Still working on budget mitigation plan

(WTNH) -- Governor Dannel Malloy says he will have a state budget reduction plan ready later this week or early next week.

He must present a budget mitigation plan to the legislature because of the $365 million red ink that's developed just four months into the budget year.

Legislative leaders agree with the governor's stated intention to do this without raising taxes. But Monday he corrected those who say that his agreement with the state labor unions doesn't allow him to eliminate any state jobs.

"We can make layoffs. That's not true," the governor said.

"Anyone hired after a certain date is eligible, but that's not where we want to go. Where we want to go is to 'trim our sails.'  We're not talking about, I mean, we're  talking about a lot of money because it represents millions of dollars, but when you put in a context of a $20 billion budget we're not talking about a gigantic problem. We're talking about a problem that is entirely manageable."

Almost two full weeks after the $365 million deficit was discovered there appears to be no specifics on how to 'trim those sails.'