On early Sunday morning, State Rep. Bill Simanski (R-Granby) joined fellow House Republican colleagues in voting against the two-year budget proposed by Democrats.
“In good conscience I cannot support a budget which is comprised of accounting gimmicks designed to circumvent the state’s constitutional spending cap by arbitrarily moving $6 billion in Medicaid spending outside the budget. In addition it contains hurtful cuts to Connecticut hospitals and a new 16 percent tax increase on gasoline” said Rep. Simanski.
This shift of Medicaid funds also disregarded a constitutional law that requires a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly in order to exceed the state’s spending cap – a move which Republicans in the House criticized and objected to.
The budget includes a 10 percent increase in overall spending, continues to borrow $750 million to pay for the state’s day-to-day operating expenses and pushes back $400 million of debt payments which will increase interest payments in the state’s near future. It also continues to postpone the full implementation of GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles).
“For the past several years, the tax-payers of Connecticut have been led to believe the Governor and legislature were going to change the way the state conducts business; that dishonest budget tactics and irresponsible financing would be a thing of the past. But what we have seen is a continuation of the same bad policies,” said Rep. Simanski. “Regardless of how Governor Malloy and the majority party explain the procedure, the bottom line is that the amount state government is spending exceeds the state’s spending cap and this type of budget evasion sets a bad precedent for the future. If we don’t adhere to the spending cap now, what’s going to stop us from ignoring it in the future?”
The budget sweeps $100 million from the state’s transportation fund into the General Fund.
“It is irresponsible to use funds designated specifically for construction and repair of Connecticut’s roads and bridges when our Commissioner of Transportation, James P. Redeker, has testified about his concerns over Connecticut’s crumbling transportation infrastructure,” said Rep. Simanski.
“When I talk to constituents they are all worried about the direction our state is heading, and they all say the same thing; the legislature needs to get in control of its spending. Unfortunately, this budget doesn’t address that concern,” said Rep. Simanski. “Instead, Connecticut taxpayers are left with a state budget that will increase taxes and spending in the next two years – it’s an irresponsible approach to government, and that’s why I could not support the proposed budget.”
The budget that passed also includes:
- The New Britain to Hartford Busway becoming a permanent fixture in the budget costing taxpayers to subsidize 75% of the operating cost at an estimated $7.5 million every year
- More than $100,000 to process new illegal immigrant licenses
- A sales tax increase put in place two years will no longer go to help municipalities; will now be diverted to the General Fund
- Extending the 20% corporate surcharge, that was promised to sunset, for another two years
- Heavy reliance on new revenue collected from the addition of more gambling in Connecticut, including a new game called Keno.
The budget bill passed on a party line vote of 95-48 at 5:15am. The 2013 session adjourns June 5that midnight.
For further discussion on this or any topic, Rep. Bill Simanski can be reached by email Bill.Simanski@housegop.ct.gov or by phone 860-240-8700.
