by Donald Eng
HARTFORD, CT — Republicans in the Connecticut House of Representatives presented an alternate two-year state budget Thursday that caucus members called a “Reality Check” and said would reduce the size of state government by about $600 million.
“House Republicans are offering a sustainable, disciplined approach that funds what’s necessary while protecting the fiscal guardrails that help to stabilize our finances and pay down long-term debt,” said House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford.
The $54.4 billion proposal appropriates $769 million less than Gov. Ned Lamont’s proposal and about $1.2 billion less than the package passed by the Appropriations Committee.
State Rep. Tammy Nuccio, R-Tolland, talks about the Republican budget proposal on May 1, 2025. Credit: Donald Eng / CTNewsJunkie
“We’re rejecting tax hikes and we’re shrinking government costs,” said Rep. Tammy Nuccio, R-Tolland, House ranking member of the Appropriations Committee. “Our budget reins in government spending, including an immediate freeze of state employee wages, and will set us on a path for a more affordable, accountable, and secure future.”
The idea of a wage freeze for state employees was one of the criticisms legislative Democrats had with the proposal. House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, referred to the Republican plan as “a mini DOGE.”
“That was the goal, it seems, to just lay off everybody from every state agency, never give them a raise,” Ritter said.
House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, said the Republican budget harms the very people Republicans say they back, like correction officers, public health workers, and teachers.
“You want to take away raises from all those people they would otherwise advocate to protect, but when convenient to try to make a political statement about a budget, they say they’re going to cut all that out to try to fund a budget,” Rojas said. “It’s hard to take seriously.”
Candelora also acknowledged that getting the freeze on contracted wage increases would be a challenge, but said it was possible.
“There’s legal precedent to do that, nationwide. It’s been done,” he said. “I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask them to go two years without a wage increase.”
In addition to the proposed two-year wage freeze for state employees, the Republican plan also folds the public benefit charge on utility bills into the General Fund. Candelora said that would save the average household about $10 to $20 each month.
State Rep. Joe Polletta, R-Watertown, talks about the Republican budget proposal on May 1, 2025. Credit: Donald Eng / CTNewsJunkie
The Republicans also proposed a 5% across-the-board reduction to state agency budgets and proposed pursuing a “policy change” for Connecticut residents working remotely for New York firms to pay income tax in Connecticut rather than New York. State Rep. Joe Polletta, R-Watertown, said that could generate another $320 million in tax revenue.
“This budget is a step toward what residents deserve: affordability, accountability, and flexibility in the face of federal funding uncertainty,” Polletta said.