Sen. McLachlan, Rep. Smith Discuss Legislative Session in New Fairfield

PHOTO CAPTION: State Rep. Richard A. Smith (left) and Sen. Michael McLachlan (right) address residents during a town hall meeting in New Fairfield.

State Senator Michael McLachlan (R-24) and Representative Richard A. Smith (R-108) recently met with New Fairfield residents to discuss the 2017 Legislative Session of the General Assembly. Most of the conversation centered on the lack of a state budget.

“Budget proposals from Democrats, both in the legislature and from Governor Malloy, contain tax increases and we know that is something that just doesn’t work,” Sen. McLachlan said. “Connecticut needs to get its fiscal house in order and it needs to start by controlling our spending and making some necessary cuts.”

Sen. McLachlan said Connecticut has already lost GE and now Aetna is moving its headquarters to New York.  Stanley Works wrote an op-ed saying that the state’s financial problems make relocation appeals by other states tempting.

Rep. Smith said Republican budget proposals that curtail state spending have largely been ignored.

“We have offered sensible, viable solutions to the state’s budget crisis only to have our proposals dismissed by majority Democrats without even a debate,” Rep. Smith said. “I know it can be frustrating for my constituents to hear about the politics that complicate things in Hartford, but we need residents to join us in saying that the tax and spend policies of the past have created this mess and we need change to get back on the right track.”

Both legislators said they would continue working with their colleagues to adopt a responsible budget that will help turn Connecticut’s economy around.

Sen. McLachlan represents the communities of Bethel, Danbury, New Fairfield, Sherman

Rep. Smith serves the communities of Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, and Sherman.