With a $6 billion shortfall projected over the next 2 years, Governor Rell is set to lay out what's next for the state.
Governor Rell will deliver her annual State of the State address Wednesday at the state capitol. Before it's over, expect to hear about some cost cutting measures to deal with Connecticut's $350 million deficit.
Her office says the speech at noon in joint session in the Hall of the House will set the tone for the new session and that it will be a sobering look at Connecticut's economy. Rell will make her formal spending plans, cuts, and tax measures in her budget message on February 4.
Also Tuesday, Democratic legislative leaders said they hope to pass a budget at least two weeks before adjournment which is scheduled for early June. Previous sessions have dragged on through the summer and into the fall before an agreement was reached.
Republicans say they want a budget deal even sooner than the Democrats, by April if possible. They said the sooner a budget can be crafted and approved, the more confident state residents will be.
As of Tuesday, there were no predictions on what cuts lawmakers might make or what taxes could be raised.