Connecticut lawmakers have their work cut out for them when they begin the spring legislative session on Feb. 3.
Tough decisions will need to be made as they develop solutions to balance the state’s budget, now at $513 million in the red.
So far, Connecticut’s leaders have failed to get the job done. And they will continue to fail unless they put aside political posturing and gamesmanship.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle must work together to develop creative, out-of-the-box solutions on how to more efficiently and effectively provide government services at a cost taxpayers can afford while being careful not to make deep cuts on the backs of those who are most in need.
There are no easy answers. It will require objective, critical and prompt evaluations of all government functions and spending.
The danger is to avoid simplistic solutions — such as outsourcing all functions that can be done for less money by nonprofits or for-profit organizations.
Often times, what looks good on paper may not be what is best for the state in the long run.
Lawmakers must improve the state’s economic climate. They need to tackle job creation aggressively and develop an environment that will help get the 94,000 people who lost their jobs in this Great Recession back to work.
And not just any job, but jobs that earn a living wage.
Lawmakers must find ways to help those in need rise above poverty, providing them with the necessary tools to become productive citizens. When policies and programs help those in need — be it from poverty and/or mental health disorders — rise to self-sufficiency, the long-term savings to society and taxpayers are enormous.
The state should no longer retain ineffective programs and policies that do nothing to set the stage for Connecticut’s economic future. It is time for lawmakers to reform government so it offers taxpayers a real bang for their hard-earned buck.
Tall orders.
To be fair, most lawmakers run for office to make a difference and initiate change. They generally are passionate about their beliefs. So it is reasonable to expect that those elected to the General Assembly may struggle when working to reach a compromise on matters where a sincere dichotomy of viewpoints exists.
But when compromise is not achieved, lawmakers often resort to finger pointing, cluttering legislative discourse that gets in the way of accomplishment. Taxpayers are clearly tired of finger pointing and want lawmakers to do what they promised when elected.
Their journey should start with a careful analysis of the successes and failures and of four agencies: Department of Correction; Department of Social Services; Department of Children and Families; and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
The services of these departments often cross paths. If preventive policies were in place, cost-savings and better outcomes would be likely.
When lawmakers go back to work this week, they need to adopt new policies that are cost-effective and also improve the quality of life in Connecticut for everyone, including the forgotten individuals who do not have a voice at the state Capitol.
Their work must put the state on the road to an economic recovery for its businesses and citizens, bridge an historic budget deficit and adopt new state policies that yield positive socio-economic returns on taxpayer investments. It’s time for change.
Lawmakers: Get the job done this session.
