Malloy’s budget offers Republicans chance to lead

Republican leadership has long been at odds with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's handling of state finances, but Connecticut's minority party would be wise to unite with the Democratic governor on his $19.8 billion fiscal 2016 budget proposal that reduces spending by $570 million.

Instead of complaining or gloating that Malloy stole some of their budget-cutting ideas, which have been proposed for years to deal with state's chronic deficits, Republican legislative leaders would be smarter to declare victory, embrace the governor's austere budget (potentially with some minor changes), and try to gain enough Democratic votes to make it reality.

Indeed, Malloy's budget embraces a new economic reality — that Republicans have said existed for years — in which state tax revenues and economic growth rates are no longer keeping pace with government spending.

Although a minority in both the House and Senate, Republicans have, according to one political observer, enough legislative seats to sustain any Democratic veto override of Malloy's budget plan. That means Malloy could use Republican support to continually veto Democratic budgets until he gets one that he wants.

Republican support would put pressure on Democratic legislators to pass something close to Malloy's budget, and pressure Malloy to stick to his original plan.

Malloy's veto power and the GOP's ability to sustain it create potentially a powerful coalition that could pass a budget that begins to transform government. It may be the most leverage Republicans have had on the budgeting process since M. Jodi Rell was governor.

Election-year politics often bring gridlock to the State Capitol, as lawmakers try to sidestep controversial bills and policies to preserve their November electability. Unfortunately, Connecticut's fiscal woes are so grave that lawmakers are being forced to consider major spending cuts or tax increases to balance future year budgets; failing to implement changes risks drawing even greater ire from the electorate.

It's not yet clear how Democratic legislators will ultimately respond to Malloy's budget proposal. But with the governor embracing a new economic reality, the time is now for the state GOP to help build a majority coalition behind it.

That would only strengthen their chances at the ballot box in November. Let's see if Malloy and Republican leaders can put politics aside and pass a budget they largely agree on.

Municipalities must take a haircut

Connecticut's cities and towns are decrying $50 million in state budget cuts to discretionary municipal aid they say will lead to increased property taxes for businesses and residents.

While we're sensitive to the notion of higher property taxes and the restraints municipalities have in raising new revenues, it's time for cities and towns to share in Connecticut's lean-budget era. Indeed, municipalities have largely been spared from state budget cuts the past six fiscal years, while state lawmakers have enacted widespread tax increases and spending cuts to various parts of state government.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is asking municipalities to take a $50 million haircut, while promising to maintain local education spending. That doesn't seem completely unfair and shifts the onus on cities and towns to tighten their belts.

This also provides an opportunity for the state to continue to pressure municipalities to regionalize their services.

We aren't accusing towns and cities of being financially irresponsible, but they must share in the pain. And they shouldn't resort to property tax increases as their first line of defense against funding cuts.

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