House
Republican Press Release
January 15,
2009
Press
Office: 860-240-8700
Democrats Reject Republican Proposals for Additional
Spending Reductions to Reduce Deficit
When the state legislature’s
majority Democrats Wednesday refused to consider more than token cuts in state
spending in the face of a mounting budget deficit they may have set the stage
for major tax increases that could devastate middle class families in Waterbury, Middlebury and elsewhere in Connecticut, state Representatives Selim Noujaim
and Anthony J. D’Amelio said today.
“The majority Democrats’ refusal
to take meaningful action to help eliminate the state’s mounting deficit was
disappointing but hardly surprising given their usual reluctance to cut
spending,” said Representative Noujaim, R-Waterbury. “Their deficit reduction
package makes only token cuts in state spending and will barely put a dent in
the state’s growing budget shortfall. Their rejection of the responsible
proposals we offered Wednesday to mitigate the deficit could be a precursor to
major tax increases down the road that struggling middle class families in our
city simply cannot afford.”
"The state legislature
needs to show some real leadership when it comes to cutting the deficit,"
said Representative D’Amelio, R- 71st District. “With the deficit
currently estimated at $343 million and by as mush as $6 billion over the next
two years, the majority Democrats need to get serious about reducing state
spending. Their proposal would save only $120 million; and if the deficit for
the fiscal year that ends June 30th increases to $800 million or
even $1 billion as some are predicting, middle class families and businesses in
Waterbury, Middlebury and elsewhere in Connecticut will almost certainly face
crippling tax increases that will worsen the recession and mean more business
closings and job losses."
The Republican proposals would
have reduced the state’s budget shortfall by $185 million, compared to $120
million under the Democrats’ plan. The Democrat package also included $250,000
in hidden spending that could further aggravate the state’s fiscal crisis,
Republican leaders said.
The House Republican proposals would
have:
·
Delayed an $87 million salary
increase package for corrections officers until a budget is in place this
spring, otherwise the contract goes into effect within 30 days.
·
Reduced legislators’ salaries by five percent.
·
Restored $54 million in cuts Democrats eliminated from Gov.
Rell’s budget.
·
Eliminated $274,000 in additional spending.
·
Delayed or eliminated expensive state mandates on towns such as
costly in-school suspensions, and treated some serious juvenile offenders as
adults to save at least $95 million.
House Republican legislators voted against the Democrats’
proposal because it failed to adequately address the excessive state spending
that is driving the deficit higher almost every day, Representatives Noujaim
and D’Amelio said.
