The most vocal critics of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s handling of the state finances, Republican legislative leaders, will find things harder this month as they shift from commenting on the deficit-plagued budget to balancing it. Sen. Len Fasano and Rep. Themis Klarides will find it particularly difficult to both oppose tax hikes and shield hospitals and social services from cuts if the leaders try to stabilize finances long-term.
Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
GOP calls for bipartisan talks, labor concessions, to reverse hospital cuts
Minority Republicans in the state legislature called Tuesday for bipartisan negotiations to reverse last week’s $190 million cut to hospitals. And House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, also called for Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to approach state employee unions for concessions.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Fasano bends his fiscal principles to rebalance GOP budget
One of the most vocal critics of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Democratic legislators, Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, discovered recently it’s not so easy to balance a budget without compromising on fiscal principles.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Partisan budget debate heats up at the state Capitol
The partisan game of budget show-and-tell, or don’t-show-and-don’t tell, heated up at the state Capitol once again on Wednesday. Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, said the GOP would be happy to re-balance its alternative budget – provided majority Democrats take it seriously and invite Republicans into bipartisan budget negotiations.
Posted inPolitics
GOP says Lembo ignored deficit to shield Malloy
Connecticut’s budget debate boiled over late Tuesday as the legislature’s top Republicans charged that Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo’s political affiliation has trumped his fiscal integrity. Sen. Len Fasano and Rep. Themis Klarides accused Connecticut’s chief fiscal watchdog of ignoring red ink to help Gov. Dannel P. Malloy – a fellow Democrat – save face.