State Representative Smith Supports Mitigation Package

From the Office of State Rep. Richard A. Smith:

State Representative Richard A. Smith (R-108) voted in favor of an emergency deficit mitigation plan Tuesday, balancing the state budget for the current fiscal year.

“We have worked with our colleagues across the aisle to produce a deficit mitigation package that closed a $220 million deficit for FY 2016,” explained Smith. “I was able to support this legislation because it restores funding to our hospitals, holds municipalities harmless, and continues services to the intellectually and developmentally disabled community. However, with the impending $900 million deficit looming in the distance, which will be our new mitigation target for next fiscal year beginning July 1, I remained gravely concerned that unless the democratic controlled legislature agrees to substantive structural changes on how we run and fund state government, Connecticut will remain in an economic downward spiral.”

The package passed by state lawmakers restores more than $31 million in state funding for our state’s hospitals. Consequently, the state is now able to leverage over $100 million total in hospital funding, including federal dollars. It also restores millions in proposed cuts to municipal aid, which cities and towns would be unable to make up at this point in the fiscal year. Services administered by the Department of Development Services will remain uninterrupted, preserving the state’s safety net.

After clearing the Senate by a vote of 33-3, the mitigation package was taken up by the House of Representatives. After little debate, the package was approved in concurrence with the Senate by a final tally of 127-16.

Rep. Smith represents the 108th General Assembly district communities of New Fairfield, Sherman, New Milford and Danbury.