Votes In Committee Against Biennial State Budget Offered By Appropriations Committee
Senator Cathy Cook, R-Mystic, joined other Republican members of the Appropriations Committee Monday in voting against a Democrat budget proposal that, if approved by the entire General Assembly, would increase state spending by nearly $1.9 billion, or about 13%, over the next two years.
"This $15.6 billion budget for the first year, and $16.4 billion for the second year is way beyond the taxpayers' ability to pay. This Appropriations Committee budget is a disaster waiting to happen, and the best thing we can do now is start over again with Governor Rell's budget proposal and, this time, come up with something that works. Governor Rell has already said: "I would veto it without hesitation," said Senator Cook, a member of the Appropriations Committee.
Senator Cook was sharply critical of the fact that the Appropriations Committee budget exceeds the constitutional spending cap by more than $434 million, and would require more than $1.13 billion in new taxes over the biennium.
"Connecticut's taxpayers cannot afford this budget and, frankly, even if we could afford to spend this kind of money, this committee budget does not call for spending it wisely. Pretty much every line item is increased. Yet this budget, among other things, fails to make the most of federal funds from the Medicare prescription drug plan, and it eliminates the Governor's pilot program to help low-income workers take advantage of their employers' insurance. This budget guts the Governor's early childhood initiative. It completely cuts out items necessary to fulfill federal court exit plan for DCF. There is plenty to dislike about this committee budget," said Senator Cook.
Senator Cook, a long time member of the Appropriations Committee, said that she will concentrate her efforts in the weeks ahead to working with legislators to propose necessary, responsible, changes to the committee budget before full General Assembly takes it up for a vote. She is a leading Republican member of three of the budget-making committees' subcommittees, Regulation and Protection, Health and Hospitals, and Human Services.
"Taxpayers deserve a state that spends their tax dollars carefully and only for necessary services that actually do what they are supposed to do. What a shame that the tax and spend Democrats have so little respect for the taxpayers. We can do better than this. Connecticut residents expect, and deserve, better. I will be working with my colleagues in the General Assembly to pass a state budget that delivers the quality government programs and services we need at a cost we can afford," said Senator Cook. |
