Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Democratic legislative leaders reached agreement on the state’s next $43 billion two-year budget. They say lawmakers will vote on the deal before the legislative session ends on Wednesday.
Lamont expressed relief as he announced the handshake agreement to close a $3.7 billion projected deficit in the two-year budget.
“It took rolling up our sleeves. It took some compromises. But we got it done. We got it done.”
Senate President Martin Looney says the Democratic legislative leaders are confident they can sell the deal to members of their caucus.
“Right now we can say we have four votes. And then we will move on to build from there.”
Details of the plan have yet to be released. Lamont says the proposal takes care of structural deficits in the state’s teacher retirement fund without shifting the burden to cities and towns.
The Republican minority did not participate in the negotiations for the first time in several budget cycles.
