The 2009 General Assembly session ended without action on any of the major items of concerns to towns and cities, particularly state aid and mandates relief. Legislative action ground to a halt on the final day as Senate Republicans conducted a filibuster that resulted in just one bill being acted upon before 9 p.m.

That doomed legislation that would have allowed municipalities to re-open their budgets to make adjustments to account for federal stimulus funds going directly to boards of education. The bill was taken up by the Senate about 11:45 p.m. – fifteen minutes before adjournment – and Sen. Dan Debicella (R-Shelton) conducted an individual filibuster on the measure that resulted in it being taken off the floor (lest other bills also die). The reason for his action on the bill was unclear, but indications are that it had to do with reasons other than the municipal-budget provision.

The breakdown was emblematic of a General Assembly session that became mired in partisan bickering and which failed to produce action to address a two-year state deficit that could approach $9 billion.

Action now moves to the General Assembly’s Special Session to address budget issues and the state bond package. CCM and municipal officials will have to keep up the pressure so that any final agreement between legislative leadership and the Governor results in (a) maintaining levels of state aid, (b) progress on mandates relief and reform and (c) the much-needed provision to provide budget re-openers (as described above).

CCM will be providing more detailed information in the coming days concerning the final results of the 2009 session and how municipal officials can best influence the Special Session.

If you have any questions, please call Gian-Carl Casa (gcasa@ccm-ct.org), or Jim Finley (jfinley@ccm-ct.org) of CCM, at (203) 498-3000.