Senator Judith G. Freedman (R-26) today joined other Republicans in voting against the Appropriations Committee proposed mid-term biennial budget, calling it “discriminatory” and “irresponsible.”

“What is called for in this budget bypasses the legislature’s committee process, calls for spending $900 million this fiscal year and, frankly, will drive out of our state everyone who can leave. This budget creates losers of everyone, and passage by the entire General Assembly – something I fervently hope does not happen – will signal the beginning of a socialist state,” said Senator Freedman, a long-time member of the committee.

 Senator Freedman noted that the Democrat-crafted committee budget includes several big ticket initiatives that were not agreed upon during the legislative committee process. Those initiatives include an additional Medicaid increase for nursing homes that are unionized, as opposed to those that are not, and additional energy assistance for hospitals that provide Plan B contraceptives to patients.

“It is wrong to include program initiatives in the state budget as a way of circumventing the legislative committee process, and I absolutely will not vote yes and become a party to such actions. This budget calls for spending a great deal of money that the state cannot afford, and spending that money in extremely discriminatory ways,” said Senator Freedman.

 Senator Freedman said she is also dismayed that the committee budget ignores several key initiatives proposed by Governor M. Jodi Rell, such as job creation, property tax relief, and tax cuts.

“This budget calls for blowing through the spending cap, spending $900 million over the existing 2006 budget and, I believe, puts us on the road to fiscal disaster in the near future. Connecticut cannot afford this budget and I will be working very hard in the weeks ahead to make sure that what the General Assembly ultimately passes is a much, much better spending plan for Connecticut,” said Senator Freedman.