GOP Deficit
Mitigation Plan Calls For Spending Cuts – Not
Tax Increases
Senator Rob Kane (R-32) recently joined fellow Republican
legislators in calling for the General Assembly to significantly
reduce this year’s state budget deficit by accelerating
the mitigation proposals already offered by Governor
M. Jodi Rell and implementing additional cost saving
proposals.
“This is not the time for the legislature’s
majority leadership to drag their feet. It is still
possible to close this year’s budget gap without
increasing taxes or completely draining the Rainy Day
Fund, but only if we act now. If the legislature’s
majority insists on waiting much longer, the Rainy Day
Fund will be gone, more businesses will close, more
jobs will be lost and it will be difficult, if not impossible,
to avoid raising taxes in the next two years,”
said Senator Kane, a member of the General Assembly’s
Appropriations Committee.
The Republican plan would reduce this year’s
budget deficit by $925 million by changing the effective
dates of spending cuts and other mitigation measures
proposed by Governor Rell from July 1, 2009 to April
1, 2009. The plan also anticipates $360 million in federal
funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act and uses approximately $280 million of the state’s
$1.4 billion rainy day fund, protecting more than $1.1
billion to help stave off tax increases in the next
two fiscal years.
“It is absolutely essential that we reduce the
size of state government. Connecticut’s families
and businesses are already doing more with less and,
rightly, expect state government to do the same. So
far, members of the legislature’s majority have
been unwilling to join us in responsibly, and aggressively,
addressing our fiscal problems. Time is running out,”
said Senator Kane.
Senator Kane is encouraging constituents to share
their thoughts on the Republican deficit mitigation
plan, along with their own suggestions for addressing
Connecticut’s fiscal problems. He can be reached
at his legislative office at 860-240-8800 or via e-mail
to Rob.Kane@cga.ct/gov.
Republican FY09 Deficit Mitigation Plan
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