Media Roundup: House And Senate Approve State Budget

Gov. Ned Lamont.

The state Senate approved a $43 billion two-year budget Tuesday. 

All that’s left is for Gov. Ned Lamont to sign on the line which is dotted.

Here is a roundup of how the budget was reported by media outlets — and the politicians themselves:

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Chris Keating, The Hartford Courant (partial paywall):

β€œThe state Senate approved a two-year, $43 billion budget Tuesday night with Democrats hailing the plan as fiscally prudent and Republicans blasting the package as a bad deal with too many tax increases.

The 567-page budget, which passed in the House of Representatives late Monday night, closes a projected deficit of $3.7 billion over two years and funds a wide variety of programs. The spending increases of 1.7 percent in the first year and 3.4 percent in the second year are lower than in some past years.”

Complete Courant story.

(The Courant also has a disturbing story about the state allowing information about a donation to schools to be kept out of the public’s view)

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Christine Stuart, CT News Junkie:

β€œSenate Republican Leader Len Fasano thought he had found a fatal flaw in the Democratic budget that would have forced the chamber to delay debate until approval of a labor agreement, but the chief negotiator for the unions says that he’s wrong.

Democrats in the Senate pushed forward with eight hours of debate and a vote despite Fasano’s complaint.”

Complete CT News Junkie story here.

(The publication also has a story about a new law that forces prosecutors to be more transparent.)

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Keith Phaneuf, CT Mirror:

β€œIt was a tale of sharp contrasts Tuesday as the Senate gave final approval to a new $43.4 billion, two-year state budget.

Majority Democrats hailed it as a historic plan that averts a big deficit without raising income tax rates, makes key investments in education and health care, and promotes long-term fiscal stability.

But Republicans painted it as a sloppy blueprint that overtaxes businesses and consumers, spends and borrows recklessly, leaves Connecticut with no viable long-term transportation building program, and skirts the legal requirement of a balanced budget.”

Click here to read the complete CT Mirror story.

(The Mirror also has a solid story pointing out the β€‹β€œpork” projects in the budget flowing to favored towns.)

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Many of the politicians who represent the lower Naugatuck Valley have been using Facebook to release statements. Here are some that I came across. Please note that some are from Monday, when the state House of Representatives passed the budget, a day prior to the state Senate vote.

This collection is a sampling of reactions, not an exhaustive list or point-by-point budget breakdown.

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State Sen. Kevin Kelly, a Republican who represents parts of Seymour and Shelton:

The budget includes $1.8 billion in new revenue over the next two years including new taxes on working and middle class families. The $43 billion two year budget is also currently out of balance by approximately $450 million, as it relies on state employee union savings that have yet to be approved and agreed upon.

β€œThis budget targets working families and the middle class. It does not lay out a vision for Connecticut to give families hope and opportunity. It provides no long term plan to grow jobs, create stability and provide relief for families who are struggling. Instead it reverts back to the same policies that have failed our state before. It imposes new regressive taxes on families, making everything from food and soda to parking and owning a car more expensive.”

(via press release, complete version here)

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State Rep. Themis Klarides, a Republican who represents Derby and is the House minority party leader

Pinned a video to her Facebook page showing her closing remarks about the budget in the state House.

β€œSadly our words fell on deaf ears,” Klarides said. 

Click here to watch the video.

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Nicole Klarides-Ditria, a Republican who represents Seymour and parts of Derby in the state House of Representatives:

On the day the House voted, Klarides-Ditria expressed her unhappiness with the budget in a Facebook post.

β€œLegislative Democrats and the governor did nothing to cut spending, reduce the size of government, or create a sustainable pathway for future Connecticut budgets,” said Rep. Klarides-Ditria. β€‹β€œWe still have major fiscal problems in this state and their only solution is to tax and spend more. It’s a shame that the new governor is taking the same path as past governors. We can’t continue to go down this same road.”

Click here to read the post.

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State Sen. George Logan, a Republican who represents Ansonia:

Shared a post on Facebook from the Connecticut State Republican Caucus at 4:27 p.m. Tuesday titled β€‹β€œTax increases in CT Democrat budget.” The post was shared as the Senate debated the budget, and featured a list of consumers items that will increase in cost because of the budget, according to the GOP.

Click here to read the post.

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State Rep. Ben McGorty, a Republican who represents parts of Shelton in the state House of Representatives:

β€œHere is the state budget. I see a lot of, Free Free Freefreefree stuff in here. And the kicker is the Democrats said YOU are going to pay for all of the free stuff and like it. Please take a look at the budget and tell me what you think.”

(From a Facebook post while he was at the capitol)

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State Rep. Jason Perillo, a Republican who represents Shelton in the state House of Representatives

Perillo had three posts on Facebook between June 3 and June 4 all highly critical of the new budget.

On June 4 he posted a short video just before 3 p.m. detailing new costs that he said will hit taxpayers’ in the wallet.

Click this link to watch his remarks.

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State Rep. Kara Rochelle, a Democrat who represents Ansonia and much of Derby in the state House of Representatives:

Rochelle’s Facebook page contained two posts June 4 that were budget related.

In the first post, Rochelle wrote about a healthcare bill that was passed by the House and Senate, and listed the positive things she said it will do for residents.

Click here to read the post.

In the second post, Rochelle shared a CT Mirror article that translated state town and school aid into a clickable map.

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