House passes budget, Rell veto likely

Hartford (WTNH) - A plan to address the state's multi-billion dollar budget deficit has received final passage in the House of Representatives. It's likely a doomed plan because Gov. Jodi Rell has indicated that she will veto it.

The final vote was 91-48.

The Democrats' plan includes about $2.8 billion in tax hikes and over a billion in spending cuts. It rejects many of the cuts proposed by Rell and that seems to be the political statement the Democrats are making.

Closing six courthouses around the state is just one of the governor's proposed cuts that the Democrats say they cannot vote for.

"The proposal to close the courthouses was not supported by the Judicial Branch, the prosecutors, the public defenders, or anyone else that realizes what such a mess it would create," said Rep. John Gerogosian (D-Appropriations Committee).

Rell says that she hears from the public all the time that state government must cut spending. But the Democrats say they hear something else.

"We heard from the public; they want to make sure that the bus and train fares don't do up, they want to make sure the courthouses aren't closed, they don't want schools to be closed," said Rep. Chris Donovan (D-Speaker of the House).

The Democrats' budget restores funding for the state's 62 'Family Resource Centers' that are the first entry point for young families for child care and school. It also restores funding for the Lifestar helicopter ambulance service, restores cuts in Medicaid, as well as funding to the state's Community Health Centers.

What the Democrats are doing by passing this version of a state budget plan is to say that these and other programs are ones that they cannot vote to cut because their constituents in the cities and towns say they are needed.

"Here we are with six days left to a fiscal year and now they're finally, proudly putting out their budget that they themselves know will be vetoed. And now we're going to start the hard work of negotiations? Shame on all of us," said Rep. Larry Cafero (R-Minority Leader).

Rell has repeatedly said that this is the wrong budget at the wrong time.