Coutu Talks State Finances with College Students
Rep. Christopher Coutu spoke to a group of Eastern Connecticut State University students tonight about the state budget. The students, about 25 of them, study accounting and finance at the Willimantic-based school. Coutu spoke for roughly 30 minutes inside the school’s library, focusing on the state’s ever-increasing spending levels and its growing rate of debt. [...]
Coutu: “Do Nothing” Dems at it Again
HARTFORD—An important self-imposed Democrat deadline has come and gone without the Appropriations Committee identifying the $220 million in cuts Democrat leaders promised when the last deficit mitigation plan passed last month, Rep. Christopher Coutu said after today’s legislative session.
Coutu joined House and Senate Republican leaders today in criticizing the majority party’s failure to identify [...]
Bring Your Questions April 7: State Budget Forum in Norwich
You’ve probably heard a lot lately about the state’s financial troubles. It’s tough to pick up newspapers without seeing something about budget deficits, early retirement programs or tax increases. But how did we get here, what does it all mean, and how does it affect you? Rep. Christopher Coutu will do his best April 7 [...]
Volunteer Furloughs have Saved State More than $1 Million
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state has saved more than $1 million in payroll costs because of her directive in mid-January that asked non-union managers to take one unpaid day of leave. The Governor was among the 2,400 executive and non-union managers who voluntarily took an unpaid furlough day as part of [...]
Coutu, House Republicans to Host Second Budget Forum for Municipal Leaders
Following the success of last month’s informational forum hosted by House Republicans for municipal government leaders, Rep. Christopher Coutu and his House Republican colleagues will host another municipal forum Friday at the Capitol. The forum will focus on the budget deficit and its impact on municipalities. Coutu expects representatives from Norwich, Sprague and Canterbury to [...]
Connecticut Residents Back Republican Spending Cuts to Balance the Budget, Not Tax Increases
HARTFORD – Connecticut residents support spending cuts pushed by Republicans – not tax increases – to balance the state budget, according to the recently released Qunnipiac University poll. By a 67-23 percent margin poll respondents said spending cuts and not tax increases should be used to balance the budget and wipe out the projected $8 [...]
Coutu Stands Behind Concept of Rell’s Budget Proposal
State Rep. Christopher Coutu praised Gov. M. Jodi Rell today for keeping her promise not to raise taxes and reduce the cost of government to bridge a projected multi-billion budget deficit. Coutu is particularly pleased with meat of Rell’s proposal: The protection of education funds, and relieving communities of millions of dollars in unfunded mandates. [...]
Coutu, House Republicans Hear Concerns from Municipal Leaders
HARTFORD-The best way to understand how the state’s fiscal woes will affect municipal budgets is to listen to the people in charge of assembling those local spending plans, Rep. Christopher Coutu said Tuesday. More than two dozen leaders-mayors and first selectmen-from communities throughout the state were at the Capitol for a roundtable discussion organized by [...]
Sprague Residents Learn More about the State Budget Deficit
SPRAGUE — It’s time for the people who run state government to make tough choices. That’s the message Rep. Christopher Coutu got from a dozen or so residents who told him that legislators should follow the lead of everyday folks who have had to prioritize and trim their budgets in this poor economy. Coutu, of [...]
