Connecticut Students Paying The Price For Democrats’ Budget Crisis

From J.R. Romano (info@ct.gop), Chairman CT Republican Party

Southington – With Connecticut Democrats - led by Failed Governor Dan Malloy and his top enablers Nancy Wyman and Kevin Lembo - leaving the state paralyzed without a budget while facing a multibillion dollar shortfall, Connecticut’s students are now paying the price for their failed leadership. With no idea of how much aid they can expect from the state government, school districts across Connecticut are “preparing for hell, slashing budgets, laying off teachers and preparing for the worst” as a result of the state’s budget crisis, which still continues with no end in sight.

In a new editorial, the Hartford Courant issued a stark warning: “Voters won't quickly forget who was responsible for their children's maligned schools.” With both Nancy Wyman and Kevin Lembo signaling their interest in running to succeed Malloy, they should take notice.

The Hartford Courant writes:

“Left in legislative limbo, school districts across the state are preparing for hell, slashing budgets, laying off teachers and preparing for the worst as they wait to find out how much — or how little — money they will receive from the state.

And meanwhile, ineffectual legislators — now nearly two months into the fiscal year and still incapable of agreeing on a spending plan that will solve a $3.5 billion shortfall — squat under the golden dome in Hartford, dealing and dickering and stalling and stammering, calculating which budgetary solutions are politically viable. They seem oblivious to what's going on in their own districts.

Here's what's going on: Dozens of positions have been eliminated already across the state, and hundreds have been put on hold. In Tolland, 15 teachers have already been laid off, and dozens more could follow, according to an Associated Press report. In Windsor, 10 positions are on hold, and summer school was canceled for 90 students. In Torrington, the opening of school has been delayed to save money.

There is $2 billion in education cost sharing money at stake. Many school districts depend on it for basic operations. Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury and New Britain received more than $750 million in the last fiscal year. Along with Tolland, towns such as Glastonbury and West Hartford could see massive cuts in school funding under a plan advanced by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy earlier this year…

If legislators are concerned about their political futures, they should be. Those who have delayed the process are vulnerable in 2018. Voters won't quickly forget who was responsible for their children's maligned schools.”

Paid for by the Connecticut Republican Party.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.

Connecticut Republican Party
176 Laning Street
Southington, CT 06489
www.ct.gop