Budget Pressures Divide Democrats

Some say there is nothing to vote on without concessions.

Under pressure from Gov. Dannel Malloy for a vote on his budget framework, Democrats in the legislature don't feel the urgency. In fact, one of them said that without concessions from the state government employee unions, there is nothing to vote on.

"I don't think we really have a budget yet," Sen. Ed Meyer, (D) Guilford, said. "We've got a $2 billion hole."

Democrats dominate both houses of the legislature, but that doesn't mean their leaders have an iron grip, or any grip, on party members.

"I like to describe our caucus as very diverse," said Rep. Brendan Sharkey, the House Majority Leader. "My job is to make sure everyone is heard."

Sharkey scheduled a caucus to do just that and there's a wide variety of opinions to be heard among Democrats.

Representing Bristol is Rep. Frank Nicastro, a former mayor.  He doesn't like the governor's proposed tax increases.

"Whenever you raise taxes, that bothers me, because right now we're in a recession and that hurts,"  Nicastro said. "I've received numerous phone calls and numerous e-mails from constituents saying please, Frank, we can't afford this, we can't afford this."

But in Southington, the next town over, Rep. Zeke Zalaski has taken the legislative plates off his car because of complaints he gets about taxes when he fills up with gas. 

He wants to see Malloy raise taxes only on the wealthy, something Malloy has said he will try not to do.

"There are quite a few votes that are objecting to some of the things in the budget," said Zalaski, "and I think that he's willing to make some changes. He hasn't drawn a line in the sand on everything yet."

Zalaski signed a letter with 65 of the 99 House Democrats earlier this month complaining about the budget. 

So did Rep. Don Clemons, from Bridgeport. But after Malloy agreed to restore most of the property tax credit and the earned income tax credit, Clemons signed off on the budget.

"I know things are gonna be tweaked," said Clemons, "but overall, it seems to be a budget that bodes with what the governor and everybody have been talking about in terms of shared sacrifice." 

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