Wright: No raises for judges

State Rep. Chris Wright, a Bristol Democrat, just issued this press release:

REP. WRIGHT SAYS THIS IS NOT THE TIME

TO BE RAISING JUDGES’ SALARIES

State Rep. Chris Wright

State Representative Chris Wright (D-Bristol) says this is not the time to be considering raising the salaries of judges and he opposes a proposal that would hike the salaries for judges by an estimated $45,000 or more over the next four years.

Rep. Wright found a news report in the Connecticut Law Tribune disturbing that said Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers, in a 20-page report, called for the state’s judges and judicial magistrates to receive a pay raise of 11.3 per cent next year and 5.5 per cent for each of the following three years.

“I have nothing against our judges, but this is not the time to be raising anyone’s salaries in state employment,” Rep. Wright said. “There are thousands of state employees who are now in the second year of a salary freeze and raising the pay of judges who are already earning high salaries makes no sense.”

“We have just witnessed the fiasco of the pay raises awarded to employees of the state Department of Higher Education that has resulted in the resignation of the two top administrators and the revoking of other salary hikes,” Rep. Wright continued. “We are still facing a serious budget challenge, so let’s take pay raises off the table.”

“While there are judges who may have left the bench to join the private sector, the fact is there are lawyers in every court room in Connecticut yearning to be appointed a judge,” Rep. Wright said. “Judges probably deserve a pay raise, but there are people everywhere, both in the private and public sector, who deserve pay raises, but do not earn as much as judges.”

Rep.Wright is Vice Chair of the Housing Committee and serves on the Environment and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees.

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Alford: Nicastro failed to 'exhibit any leadership' on budget, taxes

Mary Alford, the GOP candidate for the 79th District state House seat, who is taking on incumbent Democrat Frank Nicastro, issued this press release:

Nicastro Needs To Explain Budget Votes!

(Bristol) 79^th Assembly District candidate Mary Alford, endorsed by both the Republican and Independent parties today challenged her opponent’s votes on the state budget that increased taxes by two billion dollars.

“From the night of my endorsement, I have said that Representative Nicastro needs to explain his voting record.” Alford continued, “As Election Day nears, the time has come to ask the questions that Bristol residents deserve to have answered.”

While Nicastro voted against the overall budget, he voted “No” on the proposed Republican budget that would have paid the bills without raising taxes. He also voted “No” on every Republican amendment that removed the most troubling tax hikes from the budget. “If Mr. Nicastro was truly opposed to the sales tax increasing to 6.35%, or clothing getting taxed from dollar one, he had a perfect opportunity to say so by voting yes on those amendments. He didn’t.”

“His votes against a budget that included these taxes while also voting against the Republican proposals to eliminate these taxes is an inconsistency that demonstrates a lack of leadership. “ Alford added.

Alford said, “We need and deserve representatives who are going to stand up and be leaders in Hartford.  We need and deserve representatives who will develop proposals that do not require constantly raising taxes. Mr. Nicastro, as an Assistant Majority Leader, was well positioned to be a leader in this debate. Yet, he did not exhibit any leadership qualities. By simply voting No he abdicated his responsibilities to Bristol residents.”

“As your next State Representative, I will hold quarterly town hall meetings to keep you informed and seek your opinions and thoughts on what is happening in Connecticut so that I can be your voice in Hartford.

   Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

$16 million in state aid for Bristol could vanish

The alternative budget that Gov. Dannel Malloy is eyeing should state workers refuse concessions would leave cities and towns reeling.Bristol alone would lose $16 million in state aid for the coming fiscal year -- enough to devastate services and cripple education.Raising that much locally would require a property tax hike of nearly 4 mills, which nobody would try to do in an election year, so the only way to cope would be layoffs and axing services.Frankly, I'm not sure what Bristol would do. It's a scenario so dire that nobody's ever talked about how they'd deal with such a hit.Of course, the legislature might well refuse to go along with such a large cut.But lawmakers have shown time and again that they don't like to deal with fiscal realities. Malloy at least is looking at the ugly necessity of either slashing spending or raising taxes. He's not just punting.
Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

