Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s $864 million plan to overhaul the aging University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington has cleared its first legislative hurdle, The Associated Press reports.
The General Assembly’s Democratic-controlled finance committee passed the Democratic governor’s proposal on a 31-19 vote, despite urgings from the committee’s minority Republicans to slow the approval process and give state legislators a chance to review the so-called Bioscience Connecticut initiative.
Sen. Andrew Roraback, the committee’s leading Senate Republican, said Malloy has done a fine job pitching the concept but lawmakers are still obligated to vet the proposal.
Malloy is seeking $254 million in borrowing to supplement the nearly $340 million approved last year as part of former Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s plan to overhaul the hospital and medical school. Malloy is also seeking private funding.
