France and McCarty Stand Behind GOP Budget

HARTFORD – State Reps. Mike France (R-42) and Kathleen McCarty (R-38) are standing behind House and Senate Republican leaders, who yesterday morning unveiled a budget plan that alleviates the state’s projected $935.7 million debt for the next fiscal year and builds a framework resulting in surpluses for the out years.

“I appreciate enormously that this budget plan protects education and restores the Education Cost Sharing grant that was eliminated in the Governor’s budget,” said Rep. McCarty. “This grant restoration will help maintain the excellent quality of education in our region without raising local property taxes. This budget plan also protects mental health services and core social services; provides aid to our hospitals and municipalities; implements long-term structural changes; and closes the $935.7 million deficit facing the state in 2017. The plan restores predictability and sustainability to the budget process that will help mitigate future budget deficits. It will hopefully help to rebuild confidence about the budget process in state government.”

“The Republican five-year plan will put the state budget on a sustainable path of small annual surpluses instead of the chronic billion-dollar-plus deficits that have become the norm,” said Rep. France. “This plan will give predictability to our small business by returning fiscal responsibility to state budgeting and municipalities by maintaining state grant funding and providing mandate relief. The plan reduces state annual spending by $3 billion and creates more than $1 billion in total surplus by 2021, which may be used to roll back recent tax increases or restore the Rainy Day Fund to a more responsible percentage of the total budget. I support this plan whole-heartedly and hope that my district will stand behind it as well.”

The proposed Republican budget, called Pathway to Sustainability for its new approach to a long-term framework to increase predictability and confidence in the state, would restore funding to core social services that legislative Democrats and the governor have both proposed cutting this year. The proposal calls for more justifiable cuts to control over-spending, and the implementation of new policies that generate durable savings. This includes the following:

• Protects funding for social services. In order to preserve the safety net of services for the disabled, those with mental health needs, children, the elderly and those in poverty, this proposal eliminates new proposed budget cuts to direct services;

• Restoration of support for hospitals, including Lawrence and Memorial and William W. Backus, and Medicaid reimbursements;

• Restores education funding, which had previously been targeted for a significant cut. In the proposal this funding is preserved for the next 5 years, as is the 100 % funding for vehicle property tax capping for all our municipalities;

• The plan also contains a robust municipal mandate relief package;

• Administrative reductions to state agencies enable the state to protect funding for core services. This budget cuts specific, discretionary spending accounts by 12% for a total savings of $157.5 million;

• Legislative givebacks including legislative salary reductions and elimination of unsolicited mail;

• Modifications to debt service and a cap on state bonding; and

• Funds transportation development with “Prioritize Progress” – a plan that requires no tolls and no tax increases.

For more details, the Republican budget proposal can be reviewed at fiveyearbudget.com.

Rep. France represents the 42nd district of Ledyard, Preston and Montville.
Rep. McCarty represents the 38th district of Waterford and Montville.