On the coldest and grayest days of winter, a warm and improbably bright yellow light reliably shines on a dense thicket of marijuana plants growing inside a repurposed warehouse in a suburban Hartford industrial park.
Connecticut Politics Week in Review: Gov. Ned Lamont pitches his ‘Connecticut Comeback’ budget with no major tax hikes Russell Blair, Hartford Courant
Gov. Ned Lamont’s new two-year budget expects an infusion of federal aid to avoid tax increases or boosts in spending in the midst of a pandemic that, while trying for the thousands of Connecticut residents who have lost their jobs and those who have been impacted by the coronavirus, has not been as bad of news for the state’s finances as once thought. Rather than a multibillion-dollar deficit, Connecticut is projected to end the current fiscal year on June 30 with a surplus due to surging tax revenue tied to Wall Street gains. To close gaps in the next two years, Lamont is eyeing more federal aid or potentially dipping into the state’s $3 billion-plus rainy day fund.
Governor Ned Lamont’s full budget address on Wednesday was as follows:
Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Senator Kelly, Representative Candelora, members of the General Assembly, Lt. Governor Bysiewicz and the people of the great State of Connecticut.
As your governor, one of my top priorities has been to get Connecticut’s fiscal house in order. My first stop two years ago was the state’s budget. For decades, Connecticut was defined by one fiscal crisis after another, which is why when I spoke to you at my first budget address, I challenged us to pass an honestly balanced budget on time.
UpdatedWed, Feb 10, 2021 at 4:52 pm ET
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Gov. Ned Lamont made his budget proposal Wednesday. (Connecticut Network)
CONNECTICUT Gov. Ned Lamont proposed legalizing recreational marijuana and sports betting as part of his 2021 budget plan Wednesday. He also proposed a new mileage tax on tractor-trailers to help fund the state s transportation needs.
He said his budget proposal avoids large tax increases.
Lamont delivered his budget address in a pre-recorded video due to the coronavirus pandemic. Normally, the governor appears before a joint session of the House and Senate to make his proposal.
Subscribe True enough, our original path to solvency had some twists and turns thrown in, but we got to our final destination, and the rest of the country has taken notice Lamont said. Yep, there s more work to do, but Connecticut has made significant progress in getting its fiscal house in order.