Fasano Statement on FY 2015 Deficit Confirmed by Comptroller Today

Hartford – Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) released the following statement in response to Comptroller Lembo’s letter closing fiscal year 2015 with a deficit of $113.2 million, filled using funds from the state’s rainy day fund.

“How much more irresponsible can the Democrat majority be than what we’ve witnessed over the past year? The governor and his supporters have shown an inability to sit down and correct problems when they first emerge. They’ve ignored cold hard facts so they could pretend Connecticut was on the right track. And as a result the budget shortfall not only still stands, it has grown even more, just as Republicans warned time and time again.

“The governor said we would not have a deficit at the end of the year. People can make mistakes. However, there’s very little excuse to be wrong when you close your eyes to the warning signs. The governor owns this deficit.

“Sadly, today we see the same attitude and the same inability to recognize the realities that are so clear to everyone else in our state. That’s why Connecticut is already facing a deficit this year and in future years. This cycle has got to stop. Leadership is not about dismissing criticism. It’s about learning from it.”