(photo) Sen. Hwang: “Senate Democrats Caved to Gov. Malloy”; Warns of Property Tax Hikes

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Sen. Hwang: “Senate Democrats Caved to Gov. Malloy.”

Warns of Local Property Tax Hikes and Cuts to Health Care Services

The Democrat-controlled Connecticut State Senate on June 13 refused to pursue an override of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s line item veto and restore $20 million in cuts to municipal aid as well as deep cuts to health centers which provide services in underserved areas.

Sen. Tony Hwang released the following statement regarding the failure to pursue the veto override:

“Democrat Senators have caved to Gov. Malloy. There’s no other way to put it, especially when House Democrats announced that their membership would have overwhelmingly overridden the governor’s veto. Unfortunately, partisan politics in the State Senate has again denied transparency and accountability to Connecticut residents.

“As a result, the governor’s yet-to-be disclosed cuts to town budgets will become reality. Those cuts will ratchet up the pressure for local property tax hikes and jeopardize vital local services. The rug has been pulled out from under Connecticut’s cities and towns at the most inopportune time.

“At the same time, the governor’s cuts to services at health clinics will also take place. These cuts will only serve to limit access to patient care and hurt our most at-risk and vulnerable people. It’s exactly the wrong way to go.

“Why are Democrat Senators capitulating to Gov. Malloy’s cuts? Why did they choose to balance the state’s chronic budget problems on the backs of local property taxpayers, school children, the sick and the disabled? Why the lack of transparency in disclosing the specific cuts and affected communities?

“We have to change course and pass policies which put our state on a sustainable, predictable long-term path. I will continue to work with like-minded lawmakers to make that happen, but this failure on the part of the Senate majority party just adds to the uncertainty that is so prevalent throughout our state. It shows why changes must be made this November if we are to get our state back on track.”

Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport.

Attached photo:

Sen. Tony Hwang (right) addresses municipal leaders from the Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST) at the State Capitol this spring. Sen. Hwang says the failure on the part of State Senate Democrats to override Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s line item veto on June 13 will hurt towns and property taxpayers and have a damaging impact on health care services to vulnerable state residents.

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