This is the July 1st letter from Governor Rell to Secretary of State Bysiewicz vetoing the 2009-2011 budget proposed by the Senate.
The RRTC proudly supports Governor Rell.

Statement of Governor M. Jodi Rell on the end of the 2009 Regular Legislative Session:

“Like many other states in America, we in Connecticut are still trying to work our way through this unprecedented global recession. I have a full appreciation for the difficulty of the Legislature’s task. Crafting a budget in these perilous economic times is challenging. It requires difficult choices that are as painful as they are necessary.

“The legislative session is now a page of Connecticut history. It is time to turn the page, to move forward with commitment and resolve to work together to deliver to the people of this state a budget that will meet their needs now and in the future.

“It must be a budget that respects the ability of our taxpayers to pay for their government, a budget that makes a real change in the size and cost of their government, and a budget that will indeed help make Connecticut a beacon of opportunity by providing families with new hope and new jobs – and a business climate that will provide Connecticut companies with the opportunity to grow.”

The RRTC Supports Governor Rell

Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell is the most popular governor in the country, maintaining a 70% approval rating.  She is the last line in the sand for responsible fiscal policy.

In April, state tax collections were way down (income taxes – 40%, sales taxes – 24%, and corporate taxes – 22%).  Democratic majorities in both Hartford legislatures are the only factions incapable of acknowledging Connecticut’s government expenditures are unsustainable.  Yet, they control.

On May 28th, the CT Senate hastily introduced and approved a bill forcing Governor Rell to accept the Democrats’ budget shortfall estimate.  The bill received support only from Democrats. No public comment period was permitted. Euphemistically labeled the ‘budget estimate reconciliation bill,’ no actual “reconciliation” occurred.

Senate President Donald Williams (D-Brooklyn) disingenuously claims the bill “takes politics out of budget forecasting.”   Forcing the governor to accept their terms without negotiation, not allowing public input, then misleading the public, sure does “take the politics out of budget forecasting.”   It also takes out 1) the constitutionally- bestowed prerogatives of our state’s chief executive and 2) the public’s input into the legislative process.

It took a tactically brave Republican to bring the Democrat’s own budget plan – with $3.3 billion in proposed tax increases — to the Senate floor last week for a vote.  The vote failed 0-35, as none of the Democrats took personal political responsibility for their plan.