Connecticut Lawmakers Grappling With $550 Million Budget Gap

HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- Where's the spending cap now that the Connecticut state budget deficit is ballooning?

Even though voters ratified a cap in 1991, it has never been enacted, and the deficits continue to climb, WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported.

This year, Connecticut faces a $350 million budget gap. Next year, it's another $200 million.

Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, said Democrats are pushing the envelope.

"They're going to wait because they don't want to do anything that could upset their November election and hopefully Connecticut people don't understand they have a $550 million deficit they're staring at," he said.

Asked about the long-term consequences, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, said: "The economy's different since the Great Recession, our economic recovery is different, and I think that is true amongst many states across this country."

Duff also said lawmakers must "try and inflict as little pain as possible to the things that we care about," make smart decisions and balance the budget.