This week the House and Senate Democrats released our proposal for a balanced budget.

Resolving an estimated $2.3 billion budget deficit over the next two years will require many tough choices. Our proposal presents a fiscally responsible blue print for moving Connecticut forward.

This proposal contains significant restructuring to make state government more efficient while protecting investments in workforce training and business growth. 

Our proposal does not increase the state sales tax, personal income tax or corporation taxes. 

We commit to living within our means by:

• Cutting our non-fixed budget costs by 7.1% from FY17 to FY18
• Consolidating state departments and services
• Saving $1.5 billion through union and nonunion state employee givebacks

We continue investing in Connecticut's future by:

• Rejecting the Governor's proposal to shift teachers' pension funding to towns
• Phasing out the income tax on Social Security
• Rolling back the Governor's proposed Medicaid funding cuts to hospitals 
• Overhauling our workforce development system to be more responsive to the needs of businesses

This is a responsible starting point as we enter budget negotiations with Senate Democrats, House and Senate Republicans, and the Governor. Doing what's best for the future of our state and its residents should be the foundation of all our decisions as we move forward.