Connecticut House To Take Up $17.9 Billion Democratic Budget

HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- It's now up to the Connecticut House of Representatives to pass a revised $17.9 billion Democratic budget that attempts to fix a projected $960 million deficit in the new fiscal year.

The Democratic controlled House was scheduled to meet in special session Friday to vote on the plan, which is expected to result in hundreds of unfilled state employee positions. The bill cleared the Democratic controlled Senate on Thursday along party lines.

Besides the budget bill, House members are expected to vote on several other budget-related bills, including one that spells out details of the tax-and-spending plan. That legislation also cleared the Senate on Thursday.

The new budget is a retooled version of the second year of a two-year $40 billion budget lawmakers passed last year.

One critical budget-related issue that won't get voted on in the special session is how the state will pay for its nearly $100 billion, 30-year plan to overhaul roads, rails and bridges, WCBS 880's Fran Schneidau reported. One bridge especially in need is the Walk Bridge in Norwalk which was built in the late 1800s and is critical to Amtrak and Metro-North rail service.

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