Politicians Agree What to Do With State Surplus
by Christine Stuart | August 14, 2008 5:00 AM
Posted to State Capitol
The state surplus is bigger than expected and at least two elected officials want it all to go to home heating assistance when the General Assembly convenes next Friday for yet another special session.
In a press release sent out Wednesday morning Senate President Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn, said, “any surplus in excess of the $22 million should be set aside in an emergency account that will be dedicated to helping families make ends meet this winter.”
The Office of Fiscal Analysis reported at the end of last week that the surplus had grown from $22 million to an estimated $85 million.
Later Wednesday afternoon Gov. M. Jodi Rell sent out a press release saying, “My budget office agrees that the budget surplus has grown to approximately $85 million - and that is good news, because we will need every penny of that surplus to help thousands of families to heat their homes.”
Comments (8)
Posted by: Gail Osowski | August 14, 2008 6:23 AM
The state should NOT spend the money on any new programs. That money should go back to the majority of the people who made the surplus - the middle class. It's ok to designate some for heating assistance but the gas tax that the state raised, should be reduced.
Posted by: cedarhillresident | August 14, 2008 9:39 AM
How about a rebate! That seems like it could help alot more familys
Posted by: Derek Slap | August 14, 2008 9:53 AM
The heating assistance will be going to middle class families, as well as seniors and low-income earners.
The reality is that families could freeze to death this winter or be forced into shelters if the state doesn't help. This includes middle class families.
Cedarhillresident suggests a rebate and in a way this heating assistance is exactly that. (A direct rebate to 1 million households would amount to at most $50 for each family). This plan would actually offer more help to families - but focus it on seniors on fixed incomes, low-income and middle class families.
(FYI: I work for the Senate Democrats)
Posted by: cedarhillresident | August 14, 2008 12:23 PM
Thanx for the explanation Derek (derek I am New Haven resident I know who you are :)
You are right in one way (and I would most likely fit in that bracket). But I worry about all middle class...being from New Haven and having the Pilots shorted because their was no money (hnnnn) I am seeing so many people having a hard time keeping their homes, so that was why I thought a rebate would be a good idea. But thanx for the info.
They could fund the pilot programs now that the money is there too.
Posted by: Jody | August 15, 2008 4:38 PM
Right Gail Osowski...it's more important that those of us in the middle class get our due than impoverished children have heat. Do you own an SUV by any chance?
Posted by: Chris Reid | August 15, 2008 8:26 PM
The price of heating oil is not going to drop to its past levels any time soon, and the economic problems we have likewise will be here for awhile.
I think it's great to help families, but let's remember that placing the lifeguard at the bottom of Niagara Falls is not as good a long-term measure as preventing people from going over the falls in the first place.
What kind of rebates would have long-term meaning -- rebates for weather proofing your home? Rebates toward a new furnace? helping a family that has a heat inefficient furnace pay the bills may be politically astute, but it's kind of a nonstarter in terms of energy conservation.
I am all for helping people this winter -- let's make the help as meaningful and useful as possible.
Posted by: cedarhillresident | August 18, 2008 8:46 AM
Chris Reid
I do like that much better. That is a win win
Posted by: dave sabo | August 29, 2008 7:21 AM
The low income people already get fuel assistance from the government, most are illegal,they should give it back to the people who worked hard to put it there.