House Republican Press Release

January 15, 2009

Press Office: 860-240-8700

REP. HOVEY: FLAWED DEFICIT PACKAGE IS ‘BUSINESS AS USUAL’

HARTFORD- On Wednesday, January 14, State Rep. DebraLee Hovey (R-Monroe, Newtown) voted to reduce the state’s mounting deficit by $185 million, $54 million more than Democrat party leaders who added an additional $274,000 in hidden spending that will only worsen the state’s fiscal crisis. The package approved reduces the projected $800 million deficit by $133 million.

Rep. Hovey also supported legislation to cut her own legislative pay by 5 percent, delay an $87 million union contract until a budget is in place, and provide substantial budget relief to towns and cities struggling to put their own budgets in place. However, these proposals were defeated largely along party lines.

The $274,000 provision for increasing spending is proof that Democrat legislators have yet to become serious about eliminating the state’s projected $6 billion over the next two years and would rather conduct ‘business as usual,’ said Rep. Hovey

“The Legislature has, again, ducked its responsibility to the taxpayers of our state’’ said Rep. Hovey. “Rather than take serious steps toward reducing the cost of government, we are actually taking a step backward.’’

During the day’s legislative session, lawmakers approved measures to temporarily comply with state laws to balance the budget but warned that the deficit could spike again as early as this week because of falling revenues. Proposals Rep. Hovey joined with fellow Republicans legislators in cosponsoring include:

· Cutting their own pay by 5 percent;

· Delaying an $87 million salary increase package for corrections officers until a budget is in place;

· Restoring $54 million in cuts Democrats eliminated from Gov. Rell’s deficit reduction proposal

· Delaying or eliminate local mandates such as costly in-school suspension and treating juvenile offenders as adults, which police departments support.

“These are some of the roughest economic times we’ve ever seen,” said Rep. Hovey. “I’ve heard from so many people in Monroe and Newtown who are feeling it in their family budgets. They’ve made it clear to me that they expect the state to tighten its belt as well. Instead, it’s only shifted money from accounts in a smoke and mirrors approach that’s disgraceful and irresponsible.”