I hope every elected official in Connecticut read The Day’s call for a special session of the Connecticut General Assembly to fix our budget mess, “Fixing budget requires special session,” (Sept. 25).

Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s shortsighted priorities will hurt the elderly, the sick, the disabled and the poor. The state legislature must step into this vacuum of leadership immediately in order to protect our most vulnerable residents and save Connecticut jobs.

The Connecticut State Medical Society has also weighed in, urging state leaders to reconsider the governor’s devastating cuts as soon as possible. The society says that  Malloy’s plan will “threaten the health of our patients.”

Democrats and Republicans now have an opportunity to make positive and meaningful policy changes. Let’s get in a room and hammer out structural budgetary reforms which will help Connecticut emerge from what the governor’s own budget chief calls our “permanent fiscal crisis.”

I urge The Day’s readers to contact their elected officials today. Tell them to show some leadership, seize this opportunity and fix what is broken.

Rob Kane

Watertown 

Editor’s note: Sen. Kane, a Republican, represents the 32nd Senate District. He is Senate ranking member of the legislature's Appropriations Committee, which oversees state spending.