Martin, Betts, Pavalock Stand with Republicans Calling for Special Session to Fix Failing State Budget

Following calls by hospitals, advocates for the disabled, and many others for legislative action to address Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s recent devastating budget cuts, Bristol Republican legislators have all signed a petition seeking a special session of the General Assembly to rebuild the state budget.

On Tuesday, Oct. 13, a petition signed by Sen. Henri Martin, Rep. Whit Betts, Rep. Cara Pavalock and every Republican state lawmaker was submitted to the Office of the Secretary of the State.

If a majority of state lawmakers in the House and Senate chambers signs the petition, it will trigger a special session.

To gain a majority, at least four 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.

“We are trying to protect Connecticut’s most vulnerable residents: the poor, the sick, the elderly, the disabled, and the mentally ill,” Sen. Martin said. “We 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.”

“The care and well-being of all of our residents is not a partisan issue and I urge my Democrat colleagues in the House and the Senate to stand up for the people who elected them by calling for a special session to immediately address this issue, and ensure that the people of Bristol and across Connecticut continue to have access to the hospitals, medical care, and critical programs that they depend on,” Rep. Whit Betts said.

“The residents of this state, especially the elderly, the disabled, and the infirm, cannot afford to wait until February when the legislature goes back into session to address these issues. I encourage legislators on the other side of the aisle to do what’s right and join us in calling for a special session so that we can act together and come up with long term solutions to this very serious budget problem,” Rep. Cara Pavalock said.

The petition calls for a special 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.”

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.