A little less than a week since the Legislature sent the Governor a $40 billion, bipartisan budget bill for FY 18-19 and some 120 days passed the deadline, the Governor today signed all but the appropriation line items for a hospital tax – a core piece of the budget.
He said the provisions run afoul of federal law and would plunge the state into deficit once again because of the $1 billion supplemental payments it promises the institutions over the biennium.
The Legislature will now have to reconvene to fix this portion of the budget, and the Governor has urged them to adopt his original proposal in order to settle the issue.
Meanwhile, Senate President Marty Looney, D-New Haven, applauded the Governor’s action and said, “I am confident that now that this budget is law, legislators will be able to work with the governor to make any technical fixes which may be necessary.” Leaders are looking at possibly coming in next week to make the necessary changes. We will keep you posted.
The remainder of the budget will take effect as outlined in the document. Here is the Governor’s veto letter.