The governor comes to town

I was surprised last night by two things: the fact that most of the big crowd who came to hear Gov. Dannel Malloy were from Bristol and that the governor generally received a polite listening. Considering how mad so many people are about proposed cuts and tax hikes, it was refreshing in a way to have the vast majority of those in attendance treat Malloy respectfully. There seemed to a feeling that whatever the flaws in his plan, he deserved some credit for at least confronting the fiscal realities, something that hasn't happened in years.On the other hand, it doesn't mean the legislature will go along with him.State Rep. Chris Wright, a Bristol Democrat, told me a story that pretty much illustrates the entire problem. He told me about a constituent who vehemently pleaded with him last fall to get in there and cut, cut, cut until state government reached a size we could live with. That same person contacted him recently to beg him not to allow the governor to slice away a program that mattered to him, Wright said. And that is the paradox of out times: Everyone wants to cut someone else's program. And nobody wants a tax hike.Yet something  has to give, as Malloy made painfully clear.Anyway, here is a link to the story I wrote about what Malloy had to say and here is another link to a story by reporter Jackie Majerus about why some of those in attendance showed up.If I get a chance today, I'll go through my notes and post some of the other interesting moments from the town hall session. By the way, one other thing I thought was interesting: many Republicans came to hear Malloy. I noticed state Sen. Jason Welch, state Rep. Whit Betts, former Mayor William Stortz, city GOP leader TJ Barnes, city Councilor Ken Cockayne (who wheedled a photo of the governor with his son) and more. It was nice to see that a governor's town hall did not become a partisan event. I also liked that at least most of the questions were clearly not setups, which is something you have to give Malloy credit for. He's standing up and taking it.*****Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Malloy coming to Bristol Monday

Gov. Dannel Malloy will bring his traveling show to Bristol on Monday for an hour long public hearing on his proposed budget cuts and tax hikes.
Originally slated for City Hall, the 7 p.m. session has been moved to the auditorium Bristol Eastern High School so more people can squeeze in. It will fill up fast even there if the governor's other meetings are any indication.
Malloy will likely talk for about 15 minutes, then field questions.
If you want to get in, get there early. If you want to ask the governor a question, well, good luck.
It's going to be a madhouse there.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Malloy: honest broker or wimp?

For some, Gov. Dannel Malloy is coming through as promised with a tough budget that keeps municipalities happy and shares sacrifice widely.

For others, though, he’s a wimp.

One thing that’s for sure, though, is that his proposed spending plan shows at least one marked difference from those of his Republican predecessors: there is nothing in it about shutting down either the courthouse or the Bristol Technical Education Center.

It seeks to preserve existing levels of education aid, considered crucial to keeping property taxes in check, and generally holds the line on most state aid. Click here for the story.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

State budget a colossal mess

In the eyes of local officials at least, state leaders have displayed almost staggering audacity in tackling whopping deficits by doing nearly everything wrong -- borrowing against future revenues, sucking money out of reserves, reducing payments into already underfunded pension trusts and so on.
Bristol's comptroller, Glenn Klocko, pronounced it "crazy" last night and he's exactly right.
State leaders, on both sides of the political aisle, are destroying Connecticut's credit rating by shoving tough decisions down the road in the vain hope that something better will somehow happen.

Klocko said that when he watches what the state is doing, "it really frightens me."

I don't profess to have the answers, but I do know that when you're faced with hard decisions, it's a lot better to try to deal with them honestly. The state is just shoving the bills into a box and hoping creditors won't come calling. It never works.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Hamzy warns that massive deficit looms

Press release from state Rep. Bill Hamzy, a Plymouth Republican whose 78th District includes northwestern Bristol:

Representative William A. Hamzy:

Warns State Must Address Growing $750 Million Deficit

Supports 3 Month Deficit Patch to Carry State Budget through the Spring

HARTFORD – State Representative William A. Hamzy of Bristol and Plymouth, voted today to close the state’s budget deficit without raising taxes or cutting aide to towns and cities, but he warned that a $750 million fiscal deficit awaits July 1 and must be fixed before the Democratic-controlled legislature adjourns in May. 

The deficit mitigation plan put forth today eliminates only the current $350 budget gap. The plan does not tackle the looming deficit that kicks in July 1^st, only 10 weeks from now, but Republicans pledged to address that within the coming days. For the past two years, Rep. Hamzy and his Republican colleagues in the House championed closing the deficit without raising taxes or cutting aide to towns and cities. 

