Connecticut Legislature Convenes On Wednesday; Sen. Frantz Says Cuts Needed

HARTFORD, CT (CBSNewYork) - The Connecticut General Assembly will convene on Wednesday for its 2012 session, and a major concern will be dealing with an unexpected budget deficit.

WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau On The Story

The economic recovery has been anemic at best, so State Senator Scott Frantz of the legislature's finance committee wonders how he and other lawmakers are going to close a gaping $144 million deficit.

"It's a very bad direction to be heading in because were expecting a surplus and a very good surplus at this particular point in time," Frantz told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau.

Frantz says raising taxes is out. He state residents are already saddled with 364 of those.

New revenue sources are drying up. He and other Republican lawmakers believe cutting expenses is the only avenue open.

Emergency cuts are already being ordered by Gov. Dan Malloy as a result.

"I think what we will do in our caucus in the Senate and the House is we will make the same plea to the governor and to the side that we really need to get serious about cutting state expenses. The cost of state government in Connecticut is just simply too high," said Frantz.

He notes the dark cloud looming overhead is Connecticut's underfunded state worker pension funds, which, at some point, will have to be shored up.

What do you think should be cut from the Connecticut budget? Sound off in the comments section below!