State Rep Bob Godfrey offers his opening remarks on the state budget at last week's forum. State budget forum, W.C.S.U. 03.18.09
Last Wednesday, about a hundred people a community forum on the state budget at Western Connecticut State University.
Addressing the problem the state will be facing in the near future, House Speaker Chris Donovan and area State Reps Bob Godfrey (110th), Jason Bartlett (2nd), Joe Taborsak (109th), and Chris Liddy (106th), addressed the 2.8 billion deficit hole left by Gov Rell's budget proposal and the difficult choices which need to be made in the years ahead.
Seeing that the state is facing a 100 million dollar shortfall in the current budget, Gov Rell's budget proposal already takes into consideration assistance from President Obama's stimulus plan, the Representatives highlighted several scenarios which would save the state money including spending cuts, eliminating inefficient programs, and that dreaded term...tax increases.
Following the discussion, a Q&A session was held afterward and outside the local anti-immigrant lunatic who makes a spectacle at most of these events, the forum overall was somewhat informative because it but a light on a very serious situation that will have a direct impact on Danbury as well as all municipalities.
Also during the forum, the members of the panel shared with those in attendance a handout which lays out the situation the state in terms of the deficit over the next few years.
(You can also download a pdf of the document by clicking here.)
Due to the length of the forum, I broke up the video into smaller parts based on each speaker.
CLIP 1: Opening remarks from State Rep. Bob Godfrey:
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On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.
Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.
Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.
Seeing that the state is facing a 100 million dollar shortfall in the current budget, Gov Rell's budget proposal already takes into consideration assistance from President Obama's stimulus plan, the Representatives highlighted several scenarios which would save the state money including spending cuts, eliminating inefficient programs, and that dreaded term...tax increases.
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
