Rep. John Piscopo supports Gov. Rell’s budget proposal

HARTFORD – No tax increases, no cuts to towns and cities and a smaller, more efficient state government are the hallmarks of Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s budget, which was delivered by the Governor to the Legislature today.Nearly two-dozen state agencies would be eliminated or absorbed into others and the budget would relieve towns and cities of millions in unfunded mandates.

Rep. Piscopo applauded the Governor’s proposal to not raise taxes and reduce the cost of government to bridge the projected multi-billion budget deficit over the next two years.

“The Governor was exactly right in saying that our state government is too big, and unaffordable,” said Rep. Piscopo. Reducing the size of our government and not raising taxes is the best way to help get our state through this recession and will lead to sustainable growth down the road. Families are being forced to tighten their belts, and so should the state of Connecticut.”

Other mandate relief, such as delaying costly in-school suspension rules and treating young offenders separately as juveniles, has been previously proposed by House Republicans. At least 400 current state positions that are unfilled would be eliminated under the plan.

Numerous governmental consolidations in the Governor’s proposed budget have been put forth that will reduce the state bureaucracy including:

• Combining certain functions of higher education and the state education department;
• Re-ordering the functions of numerous departments within Legislative Management that is responsible for running the state Capitol;
• Eliminating 400 vacant state positions and cutting at least another 400 through consolidations;
• Anticipating $550 million in cost-saving measures from public sector employee unions, which could mean possibly offering early retirement to those who qualify to reduce state payroll.

State Rep. John Piscopo represents Burlington, Harwinton, Litchfield, and Thomaston in the General Assembly.