Boucher Urges For Stronger Cap on CT Spending

A Letter From Connecticut State Senator Toni Boucher:

Think the future of Connecticut depends on whether we are able to impose greater financial discipline on state government?

Think we need a strong, enforceable cap on Connecticut state government spending?

So do I.

And I have submitted testimony to the state’s Spending Cap Commission saying exactly that.

• I urged the commission to adopt a definition of general budget expenditures that gives a complete and realistic account of all the money that the state spends. When considering this definition, it is equally critical that the legislature not be allowed to move what was once an expenditure included under the cap to bonding, or fund it with a revenue intercept for the purpose of undermining the cap’s integrity.
• I noted that the success of the spending cap as a means of limiting the growth of state government depends on the spending items that fall under its purview. Exempting items such as state employee pension contributions would undermine the cap’s effectiveness and continue the tradition of irresponsibility that has defined Connecticut’s financial state for decades.

You can testify, too.

Here’s how:

• Email your testimony to APPtestimony@cga.ct.gov
• Your testimony can be as brief as you like.
• Put “Spending Cap” in the subject line of the email.
• Feel free to copy me on the email at Toni.Boucher@cga.ct.gov
• Share this information with CT taxpayers.

Future public hearings will be held as follows:

• Oct. 19, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Conn Hall, SCSU, New Haven
• Oct. 26, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Smith Library, ECSU, Willimantic
• Nov. 16, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Waterbury (Venue TBD)

Together, as Connecticut taxpayers who love our state and are concerned for its future, let’s send a clear message.That message is: “Get State Government Spending Under Control!”

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