“This is a first step. As I and many of my Republican colleagues have said before, we can plug the deficit without raising taxes or cutting aid to local municipalities. The $750 million budget hole that begins July 1, 2010 will only grow with legislative inaction. We need to begin starting tomorrow to make the tough cuts and to find government efficiencies,” said Rep. Hamzy.

The current state budget, with the $350 million deficit, was adopted last September without any Republican votes. For the last 8 months, state operated with a growing deficit due largely to the inaction of the legislature.

With record unemployment and with both families and employers alike pinching pennies, Rep. Hamzy expressed now is not the time to raise taxes or utility prices for families or those providing their jobs. “The Democrats raised taxes last September by $1.2 billion and we are still facing a $700 million gap. Raising taxes when we have record high unemployment at over 9 percent is not the answer,’’ he said.

Republicans said they are prepared to vote to eliminate the projected deficit for the 2011-12 budget year beginning July 1. The budget hole, he said, can be filled with targeted spending reductions, government efficiencies and no tax hikes. Republicans in the House refused to consider any tax increases on income, sales, large family homes, electrical bills, hotel rooms, or hospitals to cover the deficit. Rep. Hamzy specifically opposed any version of proposed tax hikes on sick people who become hospitalized, insisting that could not be part of any deficit mitigation plan.

“As we saw this past year, the deficit will only grow with legislative inaction. If the Democrat-controlled legislature chooses to continue doing nothing, the $750 million deficit we face July 1 will balloon into a nightmare. It is our responsibility. We can tackle the deficit without raising taxes or cutting municipal aid but we must act now!” said Rep. Hamzy.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Budget battle in Hartford

A few stories I didn't get a chance to link on Friday:

Hamzy blasts Democrats, Colapietro

Hospital chief defends Bristol lawmakers

Welch lays out budget ideas

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Welch offers deficit reduction outline

Press release from Jason Welch, the GOP's state Senate candidate in the 31st District:

Welch for State Senate Addresses Budget Deficit Mitigation Plan

BRISTOL, CT – Welch for State Senate released the following Statement on Proposed Deficit Mitigation Plan:

Senate Democrats passed a deficit reduction plan that fails to recognize the gravity of Connecticut’s financial situation and unfairly shifts the State’s inability to control its spending onto private institutions such as Bristol Hospital.  Before addressing the Senate’s failure, Welch reiterates his aggressive but necessary plan to address State budget woes:

1.    Stop government self promotion.  We all know government is there and we have a constitutionally protected press to inform us of government’s successes and failures.  Thus, we ought to stop all spending by the State which promotes itself, its members or its programs.  This includes items such as 500 mail -- those postcards from legislators promoting their supposed achievements.  It also includes costly promotion of government programs.  If a program is good and necessary then the people will know about it.  If people do not know about it, then it probably is not good and necessary.

2.    Reduce corporatism and leftism.  We must cut legislators’ pet programs on both the left and right that were once used to push an agenda and garner votes.  An example of this is Connecticut’s Commission on Asian Affairs, which may be a good idea on the West coast, but not here and not now.

3.    Right size all major State departments. The State needs to reduce its bloated departments by 5-10% starting at the top.  The Senate Democrat plan tried to do some of this, but not enough.

4. Adjust State employee benefit programs.  New State employees should have 401k plans with a 5% match, like the rest of us, not pensions.  The State should also move to Health Savings Accounts, not its current Cadillac plans.  Such a move will not only save the tax payers money, it will also work to reduce the overall cost of healthcare in Connecticut.  There was a day when State workers were paid less than private counterparts and State benefits were incentives.  That is no longer the case.  State employees in all categories out earn private sector counterparts by 48%.

These 4 steps will mitigate the State’s deficit without increasing taxes and borrowing from the next generation.

The Senate Democrat mitigation plan is wrong for Connecticut.  The plan borrows money from our children and taxes hospital revenues 5.5%, which will cost Bristol Hospital close to $1 million and drive up the cost of healthcare.  The plan also increases entitlements for which there may be no federal money in the future.  These are costs we cannot afford.

Today’s debate about fiscal responsibility is also a debate about the proper size and scope of the government.  In accordance with President Ford’s warning:  “A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have,” and President Jefferson’s observation: “The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground”, we must reject the current model of large government and return to a smaller, smarter and more efficient government which ensures greater personal liberties and freedoms.

