The Connecticut Senate is expected to vote on a package of deficit mitigation measures Tuesday aimed at filling a projected $220 million shortfall to end the fiscal year.
Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney, (D - New Haven), wouldn't provide many specifics other than the expectation that hospitals would receive their full allotment of funds totaling more than $100 million, that the governor had previously either cut or delayed.
He says he expects on that major issue alone to receive some level of Republican support that's been lacking during the past two budget special sessions.
“Given that achievement I think that should show that we’ve gone a long way toward addressing concerns that they’ve expressed" he said.
Republican Leader Sen. Len Fasano, (R - North Haven) said his party drew "lines in the sand" on holding funding for hospitals and cities and towns.
Fasano said he's not sure any plan could be considered bipartisan, just because the Democrats' plan incorporates some cuts the GOP proposed.
“You can’t be a part of negotiations that never take place" he said.
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However, on the issue of the "line in the sand" Fasano mentioned, just last week Republicans proposed cutting funding to cities and towns by $25 million, more than the proposed $16 million coming from Democrats.
Sen. Looney described Fasano's comments as disingenuous.
"For them to say that municipal aid is a key piece, that’s ridiculous," Looney said. "Because their whole program for the last year has been to oppose the major municipal aid piece that we passed last year.”
The issue was Senate Bill 1 that committed some sales tax revenue to cities and towns, while cutting property tax rates for residents.
Sources confirmed to NBC Connecticut that House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders met Monday afternoon to discuss the proposal that will be voted on.
Anything passed by the Senate would need to be approved by the House, and then signed by the governor.
Even if the package gets approved soon, the state could face a deeper shortfall once tax receipts are reported later in April.
