Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Money
  • Election 2020
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Money
    Election 2020
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Bill cuts most of this year’s deficit

  • by Keith M. Phaneuf
  • April 15, 2010
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Just 2½ months before the end of the fiscal year, Gov. M. Jodi Rell and the state legislature agreed Wednesday on a plan to eliminate nearly 90 percent of the projected $371 million deficit without tax hikes or major reductions in municipal aid.

The plan cuts million of dollars from social services, health care and education programs, however.

Rell signed a measure into law that cancels $323.2 million of the shortfall just 30 minutes after the Senate unanimously adopted the plan, and one day after the House of Representatives endorsed it 147-1.

A compromise between the Republican governor and the Democrat-controlled legislature, the bill employs a combination of spending cuts, additional federal revenue and raids on special accounts and trust funds to bring this year’s deficit just under $50 million.

Deficit reduction 4-15-10

Democrats agreed to set aside earlier proposals to raise taxes on wealthy estates and to impose a 5.5 percent levy on gross hospital revenues. Those initiatives are expected to be considered again, though, as the legislature next tackles the $725.7 million deficit projected for the preliminary $18.93 billion budget for 2010-11.

eye to eye

Seeing eye to eye. Republican John Kissel, Democrat Donald DeFronzo and the full Senate approved a deficit-mitigation bill. (Keith M. Phaneuf)

“There is more to do, but today we can say we came together to solve the problem for 2010,” Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, said. “Everybody stepped up. That’s what made this a success.”

Rell didn’t offer any comments after Wednesday’s vote, but acknowledged Tuesday that the bill hardly solves all of Connecticut’s fiscal problems.

“It is vital for all of us to continue to work together to surmount the remaining fiscal hurdles,” the governor said. “We must still reach agreement on a securitization proposal and on a plan to eliminate the deficit for the next fiscal year.”

The compromise largely came together over the last three weeks as Democrats, who control both the House and Senate, first resolved an internal battle.

Moderates in the Senate in particular pushed their House Democratic counterparts to accept previously rejected cuts to social services, health care and education.

These included higher co-payments and restrictions on vision services and prescription drug coverage for low-income patients covered by HUSKY and Medicaid

The hardest pill for Rell and her fellow Republicans to swallow involves moving the health benefits provided through General Assistance – the state’s welfare program for single adults without children – under the umbrella of the federal Medicaid program.

The Rell administration had cautioned against such a move, noting that in order for a program to qualify for federal assistance through Medicaid, it must operate under “entitlement” rules, meaning all applicants who meet program guidelines are entitled to receive benefits. This prevents states from capping spending on the program, and in the long run could drive up General Assistance costs despite increased federal aid, the administration warned.

Both sides also continue to divert resources from the Special Transportation Fund, as well as from special accounts and trusts. Democrats and Republicans reassigned about $97 million to help support General Fund spending.

Given that there just 11 weeks left in the fiscal year, the bill technically raids nearly $240 million in revenues originally assigned to the next budget, offsetting that move with matching amount of spending cuts, additional federal revenue and transfers out of special accounts and trusts.

Despite the mood of compromise Wednesday, Democrats and Republicans both offered plenty of signals that the next budget debate won’t be as cordial.

Besides the $725.7 million deficit projected for 2010-11, the legislature’s nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis estimates state finances face a built-in shortfall of nearly $3.9 billion, a gap worth more than 20 percent of this year’s entire budget.

Democrats have argued a fiscal hole of that size can’t be closed without tax hikes, and many say the 2010-11 deficit won’t be plugged without them either.

Williams praised the bill adopted Wednesday for trimming but not “shredding” the state’s social safety net, but made it clear that preserving these services remains a top priority for Democrats. “We need to confront the fiscal realities, not get mired in ideologies,” he said.

But Sen. Daniel Debicella of Shelton, the ranking Republican senator on the Appropriations Committee, said the bill adopted Wednesday “is not slash-and-burn,” and legislators should brace for more spending reductions. “Any bill that we as Republicans and Democrats can agree upon, that cuts spending, is a good bill for Connecticut,” he said.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Keith M. Phaneuf

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Connecticut’s largest COVID vaccination site is now open. Here’s what you need to know.
by Jenna Carlesso

The state plans to vaccinate 7,000 to 10,000 people weekly at the former Pratt & Whitney airport at Rentschler Field.

Nursing home residents are receiving the COVID vaccination at a higher rate than their caretakers
by Dave Altimari and Jenna Carlesso

Providers attributed workers' reluctance to a variety of issues, from concerns about fertility to uncertainty about the side effects.

Legislative leaders support extension of Lamont’s emergency powers during COVID
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

The governor's emergency powers expire Feb. 9 unless he asks lawmakers for an extension within 72 hours of that date.

Weeks after the election, Secretary of the State’s efforts to monitor disinformation campaigns ended
by Kasturi Pananjady and Dave Altimari

For weeks, an intelligence analyst monitored social media for the Secretary of the State's office. Then her contract ran out.

Keeping Connecticut’s music industry alive
by Matt Fitzgibbon

By recently passing the Save Our Stages Act, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, in its COVID relief package, Congress has temporarily protected The Constitution State’s music industry from economic free fall. But are the courts now willing to do what’s necessary to provide the permanent security it needs and deserves?

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Keeping Connecticut’s music industry alive
by Matt Fitzgibbon

By recently passing the Save Our Stages Act, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, in its COVID relief package, Congress has temporarily protected The Constitution State’s music industry from economic free fall. But are the courts now willing to do what’s necessary to provide the permanent security it needs and deserves?

Opinion A young Black man sees a need for faster racial progress
by Eugene Z. Bertrand

I first learned that I was Black in kindergarten. More importantly, I learned of the negative connotations that come with identifying with my own skin color.

Opinion Sadly, not much has changed since Martin Luther King Jr.’s killing.
by Alberto Cortes

As we approached the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, I took the time to read and watch his “I Had a Dream” speech which he  delivered on Aug. 28, 1963; and as I read through it 57 years later, I realize not much has changed.

Opinion The struggle for racial justice and equality is far from over
by Marilyn Moore

On the eve of the annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, I and many others are reflecting on what recently transpired at the U. S. Capitol and how it relates to the injustices that Dr. King and so many others fought to change so many years ago. It is obvious that our nation's fight for racial justice and equality is far from over. In fact, it continues to this day.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO