Governor M. Jodi Rell finally will allow the state to pass a biennium budget this week.  Rell did not agree to sign the bill, but instead will wait five days to go by after the General Assembly passed it, therefore making it law.   However, Rell will make her presence felt in the form of line-item vetoes.   Democratic leaders had added approximately $8 million dollars in spending earmarks, which the governor called “a slap in the face of our taxpayers.”  Not surprisingly, what Rell also called “pork-barrel spending” includes programs and services for vulnerable CT populations. 

Among the list of line-item victims are Urban Oaks Organic Farm, Americorps, Ansonia Nature Center, AIDS Interfaith Network, Children of Incarcerated Parents, youth centers, DOC distance learning, pilot asthma awareness, Manchester food pantries, and a youth/substance abuse project in Bridgeport. A complete list of earmarks to be cut is available here (Excel format).

Environmental, educational, and health interests will be among the biggest losers when the budget officially takes effect next week.

CT News Junkie has additional coverage of the losers and winners with this budget.

Photo credit: rbglasson http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbglasson/3505347521/