Zupkus Op-Ed: Legislative Update

In recent weeks, I have received phone calls and emails from many residents in our district expressing concerns regarding several issues. I wanted to provide an update on the latest information as I have it.

As many of you know, the state of Connecticut remains in a fiscal deficit. Only a few short months after the budget was passed by the majority party Democrats and signed by Governor Malloy, we now face a deficit of over $350 million dollars.  You may recall in my October update that, to deal with the budget shortfall back in September, Governor Malloy made rescissions in the amount of $103 million, which included cuts to our community hospitals as well as to vital programs and services for the disabled.  In two short months, not only are we still facing a budget shortfall, we are worse off now than before.

To manage this fiscal disaster, leadership from each caucus (House and Senate, Republicans and Democrats) has joined the governor in putting forth their proposals in an attempt to solve the budget problem. At this time, leadership continues to meet with the governor, with the goal of putting together a plan to manage the $350 million deficit and put the state back on sound fiscal ground.

I joined my Republican colleagues in supporting our budget proposal which closes the current year’s projected deficit while also restoring cuts made to social services by the governor’s September rescissions while protecting our most vulnerable citizens –the elderly, sick, and disabled, and ensuring vital services and resources are maintained.  Our Republican proposal DOES NOT make cuts from community hospitals or Medicaid. Rather, our proposal closes the state’s current budget deficit and makes long-term structural changes to help the state avoid future shortfalls and stop the fiscal bleeding.

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

As part of his proposal to manage the budget shortfall, Governor Malloy included the closure of State Police Troop I, located in Bethany. I strongly oppose the governor’s suggestion to close the Troop I Barracks as it is an integral part of our public safety infrastructure and provides invaluable, life-saving resources to our residents. The state police provide local as well as regional protection, and at a time of heightened concern about public safety, I believe that we should look elsewhere for cost savings. Balancing the budget against the safety of our residents is incomprehensible, and I will continue to fight for Troop I to remain a strong presence in our communities.

Budget negotiations and discussions are ongoing and remain very fluid, with all options ‘on the table’. There is some talk at this point of the possibility of the legislature convening in a special session in the early weeks of December to deal with the budget deficit.  I will continue to work with my colleagues on a solution that meets our budgetary restraints while ensuring that our communities and vital services are supported.

As always, please feel free to reach out to me with your thoughts on this or any issue via email at Lezlye.Zupkus@housegop.ct.gov or by phone (860) 240-8700 or toll free (800) 842-1423.