State Parks--Troubled Waters?
Photo by Steve Kotchko
Posted 6/1/09
The 2009 legislative session began with statements from both political parties that the fiscal challenge posed by the national recession and Connecticut’s own deepening deficit would be more serious than any money crisis in recent memory. Democrats and Republicans predicted lawmakers and the governor would work cooperatively to insure the deficit problem was covered and a new two-year state budget would be in place on time.
That was then. This is now. Despite all the talk about putting the usual political games on the shelf during the fiscal crisis, most observers see “business as usual” at the State Capitol. The legislative session ends this week and when this column was written on May 29, there was virtually no sign a bipartisan budget deal would be approved in time for final adjournment at midnight June 3rd.
In fairness to elected officials dealing with the budget, this has been no easy task. Despite the approval of numerous “deficit mitigation plans” in the last several months, the recession has turned the state deficit into a moving target that keeps growing. Though the size of the deficit has been a bitter point of contention between Democrats and Republicans, it is expected to be more than $8 billion for the two-year budget cycle. You can’t plug that hole with a few painless budget cuts or modest tax adjustments.
Legislative leaders and Gov. Jodi Rell warned serious sacrifices would be necessary to resolve the problem. However, sometime after all the warning flags were raised, both sides succumbed to the harsh reality of the budget crisis and retreated into their shells.
Instead of diligent negotiations to end the crisis, leaders in both parties slid into the all-too-familiar brand of “blame game” politics we’ve seen before. So much for summoning up courage, cooperation, and persistence in bargaining to reach a budget accord and deficit remedy.
In recent days, Republican Gov. Jodi Rell accused Democrats who control the General Assembly of stalling and refusing to seriously discuss cutting “the bloat” in state government, instead preferring to talk up tax hikes.
“Tax increases are the easy answer,” said Rell, “but the truth is, it is much harder to say ‘no’, harder to say ‘it is time for government to change.’”
Rell issued a supplemental budget claiming it contains $1.3 billion in additional cuts beyond the state budget plan she unveiled back in February. The governor told reporters she hoped her new plan would be a springboard to a final budget agreement before June 3rd.
However, after issuing this supposed fiscal olive branch, Rell said: “I am not looking for a battle, but I am willing to fight one because the future of Connecticut and its people are worth fighting for.” In “Star Trek” terms that sounded as if she was saying shields up, man your battle stations, instead of inviting Democrats to sing “Kumbaya” with her.
Democrats responded in kind. State Rep. John Geragosian (D-New Britain), co-chair of the legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee, brushed off the Rell supplemental plan as an ill-conceived political tactic. “I’ve spent about a hundred times more time on the governor’s budget than she (Rell) has, and I think some of the cuts she’s proposing are terribly irresponsible,” he said.
Indeed Rell herself had second thoughts about one proposed strategy—cutting $1 million from state parks. Rell spokesman Chris Cooper told reporters the governor, despite rumors, never intended to shut down popular shoreline beaches and parks, and had intended cutbacks only at some inland “limited access” parks.
“There will not be any shutdowns or curtailments of (park) services in the governor’s proposal,” said Cooper. Instead, the $1 million would be siphoned from the state’s underground storage tank removal program, which currently is running a surplus.
Democrats, including Senate Demcoratic leader Donald Williams (D-Brooklyn) claim it’s Rell who stalled the budget talks. “The governor broke off negotiations to produce (her supplemental budget), so it remains to be seen if it is a political play or a step meant to engage.”
Senate Republicans tweaked Democrats by trying to attach the Democrats budget plan, with its $3.3 billion dollars in tax hikes, to a fiscal bill. The GOP message—if Democrats think their plan is so great—why not vote for it? Democrats didn’t bite. Sen. Eileen Daily (D-Westbrook) said the GOP move was “almost silly” and explained the Democratic budget was meant as a starting point for bipartisan talks, not a final product. The measure unanimously was voted down.
When the finger-pointing exercise was over, both sides tried to be positive. Williams said: “The goal all along is to have a budget the governor can agree with—to bring her to the table so we can get an agreement.” Senate GOP leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield) said the governor’s supplemental plan was “a great step.” Said McKinney: “She’s saying (to Democrats) 'follow my lead, I’ll open up a big umbrella and provide plenty of cover for all legislators.'”
As of now, with less than 72 hours before final adjournment, there is no budget accord in place. If that changes, we’ll add some content in this space, but don’t be surprised if you see a “whole lotta nothin” beyond this sentence.