REPS. ROWE, HWANG: GOVERNOR’S BUDGET PROPOSAL STRIKES RIGHT TONE

HARTFORD- State Reps. T.R. Rowe, R-123, and Tony Hwang, R-134, said today with families making sacrifices throughout Connecticut, Governor M. Jodi Rell’s budget proposal that reduces the size of government establishes an excellent starting point for the Legislature to begin crafting a 2009-2011 state budget. The proposal Gov. Rell unveiled on Wednesday, February, 4 will retain existing school funding for Trumbull and does not increase state taxes. Reps. Rowe and Hwang noted that the state is facing an unprecedented fiscal crisis. The deficit forecast for the current fiscal year is more than $900 million and approximately $8 billion for the 2010 and 2011 Fiscal Years. Current expenditures for the state are about $18 billion annually. They said it is not realistic for the State of Connecticut to look to any federal stimulus package as a solution to its revenue and spending issues and that a one-time fix doesn’t solve the fundamental problem that taxpayers can no longer afford the size and scope of the current state government.

Gov. Rell’s proposed spending plan eliminates several state mandates on towns and cities, including the school suspension law scheduled to take effect in July. Reps. Rowe and Hwang introduced separate legislation to repeal this mandate in January. In addition, the governor’s proposal would delay implementation of the program to treat 16 and 17 year old offenders as juveniles to save an estimated $95 million for towns and cities, which Reps. Rowe and Hwang also voted in favor of in January. That proposal was defeated in a largely party-line vote.

The Governor’s proposal consolidates numerous state agencies and calls for union concessions and other considerations from state employees, including $275 million in savings in each of the two years of the budget that could include voluntary early retirements. It also builds in $2 billion in anticipated federal money including hundreds of millions in Medicaid payments.

“This was a budget message that includes a lot of “tough medicine”, but that’s exactly what we need,” said Rep. Rowe. “State government must do what all our families are doing, reevaluating budget priorities and cutting spending. Some of these decisions will be difficult ones, but the taxpayers cannot afford business as usual, and I think the Governor’s message is a great step in the right direction.”

“The stark reality behind the governor’s budget proposal is that we as a state are in a fiscal black hole,” said Rep. Hwang. “Everyone has to share in the sacrifices that need to be made and we cannot solve the problem by raising taxes. Families just cannot whether another tax hike. I applaud Governor Rell for taking the approach that we need to make government more efficient and in particular, for maintaining existing education funds for our communities because they are a crucial part of local budgets.”

“I will not even consider voting to increase taxes unless and until we have found every last dime of savings possible,” added Rep. Hwang. “The deficit wasn’t created because the state didn’t tax us enough, and it won’t be remedied by taxing us more. We must seize this moment to fundamentally change the way state government does business by analyzing the value of every single budget expenditure.”

Trumbull School Superintendent Ralph M. Iassogna agreed the school funding component would be beneficial for Trumbull schools and the town.

“Although I’m aware the Legislature will make adjustments to the governor’s proposal, I’m very pleased the Education Cost Sharing funds have not been changed,” said Iassogna. “That is very significant, not only for the school district but for the municipality. I’m also happy that the governor’s plan would delay implementation of the in-school suspension law, which would create a burden of up to $60,000 if enacted.”