Rell's budget proposal asks the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition, the umbrella unit for unions representing about 45,000 state workers, to delay a $14.5 million deposit into the unions' pension fund, so that the funds can be used toward closing the current year deficit.  State government must recognize what the incoming Obama administration already recognizes: The current problems must be understood not as budget problem for the state, but as a jobs, services, and quality of life problem for Connecticut's people. Tough economic times are when the people of the state need public services the most. Wholesale cutting of public spending at this time when consumer and corporate spending is falling would not only deny the public the services it needs, but lead to a downward spiral devastating both Connecticut's economy, and the state budget.

 

  http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2008/11/24/news/doc49271fa13086b938220787.txt

http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2008/11/20/connecticut/doc49256df503557977209142.txt

http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2008/11/20/ji_promotional/doc4925c043412b6461889064.txt

http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=ba74ac7e-b6f8-4917-9dc6-f6a7bbf04d13