State Reps Themis Klarides and Nicole Klarides-Ditria.
House Republican Leader Themis Klarides and State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria presented the third revision of the House Republican budget on Tuesday urging Democrat leaders in the legislature to vote on the GOP budget proposal by Thursday.
“The Democrats failed to come up with a budget during the regular session and it appears they will not have one by the end of the fiscal year Friday. House Republicans have produced three balanced budgets without increasing taxes that include significant structural changes and savings,’’ Klarides said. “We are calling for a vote on our budget Thursday when the legislature is scheduled to convene.’’
Klarides added, “Connecticut taxpayers and our towns and cities deserve more from their state government, and producing a budget is a basic requirement of leadership. The Democrats have so far failed in that task. Anyone who performed as they have at a private sector job would be fired. We are wading into dangerous territory where vital services are at risk, and where local officials cannot plan for the future.”
Rep. Klarides-Ditria said, “Democrat leaders are throwing up their hands and showing that they aren’t capable of producing a budget and meeting budget deadlines. Now for a third time, House Republicans have a budget that is balanced by not increasing taxes or constructing tolls but by making real structural changes. Not passing a budget by the end of the week is unacceptable when our proposal is ready to go.”
Republicans came up with a balanced budget this spring and then revised that proposal to account for a dramatic drop in revenues in late April. The Democrats did not even produce a plan by the time the legislative committees reached their deadlines later in the spring.
The Office of Fiscal Analysis recently reviewed the third balanced House Republican budget.
Klarides said the missed deadline and the prospects of a prolonged budget fight will result in huge problems for towns and cities that count on state revenue to help run local government. Those most at risk and in need of social services will also be affected.
“The fact is that had the Republicans been in control in Hartford we would have passed a budget,’’ Klarides said. “Our vision for the state is to control spending, impose structural changes will result in significant savings to guard against future deficits, and get a handle on exploding pension and healthcare costs. These are all core elements of our budget proposals.’’