Jason Welch seeks to be the Republican nominee to the State Senate race for the 31^st District, which includes Bristol, Plainville, Plymouth and parts of Harwinton.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Wright says no more borrowing

State Rep. Chris Wright, a Bristol Democrat, joined a handful of fiscally conservative Democratic lawmakers recently to demand that legislative leaders deal realistically with the state's budget meltdown.
In a letter that Wright signed, the legislators say the state can't afford to borrow more to cover budget gaps. Read it for yourself here.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Wright: Release the road money

Press release this morning from state Rep. Chris Wright, a Bristol Democrat:

REP. WRIGHT SAYS GOVERNOR SHOULD RELEASE

TOWN AID ROAD GRANTS

State Representative Christopher Wright (D-Bristol) says the Governor should release millions in state aid that would fund paving projects and road repairs including funding for Bristol.

“The Governor’s decision to hold this funding is hurting Bristol and making it difficult for local elected officials who have to make decisions about town paving and road repairs,” Rep. Wright said. “Towns depend on this funding and holding it back can negatively affect local property taxes, in addition to holding up work on local projects.”

Due to the current budget deficit, the governor has held back $30 million in Town Aid Road (TAR) Grants.   

In the previous fiscal year, the city of Bristol received $341,711 in TAR funding.

Towns usually receive TAR funding in January and July each year.

Rep. Wright serves on the Housing, Insurance and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees, 

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Rell picks municipal panel. Ward not among her choices.

Gov. Jodi Rell issued this release today:

Governor Rell: Cooperation is Key
In Addressing Reduction of Municipal Aid
Municipalities Given Strong Voice
In Mandate Relief, Other Cost-Saving Recommendations

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that six municipal leaders from cities and towns – both large and small – will work closely with state officials and lawmakers to identify local savings and recommend mandate relief to help close an estimated $466.5 million state budget shortfall.

The Governor appointed the municipal leaders to a special bipartisan panel she has created to offset an $84 million reduction, or 3 percent decrease, in municipal aid. The Governor called the reduction “one of the most painful cuts” contained in the deficit mitigation plan she recently presented to the Legislature. The Governor has called lawmakers back into special session on December 15 to address the deficit.

“Our municipal leaders have been on the front line of this fiscal crisis and know better than anyone how devastating this recession has been,” Governor Rell said. “Their input is essential as everyone in Connecticut – families, businesses and government – cope with a still volatile economy.

“In good times, our cities and towns have shared in our successes. This time, we are asking them to be part of the solution – and we are listening. Their recommendations of where we can prudently cut back and what mandates are the most onerous are part of the cooperation needed to get the state, their towns and our families back on firm financial footing,” the Governor said.

Governor Rell has previously proposed steps such as a temporary suspension of binding arbitration and requiring a two-thirds vote of the Legislature before any further mandates are imposed. She is asking that the panel begin meeting this week.

The following municipal leaders appointed by the Governor are:
· Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch
· Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton
· East Hartford Mayor Melody Currey
· Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy
· Somers First Selectwoman Lisa Pellegrini
· Portland First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield

Legislative leaders have been asked to appoint six members to the panel, which will be co-chaired by Office of Policy and Management Secretary Robert Genuario and Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Brenda Sisco. To date, legislative members are:
· Rep. John Frey (House Republicans)
· Sen. Robert Kane (Senate Republicans)

“I urge the majority party to make its appointments promptly so that this panel can begin working on finding cost-savings solutions rather than overburdening the already overburdened taxpayer of Connecticut,” Governor Rell said.


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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Ward wants to serve on state panel

Mayor Art Ward sent this email to the city's legislative delegation yesterday:

According to today's news article, the Governor is formulating a committee which will include (6) six CT Mayors to evaluate the impact of her proposed cuts to municipalities. If this committee is not formed yet, I am ready, willing and able to serve on it and would appreciate it if you could propose my interest to the Governor.
Sincerely, Mayor Art Ward

Gov. Jodi Rell said she would appoint a special panel today. We'll see if Ward's on it.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

