Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has vetoed a bill that restored $54 million to a program that helps more than 100,000 seniors and people with disabilities pay for Medicare-related expenses.
The Democrat said Tuesday the bipartisan budget changes state lawmakers made to fully fund the program "are wishful thinking, double-counting, and pushing problems off into the future." Both Democrats and Republicans disagree with Malloy's characterization.
Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano (R-North Haven) released a statement Wednesday in response to the governor’s veto and said Republicans and Democrats “stood together earlier this month to restore funding for the Medicare Savings Program without increasing this year’s deficit.”
“We acted together to do what was right for thousands of Connecticut seniors and disabled individuals. Today, I am calling on the Democrat legislative leaders to protect Connecticut’s constitution by standing with us again to override the governor’s veto,” Fasano said in a statement.
Malloy's veto is not a surprise. He had urged lawmakers not to pass the bill, telling them he delayed the program cut until July 1.
“The governor’s actions demand an immediate and swift response from the legislature to 1) correct the significant constitutional flaw with his plan and 2) to prohibit the state from increasing the size of this year’s deficit. Absent an override of his veto, lawmakers will be setting a dangerous precedent that any governor can abrogate legislative authority under his or her sole discretion,” the statement from Fasano said.
Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) also released a statement.
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“The General Assembly has spoken clearly in overwhelmingly voting for the bipartisan plan to restore the Medicare Savings Program. I expect that Democrats and Republicans will remain consistent in their votes when we are called back for a veto session,” Looney said.
Also Tuesday, new revenue estimates show Connecticut's budget reserve account has grown to nearly $900 million, due to unexpected income tax revenues. However, new budget rules prevent that money from being used to address the current, approximate $260 million deficit.
