Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano (R-North Haven) released the following statement in response to Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s veto of the bipartisan bill that restores funding for the Medicare Savings Program in the current fiscal year.
“Republicans and Democrats stood together earlier this month to restore funding for the Medicare Savings Program without increasing this year’s deficit. We acted together to do what was right for thousands of Connecticut seniors and disabled individuals. Today, I am calling on the Democrat legislative leaders to protect Connecticut’s constitution by standing with us again to override the governor’s veto. While Gov. Malloy thinks he has his own solution to the MSP funding issue this year, his plan to ignore state law as defined in the budget violates the state constitution. Gov. Malloy has executive authority, but he does not have legislative authority. He cannot just ignore part of the budget the legislature passed. That is why we needed a legislative fix, as we already voted on and passed, to protect our constitution. Furthermore, Gov. Malloy’s ‘solution’ entails deficit spending, conflicting with the promises he made in the fall not to spend any money that would increase this year’s deficit. The governor’s actions demand an immediate and swift response from the legislature to 1) correct the significant constitutional flaw with his plan and 2) to prohibit the state from increasing the size of this year’s deficit. Absent an override of his veto, lawmakers will be setting a dangerous precedent that any governor can abrogate legislative authority under his or her sole discretion.”