Senator Toni Boucher derides state budget calling it “the same old thing”

Connecticut Senate passes special session budget, House to vote Friday

“We’re back again to getting a huge budget the day of a vote before anyone has had a chance to look at it basically saying support it first and then we’ll tell you what’s in it,” Said Senator Boucher.

HARTFORD–The Connecticut Senate has passed a $19.7 billion Democratic budget that attempts to cover a projected $960 million deficit in the new fiscal year with cuts throughout state government and state job reductions.

The bill cleared the Democratic-controlled Senate on a partisan vote of 21-15 during Thursday’s special legislative session. The House plans to vote Friday on the same bill.

Click here for our full coverage of the long-running debate over the state budget

Lawmakers ran out of time to pass the legislation before the regular session adjourned May 4.

“We had a budget agreement Monday night before the end of session,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff. “We wanted to make sure we have people a chance to read it review it ask questions understand it. We didn’t want to rush that process.”

Majority Democrats say the bill protects key services while making $820 million in long-term spending reductions. The rest of the $960 million deficit will be covered by one-time budget cuts.

But Republicans say the budget doesn’t include the structural changes needed to address Connecticut’s fiscal problems, while making unfair cuts to hospitals, municipalities and others.

“It’s the same old thing,” said state Senator Toni Boucher, R-Westport. “We’re back again to getting a huge budget the day of a vote before anyone has has a chance to look at it basically saying support it first and then we’ll tell you what’s in it.”

Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano said in a statement before the budget passed:
To call this budget a ‘no tax hike’ budget is plain wrong. After reviewing details in the implementer bill it’s clear that this budget will lead to significant municipal tax increases. One section of the bill will allow municipalities to impose an additional tax of 5% on top of the current admissions tax charged on entertainment and recreation venues. This will result in a 15% tax on admissions, burdening local businesses and leading to higher costs for customers. While it is true that the state won’t be the one collecting this tax, it is still a tax hike that towns can seek to make up for the deep municipal cuts found in this budget.

Senators planned to vote on other budget-related bills Thursday.