Gov. Dannel P. Malloy tried to stay upbeat Thursday about a legislative session that began with the promise of tax cuts, but ended with this relief being postponed in the face of a projected budget deficit.
State Budget
Posted inEducation, Energy & Environment, Health, Money, Politics
Winners and losers: The 2014 legislative session
The 2014 legislative session ended at midnight Wednesday. As usual, some folks came out happy. Others are already plotting their strategies for next year. Here’s a look at the groups that won and lost this session.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
Breaking down a 300-page ‘implementer’ bill
Many policies get created or changed through an end-of-session bill known as an implementer — a voluminous piece of legislation needed to enact the policy changes that go with the state budget. It also typically holds a wide range of other amendments added by the party in power. Here’s what’s in this year’s implementer.
Posted inMoney, Politics
State to design retirement plan for private-sector workers
Connecticut took a major step forward toward offering a state-administered retirement plan for private-sector workers, similar to the 401(k) plans offered by many businesses.
Posted inHealth, Politics
‘Facility fees’ for state employees to get more scrutiny
Facility fees charged to patients covered by the state employee and retiree health plan will get increased scrutiny under a proposal expected to pass the General Assembly.
Posted inMoney
Lawmakers launch two-year study of Connecticut tax system
This policy change would launch a two-year overhaul of Connecticut’s $16 billion-a-year tax system – a move some legislators have predicted could be the most dramatic overhaul of state finances since the income tax was enacted 23 years ago.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
Health IT agency getting axed
The quasi-public agency set up to promote the use of electronic medical records is being eliminated as part of budget implementation legislation that’s expected to pass the General Assembly.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Will CT keep sharing casino revenues with towns after the election?
The bill ends a requirement that cities and towns share in the proceeds from video slots from the state’s two casinos.
Posted inMoney, Politics
New limit placed on judges’ pensions
One of the late additions to the implementer was a change in how pensions are computed for judges who retire after less than 10 years of service — a reaction to the recent appointment of a politically prominent judge, Anthony V. Avallone, 66, who will who get a $100,000 pension after less than four years of service.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
CT budget debate play by play: New tax dollars and the state’s “spending addiction”
The debate on the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year included talk of gimmicks, phantom tax projections, missing retirement spending and how state budgeters behave like alcoholics. Here’s how it unfolded.
Posted inMoney, Politics
New CT budget missing $52M to cover union retirement benefits
If Connecticut’s chief fiscal watchdog is correct, there’s a $52 million hole in the new state budget Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and majority Democratic legislators hope to enact Saturday.
Posted inMoney, Politics
The budget vote is Saturday, but Malloy’s focus is November
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy shook off a demoralizing week of political and fiscal stumbles Friday, defending his stewardship of the state’s economy and budget with a focused confidence, even as he minimized fiscal challenges that await the winner of the 2014 election.
Posted inMoney, Politics
GOP relies on Malloy ‘gimmick’ to balance its budget plan
Faced with shrinking state tax receipts, minority Republican legislators Thursday grudgingly used one of the largest “gimmicks” they had chastised Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for in their latest budget proposal.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
New spending, tax breaks at risk as CT lawmakers try to close new budget gap
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and his fellow Democrats in the legislature’s majority have some options to re-balance the next state budget – but none of them are nice.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Tax receipts plunge, next CT budget $300M in deficit
Plummeting tax receipts have ripped a nearly $300 million hole in the next state budget, leaving legislators and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy just one week to fix it, according to a new report Wednesday from fiscal analysts.