Bipartisan State Budget

May 14, 2018

For the second time in just over six months, I have joined with my legislative colleagues in support of a bipartisan state budget. The agreement came at the end of our 2018 General Assembly session – and prior to the start of the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Here are some key features of the budget agreement:

  • Reestablishes funding to the Medicare Savings Program that helps low-income elderly individuals and the disabled pay for the cost of medicine and health care premiums
  • Restores solvency to the Special Transportation Fund, helping to avoid transit district cuts, fare increases and keep transportation projects on track
  • Puts more than a billion dollars into the state’s Rainy Day Fund

While the bipartisan budget agreement is the capstone to a successful legislative session, we also moved forward on many other important issues, including:

  • Pay equity, or equal pay for equal work
  • Assuring a woman’s right to health care access
  • Drug price transparency
  • A ban on bump stocks to save lives and promote safety
  • A plan to increase the use of clean energy and to fight climate change
  • Membership in the National Popular Vote Compact for direct election of the president

Even with these accomplishments, we still have real challenges ahead. There is no "off session" for me as I continue to look out for Westport's interests.