegop.com/2015/11/Presentation.pdf .