State Rep. Ferraro Opposes State Budget Plan in Appropriations Committee

From the Connecticut General Assembly:

State Rep. Charles Ferraro (R-117) opposed a state budget plan in the Appropriations Committee on Thursday, April 7, which falls short of closing the $900 million budget deficit for the fiscal year beginning Friday, July 1.

The plan, as passed by the Democrat majority, fails to completely mitigate the $900 million 2017 budget deficit, leaving over $330 million shortfall remaining.

Representative Ferraro said, “This budget plan is completely inadequate, careless and is a downright dereliction of duty. The committee owed it to the state of Connecticut to pass a fully vetted state budget, not two-thirds of a plan.”

“We must change how government budgets and operates in order to be sustainable. Where are the structural changes needed to improve Connecticut’s fiscal picture? This committee continues to do things, the same way they've always been done at a time when we must work creatively and begin to work out of the mess we find ourselves in. The people of Connecticut deserve better.” said Rep. Ferraro.

After the Democrats on the Appropriations committee unveiled their proposal a spokesmen for Governor Malloy's described the plan, which added line items, and new earmarks, as "incomplete”, adding that Malloy will release revised numbers next week.

The plan underfunds the state’s debt service, a move that could threaten Connecticut’s credit rating.

The plan also cuts education cost-sharing funds the state provides to towns. It also counts on $239 million in state employee-related savings without providing details on how to achieve the goal.

The budget adjustment package was approved by the Appropriations Committee on party-line by a final vote tally of 33-24, with all Republican committee members voting no.