House Republican Press Release

January 16, 2009

Press Office: 860-240-8700

REP. STRIPP: OFFERS WAY TO EASE DEFICIT IN FISCAL CRISIS

HARTFORD- State Representative John E. Stripp, of Easton, Redding and Weston with House Republicans today voted to reduce the state’s mounting deficit by $185 million, $54 million more than the Democrats who added an additional $250,000 in hidden spending that will only add to the state’s fiscal crisis.

Republican lawmakers also offered to cut their own pay by 5 percent delay, an $87 million union contract until a budget is in place, and provide huge budget relief to towns and cities struggling to put their own budgets in place, but were rebuffed by Democrats.

Republican Assistant Leader Rep. John Stripp, of Weston said that the additional $250,000 provision showed the Democrats are not yet sincere about seriously eliminating the state’s projected $6 billion over the next two years.

“One week after the 2009 legislative session began, the supermajority big government spenders have instead reverted back to “business of usual” by continuing to spend like drunken sailors while the state hemorrhages,’’ Stripp said.

Republicans voted against the Democratic final proposal because it did not go far enough. The Republicans proposed:

The Republicans proposed:

· Cutting their own pay by 5 percent for all 187 lawmakers;

· Delaying an $87 million salary increase package for corrections officers until a budget is in place this spring, otherwise the contract goes into effect within 30 days;

· Restoring $54 million in cuts Democrats eliminated from Gov. Rell’s budget

· Eliminating $274,000 in additional health care costs for workers in the Capitol;

· Delay or eliminate local mandates such as costly in-school suspension.

Stripp noted that the big government spenders are still unwilling to even reduce their own budgets within the legislature and are prepared to allow the union contracts to become law without having anyway to pay for it.

“It appears to be the big government spenders game plan is to not make any significant cuts and to deplete the Rainy Day Fund so next fiscal year when faced with an even larger deficit we will have no choice but to raise taxes.

Proposing additional new spending plans in what is supposed to be a deficit mitigation plan is a shell game of the greatest magnitude. Thousands of Connecticut residents have lost their jobs in recent months and families across our state are struggling to make ends meet.  They can’t afford to pay these raises,” concluded Stripp.