Conn. and Pa. state budgets still in limbo

Associated Press ^ | August 30, 2009 | Susan Haigh,

[george76]

State budget impasses in Conn. and Pa. could replay in other states with slow tax dollar flow .

While most states have already passed their budgets, Connecticut and Pennsylvania remain the only two in the nation still at odds over how to balance the books this fiscal year amid plummeting state revenues.

Connecticut's revenue flow has dropped by $2 billion from last year while Pennsylvania's came in $3.3 billion less than expected.

"It's a symptom of a very severe recession that's caused some really difficult political choices to be made,"

Meanwhile, in Michigan, where the fiscal year begins Oct. 1, officials facing a $3 billion deficit are struggling to get the budget done and avoid a government shutdown.

[Psycho_Bunny]

“It’s a symptom of a very severe recession that’s caused some really difficult political choices to be made,”

Actually, it’s more a symptom of incompetent government.

[Dr. Sivana]

Lowell Weicker imposed an income tax on CT, in part using the argument that they provide more stable revenue during recessions.

Connecticut used to be a great state.

[Man50D]

In Connecticut, a Republican governor, M. Jodi Rell, has insisted more spending cuts are needed and a Democratic-controlled General Assembly wants higher income taxes on the wealthy to help cover the deficit.

That's a bunch of BS! Rell caved into unions in the past preventing any layoffs in the future to cut spending. She excluded members of her party in the state legislature from negotiations because they wanted to reduce the overall tax burden while she proposes raising fees. The only difference between her and the socialist RATS is the rate at which they want to take more money from the people.

[joejm65]

Weiker’s income tax PLUS the revenue from the casino’s slot machines (in excess of $1b/year) somehow led to red ink in CT. When it comes to tax $$$, politicians are junkies.