What’s Their Alternative? That We Just Tax Everybody?’
On the eve of a planned statewide budget tour, Governor Dannel Malloy addressed criticisms of his proposals for overhauling the state’s budgeting process and reforming government spending.
In his State of the State address a week ago, Malloy outlined $569 million in spending cuts for the next fiscal year, telling legislators they must accept “a new economic reality” of smaller government, scaled-back programs, and greater compromise.
“We can’t wish away our problems,” the Governor said, proposing to reform state employee pensions and benefits, eliminate thousands of jobs, and prioritize government programs–without raising taxes.
As legislators began poring through the Governor’s budget reforms, he told WTNH News 8’s Mark Davis that economic reality dictated that “we can only spend the amount of money we have.”
He added that fears the spending cuts would impact the ability of non-profit groups to deliver programs and services to the state’s most needy were unfounded.
“We’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen,” he told Davis yesterday.
Union leaders also criticized the Governor’s proposals yesterday, calling for more tax hikes–including further hits on businesses–despite Connecticut enduring the two largest increases in the state’s history over the last five years.
“Don’t be surprised around this building that people yell that ‘the sky is falling,’ I mean, that’s the ritual,” Malloy said.
“What’s their alternative? That we just tax everybody and the last person here turns out the lights?”
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