Governor M. Jodi Rell vetoed both of the legislature’s deficit bills
yesterday, calling them “feeble” attempts to solve the state’s budget
shortfall. She called instead for lawmakers to grant her the authority
to make additional cuts to vital services, between 10% and 15% of any
appropriation if the deficit is between 3% and 5%, while at the same
time refusing to agree to any new revenue generation.
Giving the governor more power to make harmful cuts to public services
when people are struggling in a down economy would be unconscionable.
The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) has repeatedly
offered to collaborate with the governor to engage public service
workers who have specific insights on ways to increase state
government’s efficiency. These “front line workers” have years of
experience in their agencies and have been ready to provide the
administration with clear programmatic ideas on how the state can be
more effective.
Governor Rell’s inadequate attempts to achieve efficiencies have
proved fruitless. Her Contracting Standards Board, whose mission is to
improve state contracting practices, has not met once in 2009. In
addition, her administration’s outsourcing of services from Birth to
Three’s Early Connections is costing the state millions rather than
saving needed funds.
It is vital that the governor and the legislature address the
structural change needed to fix Connecticut’s fiscal crisis. The
governor’s proposed band-aid not only gives her unusual powers over
the budgetary process, it won’t solve the problem. Cutting all
appropriations won’t balance the budget. Governor Rell is staunchly
protecting multi-million dollar estates from even one dollar in taxes
while she cuts programs that provide diapers for struggling families
and the state’s economy spirals downward.
It is time that all the parties come together to provide real
solutions, real revenue generation and a clear future for
Connecticut’s economic recovery.
