By Keith M. Phaneuf, Mark Pazniokas, and Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

State legislative leaders declared today they had crafted the framework of a bipartisan deal to end Connecticut’s 110-day budget impasse, while conceding some key details, including distribution of town aid, remained to be resolved.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who was not a party to the talks, expressed skepticism that the talks had produced a deal that would survive close scrutiny of rank-and-file lawmakers or his administration.

Anticipating the skepticism by Malloy and others in light of the dearth of details released by the lawmakers, Senate Republican leader Len Fasano of North Haven said the story of the day was how far the bipartisan talks had come, not what work remains.

“A lot of people said, ‘You won’t get there.’ And we did,” Fasano said.

By Keith M. Phaneuf

State legislative leaders say they need a tentative, bipartisan deal by midafternoon Wednesday to keep alive their hopes of adopting a new state budget next week.

And if there is a bipartisan deal, it won’t include a hotly contested GOP proposal to cut state employee pension benefits in 2027 and reap big savings now.

Leaders were cautious not to predict success or failure, but lawmakers from both parties said that, while some key issues remain to be resolved, much progress has been made.

“I think the last week has been the most productive in this building that we’ve had all year long,” said House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby. “And the conclusion will be the conclusion. I think we all have hope that we can come to an agreement on something that’s best for the state.”

By Keith M. Phaneuf, Mark Pazniokas, and Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

In a bid to end Connecticut’s budget stalemate and persuade legislators to abandon a legally questionable deferral of contributions to the state’s underfunded pension system, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy today unveiled his fourth budget proposal for the new biennium. It asks lawmakers to reduce tax increases by accepting deeper cuts to town aid, education and social services.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy outlines his budget revisions. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Mark Pazniokas for CTMirror.org

The governor’s new plan would reduce spending by an additional $144 million, over this fiscal year and next combined, compared to a budget endorsed by Malloy and Democratic legislative leaders that fell short of passage when a three Democrats in the Senate and five in the House balked and voted for a GOP version.

Malloy’s revisions to the September plan maintain emergency relief for distressed municipalities by including a revised formula for redistributing education aid. It still shifts funding from wealthy communities to poorer ones, but not to the degree originally sought by the governor.

“This is a lean, no-frills, no-nonsense budget,” Malloy said. “Our goals were simple in putting this plan together: eliminate unpopular tax increases, incorporate ideas from both parties, and shrink the budget and its accompanying legislation down to their essential parts. It is my sincere hope this document will aid the General Assembly in passing a budget that I can sign into law.”

By Keith M. Phaneuf and Mark Pazniokas

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy warned legislators today that he would veto any state budget — even one enacted with bipartisan support — if it is riddled with the same gimmicks he rejected two weeks ago.

“I think that people would be making a mistake if they totally ignored my veto message,” Malloy told reporters. “But on the other hand, a veto can be overridden, and I’m well aware of that. But I can assure you that threat won’t cause me to change my values or the like.”

Malloy also expressed doubt that legislative leaders were close to a bipartisan deal, even though House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, expressed optimism Tuesday at a news conference with Republican and Senate Democratic leaders. The governor smiled and said the body language didn’t signal agreement to him.

Aresimowicz indicated that any bipartisan deal probably would include several Republican proposals that the governor and his fellow Democrats in the legislature decried just a few weeks ago.