By Senator Rob Kane
It has only been a couple of weeks
since the General Assembly passed implementing legislation
for Connecticut’s $37.6 billion biennial budget,
and already the state is facing a $388.5 million deficit
for this fiscal year.
Sadly, I am not surprised. Connecticut
is still struggling to emerge from a national recession
that affects every business and family in our state.
According to the state Department of Labor, we lost
6,600 jobs in September and the state’s unemployment
rate is now at 8.4 percent.
It should be obvious to everyone by
now that Connecticut’s taxpayers – that
is, businesses and families – cannot afford
to continue paying for big government spending. I
shared their disappointment and dismay when, rather
than make responsible spending reductions, the General
Assembly concluded months of negotiations, meetings
and delays by passing a budget that relies on borrowing,
one-time gimmicks and tax increases to keep our government
running.
It took the General Assembly until
October to finish work on a state budget that should
have been completed before the regular legislative
session ended in early June. Now, it seems likely
that the General Assembly will be back in special
session in the near future to address the $388.5 million
budget deficit recently projected by the state Office
of Policy and Management. Governor M. Jodi Rell is
already working on the deficit mitigation plan she
will ask the legislature to pass. The Governor noted
that she “will also need the commitment and
cooperation of the Legislature to finally bring real
and lasting reductions to state spending. Even greater
fiscal discipline is now required. It is early in
the budget year – and we must address this deficit
before it swells.”
Connecticut’s citizens have every
right to expect the General Assembly to - finally
- do what they are being forced to do: cut back on
expenses. Back in September, I voted against the state
budget because I believe it will cost our state more
jobs and, consequently, drive both families and businesses
out of Connecticut. Frankly, it was unconscionable
to pass a budget that raises taxes by approximately
$1 billion and borrows approximately $2 billion.
When legislators reconvened in October
to pass the legislation necessary to actually implement
the budget, I voted against all but one of the five
bills brought before us. The single implementer bill
I supported gives school districts another year before
requiring them to conduct in-school suspensions, instead
of sending suspended students home. I welcomed Governor
Rell’s decision to veto one of the implementer
bills passed by the General Assembly because, among
other provisions, it would have exempted the Judicial
Branch from budget cuts that are being required of
other state agencies. Again, the bottom line is that
we have to somehow develop the discipline needed to
cut spending, even when it is not easy.
Connecticut is not out of the woods
– and the decisions we make now will affect
the families and businesses that call our state home
for a very, very long time. That is why I will continue
to work with my legislative colleagues to re-invent
state government so that it is smaller, more efficient,
and more cost-effective. As always, I welcome opportunities
to discuss issues that affect our state. If you have
any questions or concerns about our new state laws,
please contact my legislative office in Hartford at
1-800-842-1421, or e-mail me at Rob.Kane@cga.ct.gov.