City upset at possible cut in state aid

The prospect of losing as much as $1.5 million in aid from state budget cuts put on the table by Gov. Jodi Rell has city leaders up in arms.
“Municipal aid cuts would be disastrous for our city,” second-term city Councilor Cliff Block said Monday.
Mayor Art Ward postponed plans for a municipal budget kickoff meeting this week pending more information about the possible mid-year reduction in state aid that would leave Bristol short of assistance it’s already counting on.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne said, “It is awful that we are at the mercy of the state.”
City officials said the state could lift some of its costly mandates so that cities and towns could get by with less money, but given the cold shoulder that mandate relief has received in Hartford this year officials hold out little hope for help.
Rell has called a special legislative session for December 15 to close an anticipated $466 million budget cap. Among the measures she’s calling for is to slice municipal aid by 3 percent, a move she called “the most difficult cut of all.”
“In good times, municipalities shared in the state’s largesse,” the governor said. “In this economy, they must be part of the solution and so it is important they are represented at the table to help us make these difficult choices.”
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, which launched a radio campaign against the move Monday, said, “Cutting more state aid in mid-year wouldn’t be a savings. It would merely shift more of the state budget deficit onto local governments and local property taxpayers.”
It said cutting municipal aid means higher property taxes across the state.
City Comptroller Glenn Klocko said there is “so much hardship that’s coming” that it’s bound to hurt.
He said it is like somebody standing on the beach where things are pretty calm but seeing a wave building way out at sea – and rolling toward the short.
“You know it’s coming,” Klocko said, and the impact will be severe.
City Councilor Kate Matthews said that mandate relief is crucial.
“It is time for our State lawmakers to get serious about granting municipalities like Bristol relief from unfunded state legislative mandates. If they did this, Bristol would be better able to bear a 3% decrease in state funds,” Matthews said.
“Our state legislature should now fight for relief of unfunded mandates, which will not cost the state any moneys,” Block said. “This the only way our city could absorb these cuts.”
“For over two years ourmMayor,City Council, and the Board of Education have been pressuring our state legislators to pursue these mandates but to no avail. This is the wakeup call,” Block said.
Cockayne said he doesn’t blame Rell for proposing the cut since “our state seems to be hemorrhaging money. We have been borrowing to balance the budget and it was just a matter of time for cuts like this to happen.”
He said he hopes the curtailing mandates could be part of the answer.
Without mandate relief, a 3 percent cut “will likely result in cuts to city services that our residents cannot afford to lose,” Matthews said.
Cockayne said the city “must continue to be vigilant in addressing our own spending and we must look for other ways to balance our own budget.”
Ward said he guarantees a “vigilant, diligent and responsible means of addressing only the most essential services” in trying to cope with aid cuts.
“Nothing will be considered to be exempt from consideration,” the mayor said.
“The delivery of services other than those of absolute necessity will be curtailed or eliminated while others will experience extreme cutbacks,” Ward said.
Klocko said the Board of Finance “has a very difficult task before them. I don’t envy their position.”

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

State's unemployment fund goes broke

Good story at hartfordbusiness.com about the state's unemployment fund going belly up. It needs to borrow $1 billion to pay claims for the next two years. The story is here.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Bristol courthouse closure eyed for March 2011

The state court system aims to close the Bristol courthouse by March a, 2011 in order to save $150,000 in lease and operating expenses, according to the chief court administrator.

Judge Barbara M. Quinn recently told the legislature’s appropriations committee that three courthouses – in Bristol, Willamantic and Norwalk – can be shut down “without significant cost to the state” because they have leases that can be cancelled within the next year.

In the case of the Willamantic and Norwalk courthouses, which each serve juveniles, Quinn said the courts will close next year.

But to shutter the Bristol courthouse, she said, the courts will need “the concurrence of the legislature.”

Though Quinn didn’t expand on the reason, lawmakers have said that a statute on the books requires court to be held in Bristol for at least 40 weeks a year.

Closing the courthouse, and moving its cases to New Britain, would violate the law, legislators said, so it can’t be done without their blessing.

Bristol’s lawmakers vowed last month to fight any effort to repeal the statute that guarantees the city’s courthouse will remain open.
State Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Bristol Democrat and former mayor, promisedhe would “fight tooth and nail to keep that law on the books. I’m going to protect our city as much as I can.”

Court officials said they don’t necessarily want to close courthouses. They said they are being forced to slash where they can to reduce spending to levels authorized by the legislature and Gov. Jodi Rell.

