Final Day of Regular Session 2016

Hartford – Today marks the final day of the Connecticut General Assembly’s regular session. Senator Toni Boucher released the following statement:

“The bad news is in,” said Senator Boucher. “The Democratic budget closes the deficit, not by reducing the highest state benefits in the nation, but on the backs of our children and local property taxpayers. Seniors who are on a fixed income will be particularly ill-equipped to absorb the increased tax burden. They have already reeling from a financial squeeze that has already forced so many from their homes. School funding decreases just for our senate district are: Bethel-$109,587, New Canaan-$816,759, Redding-$423,899, Ridgefield-$1,258,066, Weston-$567,084, Westport-$1,078,974, Wilton-$891,813.”

“There will be no vote on the Democrats’ budget today, the last day of the regular session. Though it should not, the continuing of the unwillingness of the legislature to act and put the state on a financially sustainable path still astounds me. Never have so many people expended so much effort and accomplished so little. The $960 million deficit will not be addressed until a special session, lengthening the tenuous and uncertain situation our local towns are facing from likely cuts in state aid and education funding.

“The Republican Alternative budget does not propose any of these cuts. We have presented a balanced budget that focuses on core services and education by making long term structural changes and spending only what we can afford. By contrast the Democrats’ budget jeopardizes our children’s education.

“The Governor promised a budget without tax increases. By cutting pilot funding and the Education Cost Sharing Fund, the deal that legislative Democrats reached with the Governor only further shifts burdens to local taxpayers.

“There is a better way to govern, but one-party rule in Connecticut continues to lead to business as usual, and to fewer private businesses willing to brave the tax and spend policies that the majority party has imposed.”