Because state revenues have not been as strong as we anticipated last year when we approved the current 2016 state budget, we voted earlier this month to cut spending by $350 million, or one-half of 1 percent of the $40 billion biennial state budget, thereby closing Connecticut’s budget deficit for the State Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2016.

102 champions graduated the WorkPlace’s Platform 2 Employment program. The legislature originally funded the program in 2014. I was so proud to be part of the celebration at Gateway.

In the Record Journal story below, my colleagues and I, weigh in on Governor Malloy’s recent announcement ordering $103 million in emergency cuts. This session we fought very hard to maintain critical funding for our most vulnerable citizens during one of the toughest budget negotiations I can remember. While we realize the governor needs to make adjustments amid bad news in the financial markets, it is extremely upsetting to see that we are back where we started. We will continue to defend our programs and will do everything we can to try to find alternatives to help minimize the impact of any cuts.

READ THE MERIDEN RECORD JOURNAL ARTICLE

I supported a budget package that begins lifting the property tax burden for Connecticut residents. Facing projected deficits over the next two years, the legislature cut over a billion dollars from the current services budget, however, the budget also ensures significant investments in the state’s transportation infrastructure, including improvements to roads, bridges and rail.