Budget battle impacts state tourism

Bridgeport (WTNH) - The budget battle rages on in Connecticut with lawmakers arguing over numbers and cuts. Zoos, libraries and museums say they can't afford cuts and keep up with demand.

Although the Black Rock Branch of the Bridgeport Public Library is empty during a renovation, people came anyway to absorb a little knowledge and share a big concern.

"It's so difficult to live in Connecticut right now with the taxes," said Linda Gustavson of Bridgeport. "Our young people are flocking out of the state. Unemployment is rising."

Fairfield Democrats hosted a budget reform meeting Thursday night attacking Governor Rell's proposal to cut funding to culture, arts, and library programs.

"We don't want to go back to the 18th century," said Rep. Tom Crew of Fairfield. "Tragically there are places in the world that are back in the 18th century."

Democrats say it's hypocrisy when Governor Rell is pushing for "Staycations" that produce more than a billion in state revenue but slash funds at the same time. For example, the Beardsley Zoo could lose $400,000.

"If you look at tourism as a whole in Connecticut, as a snapshot, it's doing very well," said Director of the Beardsley Zoo Greg Dancho. "The problem is, we need funding to keep this going."

But the Governor said while cutting money to tourism and culture is upsetting, it beats the alternative -- raising taxes, something she says the Democrats want to do.

The Governor's office said, "It's not surprising they don't want these cuts but they don't want any cuts. They want to raise taxes by $3.3 billion. They want to raise taxes on families and businesses. Taxes are the worst thing we could do to families and companies during Connecticut's worst economic downturn since the Great Depression."

And with no end in sight to when legislators will approve a budget, the only thing to make the skies a little brighter a sense of optimism.

"Someone quoted to me today that every recession since World War II has been gotten over, every one of them. Even the Great Depression. What's to say we can't do that now?" Gustavson said.

The debate continues Friday; state legislators are in their second week of a special session.