State budget battle continues at the capitol

HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) - State Republicans released their version of a state budget plan during a news conference on Tuesday.

It included more than $1 billion in broad-based tax cuts.

It also featured more money for education and non-profit organizations.

It had a child tax deduction of $2,000, something that was not in the budgets released by Gov. Ned Lamont and the Democrats.

“We are putting forth this tax package, mirroring it very closely with the governors, and also acknowledging things that are important to Democrats, like restoring a clothing tax exemption for children and putting forth a permanent child tax deduction for families,” said Rep. Vinnie Candelora, House minority leader.

Republicans said the savings in their budget came from staggering how they fill vacant positions within state government.

Their budget does have $200 million more in spending, but stays within the spending cap.

Democrats said they agreed with portions of it.

“I appreciate House Republican leader Candelora putting forward a budget with his caucus for the first time since 2017,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney. “Vinny was in the room with me, Senator Duff and then Majority Leader Ritter six years ago when we spent an incalculable numbers of hours crafting that bipartisan budget. Our philosophy then was ‘a good idea is a good idea’ and that remains true today. We Democrats will review the House Republican budget proposal to find areas of potential agreement and points for additional conversation. With this document, House Republicans have gone on record with a fully detailed budget alternative. We will see if Senate Republicans will also take this basic step of responsible governing.”

Lamont and lawmakers plan to negotiate and approve a budget by the end of the legislative session on June 7.

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