True State of the State: Fazio and Courpas Defend Fiscal Guardrails

Fazio and Courpas Defend Greenwich As Promised

The Legislative Session concluded in Hartford. Many seasoned lawmakers called it one of the most extreme and progressive sessions in memory. Senator Fazio and State Rep. Tina Courpas stayed the course for prudent balance in the face of the supermajority’s extreme policies.

Fazio and Courpas Defend CT’s Fiscal Guardrails

Arzeno and Meskers Break Campaign Promises

The recent legislative session blew through CT’s Fiscal Guardrails. The “budget adjustment” allocated $814 million of volatile revenues towards one-time election year payouts designed to garner votes at the expense of the unknowing taxpayers. Senator Fazio and State Rep. Courpas opposed this violation of CT’s Fiscal Guardrails, while Meskers and Arzeno reneged on their campaign promises, voting yes.

The money “brought home” to Greenwich is pennies when compared to the price tag for the town. Greenwich taxpayers alone footed the bill for 24.0% of the total overspend.

Greenwich Taxpayers: Here’s your bill for $195 million.

In an 11th hour catch to the poorly-drafted budget, Senator Fazio ran an amendment which would at least allow towns to decide how to spend the money instead of earmarking for more spending, salvaging town autonomy from the massive Hartford spending binge.

Fazio and Courpas Oppose 60% Increases in State Employee Salaries (2019-2029)

Meskers and Arzeno: Keep Spending!

From 2019-2029, CT state employee pay will have risen 60%, far outpacing increases to private sector pay. CT state employees are now the #1 highest paid in the US. Can CT afford to be #1 in state employee pay? Far from it. CT ranks #46 among 50 states in its pension plan funded ratio, a marker of the state’s ability to meet current pension obligations. So, why would we add more?

Fazio and Courpas voted no and defended the taxpayer, arguing for at least a 2-year pay freeze to allow private sector wages to catch up. But the new union contracts passed the Legislature with you guessed it, Meskers and Arzeno’s full support.

Medical Mandates and the Religious Exemption — Government Overreach

In 2021, CT removed the religious exemption for school vaccines. Several lawsuits are still open and pending against the state, alleging that the removal of the religious exemption violated CT’s Religious Freedom and Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA).

HB 5044, among other things, repealed precisely those sections of the RFRA on which the pending lawsuit is based. The legislature put its thumb on the scale to decide a pending lawsuit in favor of the state.

Fazio and Courpas opposed the measure, while Meskers and Arzeno voted along with the supermajority, curtailing both citizens’ religious freedoms and the right to a fair trial.

Courpas Appointed to Governor’s Blue-Ribbon Commission on Educational Funding in CT

State Rep. Courpas was appointed to the Governor’s Bipartisan Commission of state leaders to conduct a comprehensive review of Connecticut’s education funding system and issue recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly. Its scope includes the state’s current funding landscape, models from other states, the primary cost drivers facing school districts, and proven strategies that have delivered better outcomes for students. Congratulations!