Democrats seek budget negotiations with Rell

Hartford - A small group of Democratic state legislators have called on their party's leaders to immediately negotiate spending cuts with Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell to close the state's $500 million current-year budget deficit.

In a letter to House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, and Senate President Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, the 15 lawmakers urged the leaders to take action immediately and to avoid doing what Rell and the Democrats agreed to do last year: borrowing nearly $1 billion to cover an operating deficit.

"Additional debt is not the answer," the letter says. "The only way we can responsibly address the current deficit is to immediately reduce spending."

Among those signing the letter are several from eastern Connecticut: Reps. Edward Moukawsher of Groton, Tom Reynolds of Ledyard and Steve Mikutel of Griswold.

The letter was prompted by what lawmakers felt was inaction on the growing shortfall in the current fiscal year, said Reynolds, and also out of frustration in dealing with the governor. Rell vetoed a Democratic plan to cut the deficit in December because she felt it was too small, and the most recent plan she has offered included moves Reynolds and others consider irresponsible, like the proposed delay of $100 million in contributions to the state's already under-funded pension system.

"Needless to say, I think we have a pattern here, and that means it's going to be up to us," Reynolds said in an interview, adding that Rell's proposal for the fiscal 2011 budget "by any measure kicked the can down the road for the outer years, and didn't deal with the current deficit."

Fiscal year 2010 ends on June 30.

Williams' staff said he welcomed the message, which includes the signature of Sen. Joan Hartley, D-Waterbury, who frequently votes against fellow Democrats on spending issues and has clashed with leadership in the past, as well as other moderates who have expressed reservations over fiscal policies.

Still, the tone and substance of the letter largely follows those of Rell and her Republican legislative allies, who have urged repeatedly that lawmakers must look to deeper spending cuts rather than tax increases or other strategies to close the deficit.

"This letter from Connecticut's moderate Democrats to their own leadership is commendable and should be refreshing to state taxpayers," Rell said in a written statement. "I pledge to work with them immediately to get our budget problems solved. I wholeheartedly agree that this deficit must be eliminated now and that borrowing more money - essentially putting the bill on the state's credit card for the next generation to pay off - is not the answer."

As for the charge that Rell has "kicked the can," Rell spokesman Adam Liegeot retorted, "The only thing that needs to be 'kicked' in state government is the spending habit, and it appears these moderate Democrats understand that."

At least one other Republican was less sanguine about the letter. House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, said he thought the letter was "pure politics" intended to obscure that many of those who signed it had voted for taxation and spending packages last spring that Republicans and Rell opposed.

"I think they realize their leadership is not moved to do anything, we're getting deeper in trouble, and they want to send up a flag that they aren't with their leadership," he said. "No one's buying it."

t.mann@theday.com