Former Connecticut governor and U.S. Senator Lowell Weicker is familiar with budget gridlock.
In 1991 when the state faced similar historic deficits, he proposed instituting the state's first ever income tax and acknowledged it was the least popular idea anyone could have come up with at the time.
"Look, I didn’t know anybody back in 1990-whatever it was that wanted to vote for the income tax. I didn’t want to vote for the income tax," Weicker said during an interview in his home. "Nobody did but people just have to step up to the mark and do their job and that job was to balance the budget and fortunately there were enough brave souls by a margin of one that did just that."
The main difference between the 2017 budget crisis and the one in 1991, Weicker said, is that back then there was an actual solution on the table for lawmakers to discuss. This time, he said, there is no such option. He said Republicans have presented budget plans they know aren't realistic and describes them as missed opportunities.
"You have Republicans that really stand for nothing and don’t go ahead and don’t present any novel ideas or progressive thoughts," Weicker said. He said if they come up with budget solutions that could be adopted across party lines then they have a chance to make headway toward electoral victories in 2018.
“They are now at a point where if they show leadership skills they can definitely either become even with the Democrats or surpass them.”
As for the specific issues plaguing Connecticut, he said there is plenty of revenue to pay for state services, and adds its the overall amount of spending that's the problem.
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Weicker said, "It’s not a revenue problem and the revenue problem is what’s killing everybody. Those that have to pay it and those that have to bring it about but unfortunately when you're in this sort of situation there is no easy answer.”
Finally, Weicker said there is shared blame with everything. He said one of the best developments in Connecticut politics and government was Republicans winning more seats in the General Assembly. He said members of both parties have to change the way the business of the budget is conducted in Hartford.
“Let’s face it, those deficits are created because every person in the legislature has to have their pet project and those pet projects cost money.”
