Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell has gotten a fair share of criticism for pledging so far unspecified deep cuts across state government to address the budget hole.
But to be fair, at least she’s offering something. Trying to get Democratic leaders to put forth their budget agenda has so far been next to impossible.
Over the past few weeks it seems like the Democrats have spent more time talking about the various areas they do not want to see cut and those they don’t control – like union negotiations – than those areas they would address.
I asked House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, during a press conference today what his party was bringing to the table. His response was basically the legislature has budget committees, they’ll be looking at all sorts of stuff, they want the public to weigh in.
It’s hard to believe Donovan and other Dems don’t have some specifics in mind. Donovan in particular is known as being a major fan of levying higher taxes on the rich.
But certainly it’s to the party’s advantage to remain mum until AFTER Rell outlines her own proposals next Wednesday.