“We must remember that the Judicial Branch does not determine on its own the

locations where court will be held or the scope and size of the programs and services that

we will provide to the citizens of the state,” Quinn told the Nov. 18 public hearing of the appropriations panel.

“Adequate funding is essential to carry out the will of the legislature and provide the services expected of a statewide court system,” she said. “It is disheartening and frustrating to see an ever-widening chasm between the programmatic responsibilities and mandates given to the Judicial Branch by the legislature and the funds that are ultimately available to meet those critical and core duties.”

“Responsibilities and mandates only seem to grow and expand while resources continue to shrink,” Quinn said, adding that the situation “cannot continue.”

“If adequate funding is unavailable and if unilateral budget reductions continue to be imposed by the executive branch, we have no choice but to curtail what we do and where we do it,” Quinn said.

She said that given the “unavoidable and unfortunate situation” related to judicial finances, she has to take action “to narrow the gap as much as possible between available funding and expenses.”

Quinn said that none of the actions she is recommending are one she would otherwise choose, but something has to be done.

Quinn also said tat because “this is a very fluid situation,” her recommendations, including the closure of Bristol’s courthouse, are “merely the first steps in what promises to be a long and painful process.”

Quinn’s entire testimony is available here.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

State has money for new softball fields

After all the fuss and bother of this year's budget showdown, it was surprising to me to see the State Bond Commission, whose agenda is set by Gov. Jodi Rell, is planning next week to approve $110,000 to construct softball fields at technical schools in Torrington and Willimantic.
I'm sure the fields would be nice -- heck, they may even be required for some reason -- but now?
Bristol, by the way, has exactly one project singled out in the bond commission agenda. Its technical school is getting $10,000 to fix some plumbing.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

City lawmakers split on new state budget

The two-year state budget approved by state lawmakers this week, which hikes spending by 4 percent, contains funds to keep the Bristol Technical Education Center and the Bristol courthouse open.

It also continues funding for Head Start, Dial-a-Ride, early childhood education and other threatened programs, lawmakers said Tuesday.

Gov. Jodi Rell told reporters she won’t sign the $37.6 billion budget, but she won’t veto it either, allowing the spending plan to take effect after five days.

The city’s legislative delegation split 3-2 on the spending plan, with Democrat Chris Wright, a 77th District freshman, joining the opposition with veteran Republican Bill Hamzy, a Plymouth Republican whose 78th District includes northwestern Bristol.

The rest of the city’s delegation -- Sen. Tom Colapietro and Reps. Frank Nicastro and Betty Boukus, all Democrats -- voted in favor of it.

Colapietro, a Bristol Democrat whose 31st District includes Bristol, Plainville and Plymouth, said the spending plan is “a fair budget.

"It takes care of most of the people," the Bristol Democrat said. "It's a budget with a heart."

Both Colapietro and Nicastro took aim at those who opposed the spending plan.

"I dare any of the no votes to say they did anything for their communities," Colapietro said. "If you vote no, it just means you're being downright stubborn."

Nicastro said that legislators "did what they had to do" instead of "whining and complaining" about a budget that everyone can find fault with.

"We didn't sit back and say no," Nicastro said. "We did what had to be done."

Wright said he voted against the budget "just because I was so concerned about the amount of borrowing" involved.

The $2.5 billion in additional debt that lawmakers have approved to balance the books, he said, "just too much for us to be taking on at this point."

Wright was one of nine Democrats in the House to oppose the measure. The final vote was 103 to 45, with Republican providing most of the opposition. The Senate backed it 22-13.

Hamzy said there is “no family in the entire state that has responded to this economic crisis as the state has."

He said that lawmakers had a chance this year to take a serious look at restructuring state government to make it more efficient and less costly.

Instead, he said, "They took a pass."

Boukus, a Plainville Democrat whose 22nd District includes a sliver of Forestville, said the budget’s “commitment to fully fund municipal aid and education funding will come as welcome news to property taxpayers.”

To close the budget gap, Hamzy said, Democratic legislators agreed to take $1.4 billion from the rainy day fund, use $2 billion in federal stimulus cash, increase taxes by $1.5 billion, borrow $2.3 billion and make $400 million in spending cuts.

"How can you justify that to the average person who's struggling?" Hamzy asked.

Hamzy was among the sponsors of an alternative budget last night that would have cut more deeply and not sought any tax hikes. It was shot down overwhelmingly.

He said the Democrats failed to offer a responsible budget and ignored pleas from municipalities to provide them with mandate relief.

Hamzy said the spending plan will result in more businesses closing their doors in Connecticut.

"There's no question about it," Hamzy said.

Hamzy said the state has to recognize that "we can't spend money we don't have."

He said the budget does nothing to help with the $4.4 billion budget gap that's already opened in 2012 -- and in fact would make it harder to deal with since borrowing costs will rise from $1.2 billion annually to $1.7 billion a year.

"This passes the buck," Hamzy said, instead of trying to address the issue.

"This is unsustainable," Hamzy said. "This is not the right path."

Hamzy said he is glad the technical school is getting funded, but isn't so sure the courthouse should survive.

"I don't know if that's something we can afford," Hamzy said.

Nicastro said the spending plan had to include “massive cuts” and some tax hikes in order to close a budget gap of more than $8 billion. "There was no other way," Nicastro said.

"The Democrats worked very, very hard to put together a budget," Nicastro said.

Nicastro hailed the inclusion of funds for the technical school and courthouse.

He said he was especially grateful to Art Marino, who collected more than 600 signatures supporting the technical school. Nicastro said the petitions were given to House Speaker Chris Donovan of Meriden.

Colapietro said the budget isn't perfect, but it's a good compromise.

"We need a budget, for everyone's sake," the senator said.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Rell to allow new budget to become law

Press release from Gov. Jodi Rell:

Governor Rell: Budget Will Become Law Without

Her Signature – and Without Pork-Barrel Spending

Governor Will Not Sign Bill, But Will Line-Item Veto $8 Million

in Earmarks, Other Spending Added at Last-Minute

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she will neither sign nor veto the state budget given final approval by legislative Democrats early Tuesday morning, allowing the bill to become law without her signature according to the state Constitution. However, Governor Rell said she will exercise her line-item veto power to remove new earmarks and new “pork-barrel” spending items added to the bill.

“Democrats have repeatedly called this budget a ‘compromise,’” Governor Rell said. “It is hardly a compromise. Last week I put a new budget proposal on the table – my fourth – in which I accepted tax increases I did not want in return for cuts in state spending. The Democrats just could not cut, once again showing they are unwilling – or simply unable – to make meaningful reductions. They refuse to accept the reality that families and businesses accepted months ago: We must live within our means.

“Instead, this budget calls for more borrowing and vague plans for future savings,” the Governor said. “Worse still, in the hours before this budget was brought to a vote the Democrats had the audacity to add more spending. It is as if they believe the people ofConnecticut do not care, are not watching and will not notice.

“Because of this complete disregard for our taxpayers, I will be using my line-item veto to eliminate all of the new earmarks and pork-barrel spending. The total is some $8 million – not an overwhelming amount in the scheme of the two-year budget. But this spending is an insult – a slap in the face of our taxpayers.

“I will not veto the entire budget,” Governor Rell said. “However, I will not sign it into law, because I do not believe in this budget. I do not want, by my signature, to put a stamp of approval on their spending, their inability to make cuts or their levels of borrowing, revenues and taxes.

“But a veto will not bring significantly different results, I fear – and the people ofConnecticut are starting to truly feel the effects of our stalemate. This budget crisis has lingered longer than any in state history. Struggling families, people who have lost their job or their home, people with disabilities, cities and towns, schools, state agencies and non-profits – all have been left wondering about the future. They need to know state resources are in place and available. Now they will know.

“Let me repeat: This budget is not the compromise I sought – but it is a fight that has saved our taxpayers billions of dollars,” Governor Rell said. “By digging in my heels, I have forced the Democrats to sharply lower their demand for new taxes. They went from $3.3 billion in new taxes in their April budget to $2.5 billion in the June budget, dropping to $1.8 billion in their July budget – and $900 million in the current proposal.

“This budget reduces the corporate surcharge that the Democrats first proposed at 30 percent to 10 percent over the next three years, and excludes nearly all small- and medium-sized businesses in the state. This budget makes significant changes and reductions in the inheritance tax and requires the state sales tax to drop. And it does cut some state spending. Most importantly: This budget crisis must be resolved. For the good of our state, this crisis is now resolved.”

Under the state Constitution, the bill automatically becomes law without the Governor’s signature five days after passage.

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Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com