State legislative session ends Wednesday

HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) - After hours of debate, the state senate passed a budget the day before the legislative session ends.

While there was a lot of debate, this year’s budget received a lot of bi-partisan support which is something lawmakers say they hadn’t seen in previous years.

While democrats took the lead, republicans in the house and senate put forth their own budget, and some of those ideas ended up in the final budget.

The state also has a huge surplus, which helped lawmakers create this year’s budget. Some of those funds will go to education to hire more teachers.

“When you don’t have deficits you are trying to deal with it makes the conversation a little bit easier,” said minority leader Vinnie Candelora.

The budget includes historic tax cuts for working- and middle-class families. That means sixty percent of Connecticut residents will see tax cuts.

“Don’t tell me that doesn’t make a difference. Don’t tell me that doesn’t make a difference for businesses as well,” said Governor Ned Lamont.

In addition to tax cuts, Connecticut now has early voting and the most sweeping gun safety laws since Sandy Hook.

Some of the gun bills were controversial, like banning open carry and a purchase limit. But there was compromise and bi-partisan votes.

“For the governor and I, a huge highlight is to pass our gun safety bill. We are pleased the legislature closed loopholes in our assault weapons ban which hasn’t been updated since 2013,” said Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz.

There was also bi-partisan support to increase access to birth control and to protect women’s reproductive rights.

“When people learn the facts and they take some of the rhetoric and digging in on their opinions, and they are willing to have conversations, we come to solutions that are good for everyone in the state of Connecticut,” said Senator Heather Somers.

“We are a more moderate state than some want to recognize and it can be painful but overall it’s a good thing because we do work together in Connecticut,” said majority leader Jason Rojas.

Hundreds of bills still need to be voted on, like bonding for school construction and some education bills.

Governor Lamont is expected to address the legislature at midnight when the legislative session ends.

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