CT House Approves $20.5B Budget

The state House of Representatives has approved a $20.5 billion budget deal reached between Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Democratic legislative leaders that would address the growing deficit and increase future spending by $143 million.

The House voted 95-49 along party lines in favor of the plan at about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. It now goes to the Senate.

The budget plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1 would increase education aid to cities and towns by $50 million. But it also would trim about $28 million from Malloy's original $128 million education proposal.

The proposal also includes about $900 million in spending cuts and labor savings from a deal with state employees.

Republicans criticized the budget plan as unsustainable and said it contains short-term gimmicks.

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