House Republican Press Release

November 25, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Klarides Votes for Deficit Relief

Legislator says more cuts are needed

HARTFORD – Deputy Republican Leader Themis Klarides (R-Derby) voted today to ease the state’s budget deficit by nearly $300 million but warned that far greater spending cuts are still needed.

During the one-day special session the legislature adopted a series of deficit reduction items that amounted to a “band aid’’ on the hemorrhaging budget and Republicans tried to push through additional cuts of nearly $80 million.

“The actions taken by the legislature last night failed to even begin to address the widening fiscal crisis that this state is in,” said Klarides.  “When the majority leadership refuses to even look at reclaiming $25 million from unclaimed bottle deposits and can’t part with additional taxpayer dollars to fund their political campaigns, you know there is no political will to tackle the very real problem we have in front of us.”

The deficit reduction plan offered by Gov. M. Jodi Rell was used as the starting point but dealt with only $300 million of the deficit. Since her plan was developed, the deficit has grown by an estimated $250 million. Klarides indicated that the deficit is estimated climb to about $6 billion over the next two-year budget cycle that begins July 1, 2009.

“This crisis didn’t sneak up on us,” said Klarides.  “We knew there was going to be trouble around the corner last spring, and Democrats refused to take any action on the budget.  If we don’t take significant action and make cuts now, you can be certain they will pass a tax increase later.”

Klarides and House Republicans supported a series of additional cost-saving measures that were rejected, including:

• Combining six commissions within the Capitol into one to save an estimated $4 million;
• Reducing by half the taxpayer-financed political campaigns to save $8 million;
• Offering state workers early retirement to save $130 million in the next fiscal year;
• Doubling the amount of spending cuts the governor can make without legislative approval.