Lawmakers return for deficit session
By ConnPolitics.tv Editor on Dec 21, 2009 | In News, State Budget | 5 feedbacks »
*Updated*
Hartford (AP) – Connecticut Democrats say they’re ready to vote on a plan that will cover the state’s latest budget deficit.
A special session is set to begin at 2 p.m. Monday, but rank-and-file lawmakers are expected to meet in closed-door caucuses to review the proposal being offered by the majority party to cover the $467 million deficit.
That figure, however, includes a planned $130 million sales tax reduction that has been scrapped because of falling state revenues.
Douglas Whiting, a spokesman for the House Democrats, says the plan will address a $116 million revenue drop that lawmakers will cover with fund transfers, spending cuts and postponement of a planned estate tax cut. The balance, Democrats say, is up to the governor to handle with spending rollbacks at her state agencies.
Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell had called the legislature back into session last week to vote on her deficit reduction plan. But lawmakers gathered for only about 15 minutes before heading home, as majority Democrats said they were preparing their own budget proposal.
Democratic leaders dismissed Rell’s proposal as a jobs killer that would hurt important programs, including state aid to cities and towns, health insurance for the poor and children’s programs.
Rell strongly disagrees with Democrats’ claims and says she won’t sign any bill that increases taxes or borrows more money.
5 comments
At this point & time anything that will do the above for ANY reason will be counter productive in the long run......
I can see projects like "play grounds" or "walking paths" or "heated bus stops" being done, instead of "critical" things such as roadwork etc....politicians LOVE the short term meaningless BS jobs to be created so they can say " look what have done...".....look at the Federal government...look at some of the garbage that is attached to this new "health care" bill, for example,...meaningless CRAP.......
So, come in you pathetic lawmakers..... spend another 15 or 20 minutes doing NOTHING...then go home......
Do what YOU do best........
Deport illegals, let taxpayers get the jobs - increase revenue
Arrest DeStephano for harboring tax evaders.
Thats right, she wont sign it... just like she didn't sign the budget. She'll just let it happen rather than taking a stand.
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