Malloy calls for bipartisan meetings on state budget

The Office of Police and Management is estimating a $121 million deficit, even after the $103 million in cuts already made, Malloy said during a news conference on Monday morning.

General Electric Co said it will make a decision before the end of the year on whether it relocates it headquarters to another state.

Content Preview This content is exclusive for Optimum, Time Warner, Comcast, customers with access to News 12.

Malloy said the budget he presented in February went father in cuts than what was eventually passed by the legislature. “I applaud Lt. Governor Wyman and the Access Health Connecticut [the state’s insurance exchange] team for their ongoing efforts to ensure residents have access to quality healthcare”.

Republicans were highly critical of the governor’s decision to cut $65 million from Medicaid reimbursement.

“Everything is on the table, by and large”, the governor said. As such, the governor is inviting leaders of both parties into bipartisan talks that – if successful – could lead to a special session on the budget later this year. Malloy attributed the state’s budgetary problems to stagnant wage growth and a downturn on Wall Street.

On Monday, Senate President Martin Looney commended Malloy for agreeing to sit down and talk. “We were prepared to offer today a more fair and equitable alternative to the current rescissions by the governor by starting with a 2.5% across-the-board spending reduction that would save about $125 million”.

Sen. Beth Bye, D-West Hartford, co-chair of the Appropriations Committee, said Democratic committee members searching for alternatives to the emergency cuts made to hospitals and social services have been exploring furloughs – unpaid days off – for union and non-union workers. “The people of Connecticut do not need Republican political posturing and schemes that include $600 million in unrealistic phantom cuts”. “Put your ideas on the table”.