Greenwich's Legislative Delegation 'Pleased' with Approach to State Budget

Members of the Greenwich state house delegation say they were “pleased” and “happy” that Gov. Dannel Malloy is now ready to grapple with the state’s economic issues.

On Tuesday, Malloy presented his budget message — along with news that thousands of state jobs will be cut — to a joint session of the state house and senate.

Attendees included Greenwich state Representatives Livvy Floren (R-149), Mike Bocchino (R-150), and Fred Camillo (R-151).

The Opening Day ceremonies mark the beginning of a three-month-long “short session,” during which only bills related to budgetary, revenue and financial matters may be considered, or bills submitted by committees on any subject.

One of the most pressing issues facing the General Assembly is making adjustments to the state’s biennial budget. After a budget fix during the December special session, there is still a projected shortfall of over $507 million, and an out year deficit of more than $4 billion.

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On Monday, House and Senate Republicans released their budget priorities for the 2016 session, which include:

· Implementing long-term structural changes to restore sustainability and predictability to the budget

· Implementing the Republican “Prioritize Progress” transportation plan to fund and protect transportation dollars without tolls or tax increases

· Dealing with the fiscal year 2017 budget deficit during the upcoming legislative session

“For several years, the Connecticut House Republicans have advocated for long-term solutions to the persisting, yearly deficits our state has been experiencing. Today, that battle was joined by Governor Malloy,” Camillo said in a statement. “I was pleased to hear him address the seriously flawed way we craft budgets and his pledge to make the tough, strategic, and dauntless decisions needed to right the ship of state. While we await the details of his plan, we stand ready to collaborate with him, and our friends and colleagues across the aisle to move Connecticut forward and establish the Nutmeg State as a place to live, work, and do business in.”

Camillo will continue to serve as Ranking Member of the legislature’s Commerce Committee. He will also continue to serve on the legislature’s Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee and Banks Committee.

Bocchino will remain on the Energy and Technology Committee, Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, and Children Committee.

“I was happy to hear that some of the budget principles my fellow colleagues and I have put forth over the past year are finally be taken seriously. I hope that by the end of this session we will come to a conclusion that will not only put us back on track, but will hopefully make the state economically viable once again,” Bocchino said.

Greenwich’s senior state representative Floren will serve her eighth year as Ranking Member of the legislature’s General Bonding Sub-Committee. She also will serve on the legislature’s Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee and Insurance Committee.

“I was happy to hear that the Governor would like to adopt some of the budget principles that we have put forward in the past. I hope to work in a bipartisan way with my colleagues to get the state back on the track to fiscal sustainability,” Floren said in the statement.

The 2016 Legislative Session will adjourn May 4.