Fasano, Klarides Correct Statements about Republican Budget Proposals

Hartford – Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) and House Republican Leader Themis Klarides (R-Derby) released the following in response to misleading statements about Republican proposals discussed in budget negotiations today.

“Statements made in a CT Mirror report today about Republican proposals to address the state budget shortfall are misleading. We want to correctly describe our proposals. Republicans have offered over $370 million worth of modifications to close the current year’s deficit, while also restoring funding that was cut to Medicaid, those with developmental disabilities, and many of the most vulnerable individuals. We have outlined a proposal that does not rely on any labor concessions to close the fiscal year 2016 deficit. Our proposals do include long-term structural recommendations given the looming $2.9 billion deficit projected for the out years. Our long-term proposals include some modest labor changes, as well as ideas such as capping excessive bonding, avoiding the additional tax increase that will be needed to support the governor’s transportation plan, and ceasing certain state operations where costs to taxpayers are extreme. We were very cognizant not to overburden state employees as we acknowledge that state employees are not the sole reason the state is in the mess that it’s in. To say otherwise is a mischaracterization, and not supported by the documents examined by CT Mirror.”