Legislators on Tuesday said they are making "progress" after another day of budget discussions, and Wednesday the governor said he was encouraged by the ongoing discussions.
Wednesday marks day 103 without a state budget.
The governor has not been included in the latest budget talks but on Wednesday said he was optimistic about the process, though he stressed that any budget he wants to see must be "free of gimmicks."
“I am encouraged that discussions continue. I think that is a good thing. I’m encouraged that if there is an agreement between the leaders that we’ll come back and we’ll have some further discussions,” Malloy said.
He also mentioned that his office was working on another budget plan with fewer tax increases than the previous Democratic proposal. He did not provide a specific date for when that budget might be presented.
After meeting Tuesday, legislators said that the discussions are moving forward.
"The progress we have made over the past couple days, I don’t see a way we don’t come to an agreement. That’s how much progress has been made. We have all moved in our positions in a way really, for the greater good of the state. and I really can’t see a way we don’t come to an agreement." said Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz.
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"Well, we are definitely making progress, we’ve definitely hit a lot more issues, refined the issues we initially had…still a little more work to do to refine numbers, but we’re definitely making progress,” said Sen. Len Fasano (R).
Legislators did not give a specific date on a budget lawmakers can vote on.
But did mention their next move.
"Hopefully tomorrow we can then engage with the governor. And we understand that will be an additional layer of negotiations. But to get to a place where we are all comfortable none of us are absolutely happy. We've all given in various areas. But it's a budget we can go to a Governor with and that's the goal," said Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz.
