In a move that has raised concerns among state employees and advocates for public services, Connecticut House Republicans have introduced a $54.4 billion two-year budget proposal that includes significant cuts affecting state workers and critical programs.​

A central feature of the Republican budget plan is a proposed two-year wage freeze for our 45,000 tens of thousands of state employees. House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora emphasized the need for fiscal restraint, stating that the budget aims to "trim" government expenses.  But this trimming comes at the cost of undermining both the critical public services that we all rely on while also decimating the working class jobs that lift up whole families.

Further savings of $67 million, representing a 5% cut across all state agencies, will impact the delivery of essential public services, from education to infrastructure maintenance, raising concerns about the state's ability to meet the needs of its residents effectively. ​As we head towards a recession,  investing in the public workforce and maintaining robust public services will be crucial for the state's recovery and growth.​

This Republican budget is unserious and mimics the dangerous and unpopular federal cuts under the Trump administration and will disproportionately affect working families and essential services, potentially leading to long-term socioeconomic challenges. ​

As budget negotiations continue, it's imperative for state employees and the public to stay informed and engaged. The decisions made will have lasting impacts on the workforce and the quality of public services in Connecticut.

See for yourself the way that some legislators view working people:

Asking workers to forgo raises one year wouldn’t be too painful, Candelora added, given the healthy increases they’ve received in recent years.

“The rest of Connecticut hasn’t seen those raises,” Candelora said.

Nuccio said she believes the state has over-budgeted for staffing consistently in recent years. Most of the Republican savings target involves keeping positions unfilled that are currently vacant. The plan eliminates all deputy commissioner positions. “Government has gotten kind of fat, and I think it’s time to trim,” she said.

As a moderate policymaker, I believe that:

1) We have to decide what CT’s priorities are, fund those and fund them effectively.

2) We must freeze state employee pay raises for at least two years. The rate of increases is unsustainable.” - Representative Tina Courpas