State Rep. Sredzinski Supports Budget Crisis Resolution

From State Rep Sredzinski: With the state’s fiscal year closing this Friday, State Representative JP Sredzinski (R-112)joined his colleagues in the House Republican caucus in calling for an up-or-down vote on the balanced, no-tax increase state budget proposed by Republicans, noting that majority legislators had still not produced a complete proposal.

“If no budget is debated and voted on before the end of the day on Friday, it will be a major failure of the Connecticut legislature, and there will be nobody else to blame but the majority party,” said Rep. Sredzinski, as it remained unclear whether the State House would even convene for a special session before the fiscal year closes on June 30th. “I can’t stress enough how unprecedented this is – it’s the first time in recent history there will not be a state budget because the legislature failed to pass one. Democratic leadership failed to even produce one out of committee and refused to call the budget proposed by House Republicans for a vote. It has to be a priority for all legislators to convene immediately to debate and pass a budget. Connecticut's families, businesses and our towns and cities deserve and expect us to at least vote on one.”

Legislative Republicans proposed a complete balanced budget this spring and then revised that proposal to account for a dramatic drop in revenue receipts. Even though majority Democratic leaders did not produce a plan before or since the legislative committees reached their deadlines during the regular session, they will not agree to call the Republican budget for a vote. If no budget is passed by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, the governor will run the state by executive order.

Rep. Sredzinski warned that a prolonged budget struggle will cause substantial problems for towns and cities that count on state revenue to help run local government. Residents most at risk and in need of social services will also be significantly affected.

“The risk posed to town aid, education funding, hospitals, and other core services, as well as the people who rely on them, really cannot be overstated should no budget be adopted and the governor be allowed to run the state by executive order. We have been warned, yet Democratic leadership is choosing not to act. I am disgusted that Democrats view this as acceptable for Connecticut,” added Rep. Sredzinski. “House Republicans stepped up to the plate and developed a complete budget package that we updated twice to reflect declining revenue. If the Democrats don’t want to lead, the people in Connecticut need to know that Republicans are. Passing our budget is the best possible option at this point and I urge my friends on the other side of the aisle to consider this proposal for the good of the people of this state.”

Rep. JP Sredzinski represents the 112th General Assembly district communities of Monroe and Newtown and serves as Ranking Member on the General Assembly’s Public Safety Committee.

Image Courtesy of State Rep Sredzinski