Connecticut House Passes $40B Budget After Pulling All-Nighter
HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Connecticut's House of Representatives has passed a $40 billion state budget after Democratic leaders worked through the night to secure enough votes.
The bill, which needed 72 votes, was approved Wednesday morning 73-70. It now heads to the Senate, which by law must act on the package by midnight when the General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn for the summer. If it is not passed, lawmakers would need to convene a special session before the July 1 start of the fiscal year.
Plans to vote on the budget Tuesday were scuttled after Connecticut-based General Electric Co., Aetna Inc. and the Travelers Companies Inc. each released rare public statements taking issue with about $700 million in business tax increases.
Connecticut House Passes $40B Budget After Pulling All-Nighter
GE and Aetna both questioned whether they would remain in Connecticut.
While House Speaker Brendan Sharkey said earlier this week some changes were made to accommodate the businesses, the proposal still includes higher taxes, which would generate an extra $2 billion over two years, WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported.
Sen. Rob Kane, the ranking Republican on the Appropriations Committee, said the budget, as it stands, continues to impact big business and industry.
"Anyone who votes for this budget should be held accountable in 2016," Kane said.
Some Democratic lawmakers are also on the fence after hearing strong opposition from constituents, Schneidau reported.
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