State reps from Greenwich renew calls for budget revisions [Greenwich Time]

Article as it appeared in the Greenwich Time

State representatives from Greenwich are stepping up their efforts to make changes to the state budget, especially spending measures that will place a heavier financial burden on local hospitals. The legislators are calling for a special session to make revisions to the budget.

Here’s the announcement from Scott Frantz and Fred Camillo:

Hartford, CT – Following calls by hospitals, advocates for the disabled, and many others for legislative action to address Governor Malloy’s recent devastating budget cuts, Senate and House Republican legislators including Senator Scott Frantz and Representatives Fred Camillo have all signed a petition seeking a special session of the General Assembly to rebuild the state budget.

“There’s no one-time fix to the significant problems within the Administrations’ current budget. It is unstable and will continue to fail the residents in our state. Unless we do something to change the spending habits of the state more future cuts will certainly be imposed by this Governor. I urge Democrats to stand with Republicans and sign this petition so that we can go into special session and work collaboratively to fix this mess and do what’s right for the people of Connecticut, especially those in need,” said Sen. Frantz.

Today, the lawmakers submitted all 79 petitions to the Office of the Secretary of the State signed by each and every Republican state lawmaker. If a majority of state lawmakers in each chamber sign this petition, it will trigger a special session. To gain a majority, at least 4 Democrats in the Senate and 12 Democrats in the House will need to join Republicans in signing the petition. Thus far, the governor and Democrat leaders have denied Republicans’ requests to hold a special session.

The petition calls for a session, “To make adjustments to the state budget for the biennium beginning July 1, 2015, including adjustments to restore Medicaid funding and other state support for hospitals, health care and other services.”

“I urge my colleagues across the aisle to join with the House and Senate Republicans in calling for a special session to not only restore cuts that will both directly and indirectly affect the neediest among us, but to also chart a better, more sustainable course for all of our citizens. Band-Aid approaches and reactionary measures are not the best way to govern, nor do they reflect our values, priorities, and vision of and for our beautiful state,” said Rep. Camillo.

The General Assembly can be called in to a special session by the governor or by majority party legislative leaders. However, if rank and file legislators demonstrate that a majority in both chambers deem it necessary to meet in special session, they can initiate a session themselves.

The governor’s $103 million in cuts include millions in cuts to mental health and substance abuse services and programs that help those with disabilities – all areas that were already slashed in the Democrats’ budget. It also includes $64 million in Medicaid cuts that directly affect hospitals and translate to a loss of $128 million in federal dollars.