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Summer 2009 Issue
Capitol address
Legislative Office Building
Room 2000
Hartford, CT 06106-1595
E-mail
Doyle@senatedems.ct.gov
On the Web
www.SenatorDoyle.cga.ct.gov
Phone
Capitol: 860-240-0498
Toll-free: 1-800-842-1420
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Dear Neighbor,
The passage of a state budget that is fair to all of Connecticut’s residents, and also puts our state on the road to good fiscal health, is a top priority as negotiations between legislative leaders and the governor continue. While the budget remains a huge focal point, during a day-long veto session in July we overrode the vetoes of two bills detailed below.
Mandatory Consensus
Revenue Forecasting
The inability of the legislative and executive branches of government to agree on revenue estimates has delayed and complicated the state budget process this year.  That was the reason we enacted legislation to implement consensus revenue forecasting designed to resolve budget differences between the two governmental branches and help streamline the state budget process. The law requires budget analysts of the executive and legislative branches to issue consensus revenue estimates up to three times a year to guide the governor’s budget proposal and the budget approved by the legislature.
If the legislative and the executive branches cannot agree on revenue estimates, the legislation requires the state comptroller’s office to provide the revenue estimates. This way all parties will have one bottom line to work toward to better serve the citizens of Connecticut.
Consensus revenue forecasting is used by 26 states to streamline their budgeting efforts, and the National Advisory Council on State and Local Budgeting recommends the process coast-to-coast. Eight of the nine states with the highest bond ratings credit consensus revenue forecasting for their ratings.
Protecting Corrections
Officers from Assaults
After a drastic increase in the number of inmate assaults on corrections officers, a legislative task force recommended a subcommittee be established to monitor the health and safety of Connecticut corrections officers. The new committee must document all assaults committed by inmates, investigate them fully, and then compile and classify data in an effort to eliminate future assaults. I am proud that this public safety bill was overwhelmingly passed again with strong bipartisan support.
Cutting Costs on Prescription Drugs
Two pieces of legislation were passed this year that have the potential to lower prescription drug costs — especially for seniors — and save the state money.
 Millions of Americans lack adequate health care coverage for prescription drugs, and government programs — Medicare, Medicaid and ConnPACE — attempt to address this issue. To help fund these programs, the state receives rebates from participating drug manufacturers. The Senate passed a new law to require these rebates to be equal under all of these programs, thus increasing revenues for the state and helping to lower the cost of the programs.
The State of Connecticut spends hundreds of millions of dollars on prescription drugs for senior citizens, people with disabilities, low-income families with children, and state employees. Currently, the state has no process by which we can ensure that we are purchasing these drugs at the most cost-effective rate. That is why we passed a law that requires the state to develop a plan for the bulk purchasing of pharmaceuticals. Developing and implementing such a plan will ensure that our state taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently on prescription drugs.
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