Fasano Responds to Lamont Abandoning Debt Diet, Giving in to Democrat Lawmakers
July 17, 2019Fasano: “It is a ruse to give Democrats an additional $200 million in bonding, for whatever political negotiations you are working on behind the scenes.”
Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) wrote to Governor Ned Lamont yesterday in response to a letter the governor sent to Democrat legislative leaders last week. In the governor’s letter, Governor Lamont concedes to allowing Democrat lawmakers to exceed his proposed “debt diet” by over $300 million, as long as $100 million goes to transportation. Democrats are now working behind closed doors to draft the massive state bonding package.
“The governor’s letter is offering Democrats more play money at the same time he is creating an illusion that he will be prioritizing transportation,” said Sen. Fasano. “If the governor does not plan to push for a bonding plan that truly prioritizes transportation by scaling back on bonding for wants with full transparency, then he needs to stand strong on his debt diet. Instead, the governor’s letter is a capitulation to Democrats who are looking for more bonding for pet projects. And all of this is being discussed behind closed doors, with the public completely unaware of how those in power are deciding how to spend over $1.6 billion annually.”
Sen. Fasano expanded on his concerns in his letter to the governor.
“Your letter does not ask Democrats to respect your debt diet,” Sen. Fasano wrote to Gov. Lamont. “Your letter does not ask that the additional bonding of $300 million be put toward transportation. Your letter simply agrees to give in to Democrat lawmakers, abandon your debt diet, give Democrats more bonding money to play with, and specifies only one caveat: they must give you a very small portion of that extra bonding just so you can make it look like transportation is a priority.
“The reality is $100 million in bonding is nowhere near what we need for transportation. It is not even enough to offset the cuts your budget made to transportation – stealing $172 million from the STF and canceling $250 million in annual transportation bonding. It is a ruse to give Democrats an additional $200 million in bonding, for whatever political negotiations you are working on behind the scenes.”
Last week, Sen. Fasano requested copies of the bond package Democrat lawmakers and Gov. Lamont are negotiating behind closed doors, but has not received any information to date.