The governor’s plan would also cut an $11.8 million fund that has provided money to small, independent hospitals. And it would restore the administration’s ability to unilaterally cut funding to hospitals through a technical budgeting change.
Benjamin Barnes
Posted inHealth
Hospitals worry Medicaid, Obamacare changes could bring pain
With the potential for major changes in federal health care policy looming, hospital leaders are watching closely, worried especially that cuts to Medicaid could bring a big financial hit and that a repeal of Obamacare could raise the number of uninsured Connecticut residents.
Posted inHealth
A lot at stake for Connecticut as Trump, GOP eye Medicaid changes
Medicaid is Connecticut’s largest source of federal funding and the largest single line item in the state budget. It covers close to one in five state residents – more than 750,000 poor children, adults and people with disabilities. A major change in federal Medicaid funding is a big worry for the state’s budget director.
Posted inPolitics
Stakes grow in Malloy’s third challenge of watchdogs’ autonomy
The latest challenge to the fiscal autonomy of state’s watchdog agencies by the administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is raising unprecedented legal questions likely to eventually require Attorney General George Jepsen and Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo to publicly contradict or confirm the administration’s position.
Posted inMoney
CT agencies told to start planning for big cuts for 2017-18
A few weeks after balancing the state budget entirely with spending cuts, the administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is already warning state agencies to start planning for big reductions in discretionary spending in the following two fiscal years.
Posted inEducation
Democrats’ education cuts fall most heavily on CT’s Gold Coast
Each of the five budgets that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has proposed since 2012 has shielded wealthy communities from cuts in the education money they receive from the state. That changed Tuesday when he proposed cutting all of the $25.3 million in aid that 28 of the state’s richest communities currently receive through the Education Cost Sharing grant.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
Bristol project becomes focus of tensions between state, hospitals
In the latest volley in a longstanding dispute over the financial health of Connecticut hospitals, state budget director Benjamin Barnes on Monday questioned Bristol Hospital’s plans to build a new medical office building and recruit staff, noting that hospital supporters had recently warned that state funding was needed to avoid compromising the community’s health and access to care. The hospital said Barnes was making unfounded accusations and mischaracterizing the situation.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Malloy seeks to cut legislative authority over Medicaid changes
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration is seeking to eliminate legislators’ authority over certain attempts to make changes to Medicaid and other federally funded assistance programs – an authority legislators recently used to block a controversial administration proposal.
Posted inMoney, Politics
After a few dodges, Malloy administration vows not to seek tax hikes
Updated at 2:12 p.m.
After some initial coyness about the state budget revisions Gov. Dannel P. Malloy must submit to legislators next week, the administration confirmed Tuesday afternoon it would neither propose nor support tax hikes.
Posted inNews
Malloy administration settles with Yelmini over dismissal
The administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy reached a settlement Wednesday evening with Linda Yelmini, the chief labor relations lawyer dismissed a year ago in what the administration termed a layoff and Yelmini called a firing without cause. The agreement is worth $325,000, according to the administration.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
CT’s unsustainable expenses cause ‘Whack-a-mole’ budget
On Nov. 18 of last year, Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) Secretary Benjamin Barnes stated that Connecticut “…entered into a period of permanent fiscal crisis in state and local government.” Daily news accounts confirm those words. As the budget drama continues, Connecticut’s balanced budget requirement again plays out, not a measure of the […]
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
Is it a gag order or the Malloy administration speaking with one voice?
Key legislators say a directive from budget director Benjamin Barnes restricting what agency heads can tell legislators about Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget proposal is hindering lawmakers in doing their jobs and will push more of the budget-writing process behind closed doors. Barnes says the administration simply works together “as one administration, with all our commissioners and agency heads.”
Posted inMoney
Event: ‘Budget Unbundled’ program set for Feb. 25 in Hartford
“Budget Unbundled: A Closer Look at Connecticut’s Fiscal Roadmap,” a program discussing Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposed state budget, will take place Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the Hartford Marriott Downtown, 200 Columbus Blvd., Hartford.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Barnes tells advocates for poor, kids: Brace for lean budget
Benjamin Barnes, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget director, warned advocates for children, the poor and other disadvantage citizens to brace for lean funding when the administration releases its next budget in two weeks.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Lembo reports CT budget deficit shrinks to $32M
The state budget deficit shrank modestly over the past month to $32 million, Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo reported Friday. But the state’s chief fiscal watchdog also noted that the deficit would have been larger were the budget not bolstered somewhat by borrowing that has become increasingly controversial in recent years.