Senator Hwang Praises Republican’s Budget Plan

Scrapping Gov. Malloy’s budget proposal, the Blueprint for Prosperity restores funding
to cut programs and reforms taxes and government spending.

HARTFORD – State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) joined Republican legislative colleagues today in offering a budget plan, the Blueprint for Prosperity, which accomplishes what the governor could not: it is balanced, under the spending cap, restores vital social service programs for the neediest and reforms taxes, while instituting government reforms to save hundreds of millions in the coming two years.

Republican legislators agree with Democrat leaders that the governor’s budget proposal was a non-starter. The Blueprint for Prosperity provides a biennial budget plan for Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 and outlines a series of long term initiatives to set Connecticut on a better path for smarter spending today and in the future. The Republican proposal will benefit multiple socio-economic interests, including taxpayers, consumers, the developmentally disabled, businesses, non-profits, municipalities and hospitals.

“What this budget does is show that we have been listening – listening to our seniors, our families who have a loved one with a disability, our businesses, our municipalities, our public library advocates and so many other constituencies who were concerned about the impact of budget cuts under Gov. Malloy’s proposal,” Sen. Hwang said. “While we recognize the extreme hardships that our fiscal reality places upon us, what we were able to do through sound and responsible fiscal management is put together a blueprint for prosperity that addresses those concerns, but does so without adding to our tax burden today and simultaneously puts our state in a better position for tomorrow. That’s something we can all be proud of.”

Republicans outlined major points in their proposal at a press conference April 24 at the Legislative Office Building. Highlights include:

• Recommends funding under Department of Developmental Services (DDS) for community programs for high-school graduates
• Appropriates an additional $15 million to help alleviate DDS wait list for services for intellectually disabled
• Restores Medicaid Husky A to approximately 12,100 people, including all pregnant women currently covered and those at lower end of the income spectrum
• Restores funding for safety net services
• Restores $18.7 million in mental health and substance abuse funding, including Regional Action Councils
• Funds a private provider Cost of Living Adjustment to benefit nursing homes, care facilities and nonprofit social services providers
• Funds 47 neighborhood youth centers
• Fully funds a $67 billion transportation improvement initiative over the next 30 years and protects the Special Transportation Fund
• Fully restores the honor guard for military funerals
• Restores funding to public libraries

“I am proud of the work we have done on this budget proposal as it reflects the core principles that guide my philosophy of representing my constituents – to exert the same fiscal discipline that our families demonstrate every day, while ensuring that we live up to our responsibility to protect and support the most vulnerable among us,” Sen. Hwang said. “Faced with a difficult budget reality we were forced to make difficult decisions, again though, we were able to come up with a proposal that truly will put our great state on a better path to prosperity. I’m confident that the legislative body will now work together in a bipartisan manner to finalize a budget that everyone can support.”

To view a summary of the Blueprint for Prosperity visit: http://ctsenrepublic.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/BlueprintProsperityShortForm.pdf

To download the full plan visit: http://ctsenrepublic.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/BlueprintProsperityLongForm.pdf

For more information visit: http://ctsenrepublic.wpengine.com/gopblueprint