Keith Denning

We are more than halfway through the regular session, and this is the time of year when legislative activity picks up in the Connecticut General Assembly.
 
After weeks of holding public hearings, the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee and Appropriations Committee approved their budget proposals (Appropriations handles the spending side and Finance handles the revenue side). 
 
The next step is negotiations and compromise. Legislators will work with the governor and his staff to craft the final budget agreement. The budget bill then goes before the House and Senate for consideration. After being passed by both chambers, the legislature's final budget must then be signed into law by the governor before the end of the fiscal year on June 30.
 
Take a look at the graphic below for a glimpse of the budget process timeline.

 

I will keep you posted as we bring the budget bill to the floor to be debated and voted on in the coming weeks.

Join me, State Representative Lucy Dathan, and State Senator Ceci Maher for our Citizen’s Budget Game at the Wilton Library on Thursday, May 4th from 6:00 p.m – 7:00 p.m. This is where YOU will be able to play the role of a Connecticut lawmaker and decide where money should be spent and budgeted!

You will be split into groups of 5-6 people and handed a tally chart along with 18 cards of historically funded programs. Discuss amongst your groups on which programs YOU want to fund and which programs you would discontinue! Tally up the numbers at the end. It's going to be fun!