Rep. Miner joined with House Republican legislators to defeat a proposed cut of special education funding for Bethlehem, Litchfield, Morris, Warren and Woodbury that was originally included in the package. He noted that the House of Representatives came together in a bipartisan manner to craft the bill that was approved.
“I viewed this vote as the beginning of what is surely to be a long, painful process,” said Rep. Miner. “Within the context of the mitigation proposal, there are real deadlines and clear requirement for bipartisan participation that must occur over the next 30 days. If we are successful in identifying $220,000,000 in final savings within that timeframe, than the exercise will have been worth it.”
Measures included in the package include:
- $168 million in savings that Republicans proposed in their own deficit mitigation proposal;
- No cuts in state aid to cities and towns;
- No tax increases;
- Limited use of the state’s rainy day fund;
A change in prescription drug coverage that will save 30,000 seniors an average of $1,200 a year on prescription drug costs, while saving the state money. It would allow certain recipients of ConnPACE (Connecticut Prescription Assistance to the Elderly) to access federal Medicare Part D prescription benefits.
