Left to Right: Rep. Jason Bartlett, Speaker Christopher Donovan,
Rep. Bob Godfrey, Rep. Joe Taborsak at Danbury Library Meeting.
June 15, 2010
SPEAKER DONOVAN, REPS. GODFREY, BARTLETT AND TABORSAK
LAUD LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Balanced Budget and Library Funding Cited
State House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) and Reps. Bob Godfrey (D-Danbury), Jason Bartlett (D-Danbury) and Joe Taborsak (D-Danbury) heralded the numerous legislative accomplishments of the General Assembly's 2010 session, particularly preserving critical funding to state libraries, at a meeting with residents Tuesday at the Danbury Library. VIDEO
The lawmakers praised the work of the General Assembly and the major accomplishments of the session, specifically the bi-partisan budget and jobs-creation bill, both of which have already been signed into law.
House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) said, "The economic crisis has required more from our government, with higher demand for services. We balanced the budget while protecting funding for schools and roads; keeping courthouses and libraries open; and protecting HUSKY and health care programs. We worked hard to continue important funding for our state's libraries. By maintaining these funds, we ensured the delivery of library services and resources our citizens have come to expect and rely upon. We cut the budget by more than $3 billion. But what we refused to do was to agree to cuts that would hurt vulnerable people, working people and people who need services more than ever during a time of economic crisis. That includes library services for the people of Connecticut."
"My constituents were quite explicit in their instructions to me: preserve - not cut - the services on which they rely" Godfrey said. "I delivered, with the help of Speaker Donovan and in spite of the Governor's opposition. We not only saved libraries, but also senior centers, children of the recession, public schools, the environment, and jobs."
"We took important steps to strengthen our education system by passing a landmark education bill that raises standards for our students, calls for a more demanding evaluation system for teachers and gives a greater voice to parents," Bartlett said. "Everything we do to help our students achieve their academic goals is a benefit to our entire state."
"We worked hard this past year to ensure the continuation of important funding for our state's libraries," Taborsak said. "Keeping libraries open and operational is critical to the quality of life of our communities and I am pleased to we were able to get that done."
In addition, House Bill 5424 fosters regional cooperation for significant cost savings by allowing two or more municipalities or local or regional boards of education to collectively purchase health insurance for their employees.
Also, Regional educational service centers (RESCs) would have the authority to enter into contracts, buy, own, and sell property, and provide educational programs, services, and activities to member boards of education.
The lawmakers specifically praised the bipartisan agreement with Gov. M. Jodi Rell that balances the state budget through fiscal year 2011 with no tax increases, no cuts in municipal aid and a decrease for most residents' electric bills by an average of $60 a year.
The budget includes $170 million in spending cuts across a host of state agencies and a reduction of $300 million from a previous borrowing plan. There is also hundreds of millions of dollars in savings from a shorter term and lower interest rate on the issuance of $956 million in Economic Recovery Bonds (ERBs).
Almost equally important, the legislators said, was the passage of a major job-creation bill, which will address the state's dire need for new jobs. For two decades, Connecticut has been last in the nation in job creation.
The new Job Growth law provides:
Left to Right: Rep. Jason Bartlett, Speaker Christopher Donovan,
Rep. Bob Godfrey, Rep. Joe Taborsak at Danbury Library Meeting.