37.6 Billion Benjamins!

Connecticut Senate passed the $37.6 billion two-year budget on yesterday., This budget takes $6 billion in Medicaid spending out from under the spending cap. If the Medicaid funding had been kept under  the spending cap the budget would be $44 billion resulting in an over 10% increase.
The vote passed at 19-17 with most objections coming from GOP senators. Three Democratic, including Senators Paul "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" Doyle who represents Middletown  took a bold step and crossed party lines giving bi-partisan opposition against passing of the budget. This is the second time in the last few weeks Doyle has gone against the status quo of his party.

A Middletown Patch by Cassandra Day  details provisions of the budget:
 " Among other provisions, the budget:

• Counts Medicaid dollars for the first time in a “net appropriation” fashion, shifting $6.3 billion over the two-year budget off the books.
• Launches a keno lottery game
• Spares cities and towns from significant cuts in aid
• Funds an aggressive “Generation Next” expansion of UConn
• Cuts aid to hospitals
• Extends a $2.50-per-megawatt-hour tax on power plants for three months
• Refinances operating debt from previous years
• Spends more than $200 million in surplus funds
• Shifts money from the transportation fund to the general fund
• Expands education reform efforts put into place last year."

Gov. Dan "Call me Dannel" Malloy is pumped at the bit to sign this budget today. Chief of Staff Joe Samolis is reportedly driving Middletown Mayor Dan " Lil Dub' D" Drew to the Capital for the distinguished honor of sitting on the governor's lap during the signing. Middletown will be the first City Hall to have Keno machines installed in its public restrooms later in the month.