Robust spring tax receipts have largely resolved a problem with the state’s credit card, sparing lawmakers from having to cancel hundreds of millions of dollars in planned capital projects.
State Budget
Posted inMoney
Aiming for bipartisan deal, Dems add funds for seniors, towns
Trying to avoid a repeat of last year when conservative Democrats defected to support a Republican state budget, Democratic legislative leaders unveiled several proposals Monday aimed at striking a bipartisan compromise. The plan restores funds for municipal aid and for a medication assistance program for seniors and the disabled.
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Senate adopts bill to end Hartford bailout after five years
The Senate overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan compromise measure to effectively end the state’s fiscal bailout of Hartford after five years.
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House leaders won’t block GOP bid to limit Hartford bailout
One day after Connecticut approved a five-year fiscal recovery plan for Hartford, House Democratic leaders said they wouldn’t block a Republican proposal to effectively end the state bailout of the capital city after the upcoming fiscal year.
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Bridgeport casino, Hartford debt aid complicate CT budget talks
With just five days left in the legislative session, a stubborn wrinkle is complicating efforts to craft a new state budget: regional politics.
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GOP offers compromise CT budget, taps tax windfall to bolster key programs
In a major move toward a bipartisan budget compromise, Republican legislators recommended more funding for social services, higher education, transportation and municipalities — and agreed to help pay for them by tapping about $300 million of this spring’s income tax windfall.
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Dems reach out to Malloy as budget talks with GOP prove elusive
Updated at 6:30 p.m.
Saying Republican legislators are dragging their feet on budget talks, Democratic legislative leaders tried to re-kindle negotiations Tuesday with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and explore crafting a budget without the GOP.
Posted inJustice
House unanimously confirms Robinson as chief justice
The House of Representatives acted quickly and unanimously Monday to confirm Richard A. Robinson as chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, but Republicans pledged to oppose every new trial judge recently nominated by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy as unnecessary and unaffordable.
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CT gets $2B windfall, but can’t spend most without breaking cap
Connecticut legislators are expected to have nearly $2 billion in additional revenue available to balance the next state budget, a bonanza not seen since before the last recession, according to a new report Monday from state analysts.
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Hartford bailout sparks schism over impact on state’s debt limit
While state Treasurer Denise L. Nappier called the Hartford bailout deal “a non-issue” when it comes to the state’s debt limit, the other state official who OK’d the deal — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy — disagrees, and wants lawmakers to address the problem with Connecticut’s credit card now.
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CT budget debate goes down to the wire
Even if state analysts project income tax receipts will surge again next fiscal year, the prospects of a new budget deal before the session ends on May 9 hinge on lawmakers’ solving several partisan conflicts.
Posted inPolitics
New GOP and Dem budgets would still cut Medicare Savings Program
While Democrats and Republicans both want to blunt the looming roll-back of a program that helps disabled and low-income elderly in Connecticut pay for medical care, their plans will still cut off tens of thousands who’ve come to rely on it.
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Parties sharply divided over higher ed, labor costs, transportation
Democrats and Republicans offered sharply contrasting spending plans for the next fiscal year. While they shared some common ground involving municipal aid and health care for the elderly and disabled, major disagreements involving labor costs, higher education and revenue stand in the way of another bipartisan budget agreement.
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Competing CT budget plans rely on April tax bonanza
Democratic and Republican legislators offered competing visions for the next state budget Friday, but both effectively dipped into this spring’s unexpectedly high income-tax revenues to salvage key programs for towns and social services, drawing a sharp rebuke from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
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Speaker: CT may need to tap surging April income tax receipts
With revenues from a key portion of the income tax now running $915 million ahead of projections this spring, House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz said Thursday he would support using some of this potential bonanza to preserve “crucial programs” in the next state budget.