Labriola, House GOP Join in Bipartisan Deficit Mitigation Plan

HARTFORD- In the first demonstration of bipartisan collaboration this session, legislative Republicans and Democrats came together to support a deficit mitigation package that successfully closes the $1.2 billion budget deficit for the current fiscal year ending this June.

The compromise package between both parties included no cuts in state aid to cities and towns, no tax increases, and took only $271 million from the state’s $1.4 billion Rainy Day Fund.

“There are elements of this package I would have liked to see done a little differently,” said Representative David Labriola (R-Oxford). “The legislature would have done better to make a greater effort to cut spending and streamline government. But overall, this was a good compromise package that will close the budget deficit for the current fiscal year. Most importantly it will not raise taxes, and it won’t cut aid to our cities and towns that are already feeling the pinch of this economy.”

The final package also included $168 million in savings that Republicans had proposed in their of deficit mitigation proposal, and managed to remove potential cuts in special education funding and local bridge repairs which were contained in the original bill.

Labriola also noted that a centerpiece of the bill is a provision which changes prescription drug coverage which will save 30,000 Connecticut seniors an average of $1,200 per year in prescription drug costs while simultaneously saving the state money.

“It was nice to get both parties working together toward this common problem facing Connecticut,” said Labriola. “While much remains for the coming legislative session while we deal with an additional $8 billion deficit over the next two fiscal years, this was an encouraging step toward finding common solutions. I am hopeful that we will continue to agree that raising taxes to close this deficit is not acceptable and reducing spending and the size of government is the way to solve this crisis.”

This session of the Connecticut General Assembly adjourns midnight, June 3rd.