What will it take for the Connecticut Legislature to wake up and get serious about getting our state’s financial house in order? What is happening in Hartford would be comical if it did not have such a serious impact on our state and on Greenwich. We have written before about how the current state budget is being held together with string, bubble gum and duct tape. The landscape has not improved. Every time we think it cannot get worse, we are unpleasantly surprised.
Earlier this week Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney, who represents New Haven, announced the legislature would vote this coming Tuesday to close the $220 million deficit in the current in this year’s budget. They need to do so soon so that any cuts have time to take place and savings realized before the current budget ends on June 30th. The problem is the Democrats made the decision to hold the vote next week unilaterally. In fact, the Republicans only found out about the vote after being asked about it by reporters.
You would think that the legislative leadership would put politics aside, for the greater good of our state, and anxiously want to work with Republicans. That appears not to be the case. When the Governor opened the current legislative session he said the state needs to acknowledge its fiscal reality and live within its means. The Governor recognized that balancing our financial house transcends party affiliation. Everyone must come to the table willing to work together. Not telling Republicans when a vote is to be scheduled makes Senator Looney look petty and immature. This is not the time for school yard games.
The $220 million deficit in this year’s budget is not the only problem. Next year’s budget, which begins July 1st, has a $900 million deficit. The state can no longer say it has an income problem because what it has is a spending problem. The state cannot tax its way out of this situation, because that will force more of our neighbors to move their residency to Florida and elsewhere. The state must cut spending and every area of the budget should be examined.
Which is why we were shocked that the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) has refused to come to the table and discuss possible concessions. It is in their own best interest to be a part of the discussions. Republicans have proposed a 2-day furlough for all non-essential state employees to avoid layoffs. SEBAC will not discuss it. They have also proposed increasing prescription drug co-pays for some medications from $5.00 to $10.00. SEBAC will not discuss it. In fact, union benefits are locked in until 2022. They were first negotiated and agreed to in 1997 by then Governor Rowland and they were extended in 2011 by Governor Malloy. SEBAC must be willing to negotiate or else risk laying off an anticipated 2,000 to 3,000 state employees.
A word of caution. This is an election year for the legislature. Do not let election year politics enter into the debate about our state’s financial future. That will surely corrupt the process and further harm our state. This is not the time bickering or party politics. The state’s financial mess is a bi-partisan problem that requires a bi-partisan solution. Some democrats upstate already appear to be distancing themselves from the Governor’s proposals. This is wrong. They, and the Unions, should be working with the Governor and Republicans to find real solutions so that our state can get its financial house in order.
Recently Andy Duus spoke before the League of Women Voters at Riverside Yacht Club and presented one possible idea on reducing the state deficit. While the discussion was interesting, what was noteworthy was that it was a standing room only crowd. People in Greenwich are engaged about our state budget and want a solution found. Now.
